The Gospel Preached to the Dead (1 Pet. 4:5-6)

There are certain passages of scripture which stand out to us when we read them. First Peter 4:5-6 is one such passage. The apostle says here, "But they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does." That's the English Standard Version's rendering. The KJV renders verse 6, "For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit."

Many people, when they read this passage, think that Peter is speaking of those who are literally dead and in hell. If that is the case, then what we have, in essence, is a second chance being given to those who have already passed from this life. In other words, if you reject God here while on earth, don't worry, because the gospel will be preached to you when you're in hell and if you obey it there, you'll have eternal life. That sounds great, doesn't it?

The problem is, that's not what this passage is teaching. Hebrews 9:27 says, "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment." Once you die, you face the judgment of God. There is no second chance after the point of death. Luke 16:19-34 is another great story to consider along these lines. This is the story of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man fared sumptuously (vv. 19) while Lazarus lived a life of poverty (vv. 20-21). When they both died, the rich man faced torment while Lazarus entered Abraham's Bosom, or paradise. When the rich man pleaded with Abraham that he would send Lazarus over with just one drop of water to soothe his tongue, Abraham replied in verses 25-26, "Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us." Again, there are no second chances. Once you die, you face the judgment of God and that's it.

So what then is Peter telling us in the fourth chapter of his first epistle? What does it mean that the gospel is preached to the dead that they might be judged according to man but live according to God? Let's go back and notice the context.

In 1 Peter 4:1-2, the apostle says that because Christ suffered in the flesh (in the sense that He was persecuted), so also will we as Christians suffer in the flesh, that is, if we live according to the will of God. In verses 3-4, a similar point is made. "For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you." Again, Peter is talking about persecution. Because Christians don't engage in drinking and sexual immorality and other such sinful activities, we can expect to be made fun of and maligned.

And that brings us to verses 5-6.

Who are the dead and why is the gospel preached to them? The dead are those who are dead in their trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13), alienated from God (Eph. 4:18). The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). So basically, we're talking here about those who are not Christians. The gospel is preached to them that they might be saved from spiritual death, for the gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16).

Peter goes on to say in verse 6 that the gospel is preached to them that they might be judged according to man but alive according to God. We're judged according to man when we're persecuted and maligned, which is exactly what Peter is talking about in the preceding verses. But even though man may judge and persecute us, we can live according to God.

Macknight says of this verse, "For this purpose hath the Gospel been preached even to the dead, (i.e. the Gentiles), that although they might be condemned, indeed, by men in the flesh, (their persecutors), yet they might live eternally by God in the Spirit."

So what is the lesson for us?

Despite the persecution and the hardship that Christians face, we can live according to God. Even though the people of the world will say that we are deprived of the passing pleasures of sin, we can rest assured that we've got a much better life. Yes, we can be delivered from the bondage of sin, that, when we must give account to God (vv. 5), we can be presented as holy and blameless before Him (1 Cor. 1:8).