4:6
This is a difficult verse to understand, and there are many different interpretations. A clear explanation of these is given in the UBS Handbook Translator’s Handbook. Apparently Peter was saying that the gospel was preached to people who are now dead during the time when they were still alive. Although these people died as all people do, God is able to give them true spiritual life, so they might live as he lives.
4:6a
There is a Greek conjunction meaning “For” at the beginning of this verse that connects it in a general way with 4:1–5. Some English versions do not translate it explicitly (Berean Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation, New Century Version, Revised English Bible). Connect 4:6 to 4:1–5 in a way that is natural in your language.
That is why: There are two ways of understanding the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as That is why :
(1) It looks forward to the rest of the verse. The reason is given in 4:6c. For example:
6a it was for this very purpose…6b so that…6c they may live spiritually (NET Bible)
(Berean Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, NET Bible; possibly New International Version)
(2) It looks backward, to what Peter had just said. For example:
That is why (Good News Translation)
(Good News Translation, New Century Version, Revised English Bible; possibly New Jerusalem Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The phrase That is why is referring to the purpose introduced by “so that” in 4:6b.
the gospel was preached: This is a passive verb. Peter did not say who preached the gospel. If you must provide a subject, it is recommended that you provide a general one such as:
they
-or-
people
If you must be more specific, you could say:
Christ’s followers/disciples
even to those who are now dead: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as even can also be translated as “as well” or “also.” That is, the gospel was preached to the dead as well as to the living. The New Jerusalem Bible translates it in this way and says:
the gospel was brought to the dead as well (New Jerusalem Bible)
who are now dead: Peter did not say which dead people he was thinking of. Probably he was thinking of people who had heard the gospel while they were alive and had since died. Here is another way to translate this phrase:
to the dead (Good News Translation)
4:6b
so that: The phrase so that introduces a purpose clause. The purpose is in 4:6c. The Good News Translation therefore puts the purpose marker in 4:6c. You should translate this phrase in a way that naturally introduces a purpose in your language.
they might be judged as men in the flesh: Peter was implying that these people died as a result of being judged. It was because they had received punishment as men in the flesh that they were now dead.
This clause is not the purpose introduced by “so that.” It is a concessive clause and means “although they were judged….” Here is another way to translate this:
though judged in the flesh like men (Revised Standard Version)
they might be judged: This is also a passive verb. Peter did not say who would judge these people. Probably he was thinking of God, as in 4:5. Another way to translate this is:
that God might judge them
as men: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as as men in this context probably means “like all men” or “as sinful human beings.” For example:
as everyone is judged (Good News Translation)
in the flesh: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in the flesh in this context means “physically” or “in their flesh.” This is the same word for “flesh” that is used in 3:18d and 4:2a–b (where it is translated by the Berean Standard Bible as “remaining time on earth”). These people died on earth. There was no longer any life in their bodies. Here is another way to translate this phrase:
in their physical existence (Good News Translation)
4:6c
but: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but introduces the second half of a contrast. The contrast is between being judged in their physical existence in 4:6b and living spiritually in 4:6c.
In accordance with English style, translations such as the Revised Standard Version that have used “though/although” in 4:6b do not translate this explicitly. Translate this contrast in a way that is natural in your language.
live according to God in the spirit: This is a contrast with what happened in 4:6b. God could make these people alive again in the realm of the spirit. Here is another way to translate this:
in their spiritual existence they may live as God lives (Good News Translation)
according to God: This is a contrast with “as men” in 4:6b. Although these people died as all men die, because they had received the gospel, they could live as God lives. Here is another way to translate this phrase:
like God (Revised Standard Version)
in the spirit: The phrase in the spirit is in contrast with “in the flesh” in 4:6b. It is referring to what happens in the spiritual realm, that is, in heaven or in eternity.
See also the notes on 3:18d and 3:18e, where the same contrast occurs between what happened in the body and what happened in the spirit.
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