6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
The plain reading seems to give an impression that even those who are now physically dead are given another chance to hear the Gospel (as Bible Commentator like William Barclay suggests) but the next part of the phrase makes that interpretation impossible. The Amplified Version gives a good rendering here, “For this is why the good news [of salvation] was preached [in their lifetimes] even to those who are dead, that though they were judged in the flesh as men are, they may live in the spirit according to [the will and purpose of] God.”
The verse begins with the context to the previous verses that the Christians were being judged and accounted for before the human courts and judges for their righteous conduct. These righteous believers have heard the preaching of the Gospel and are being persecuted and judged for their holy behavior. They refuse to take part in the ungodly activities of the worldly, pagan neighbors (1 Peter 4:4). The earthly authorities judged them for their non-participation in the socio-religious life of the Greco-Roman world (refusing to take part in pagan festivities that relates to the social life of Roman Empire or Emperor Worship).
This context of suffering under the power of the administrative power seems to be clearly portrayed in 1 Peter 2:20-23 and 1 Peter 3:17-18. Now, then, though they are judged by the earthly rulers in the standard of the flesh, they are now fully alive in the presence and power of God. The first Century B.C. literature in Wisdom of Solomon 3:4 says about the righteous people, “For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality.” Peter is writing the same line of righteous-suffering tradition that was well-understood by the first century readers. The righteous believers go through physical retribution, torture and suffering but are secured of eternal hope and glory.
Prayer: Lord God, you are the ultimate judge of all the earth. We will stand before you to give an account for whatever we’ve done in the body—whether good or bad. Deliver us from fear of men and give us courage to live our lives in the light of eternity for you. In Christ name, amen.
