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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - 1 Peter 4:6 - 4:6
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1Pe 4:6. Γὰρ, for) The particle connects ready and is at hand, 1Pe 4:5; 1Pe 4:7. The Judge is ready; for now that the Gospel is preached, nothing but the end remains.-καὶ νεκροῖς, even to the dead) Peter calls those dead who lived through the whole period of the New Testament, from the time that the Gospel was preached by the apostles after the ascension of Christ, especially concerning Christ the Judge, Act 10:42, and those whom the Judge, who is at any moment about to come, will find dead, and will restore to life, 1Pe 4:5. The Gospel is preached also to the living; but he mentions the dead, because the saying, that they might be judged, etc., is especially accomplished in death. And from this very thing it is plain that the preaching of the Gospel which is meant, is before that death, and not subsequent to it. When the body is put off in death, the condition of the soul is altogether fixed, either for evil or for good. The Gospel is preached to no one after death. Christ Himself preached to those who had formerly lived, ch. 1Pe 3:20. In the New Testament there is preaching in abundance to those who are alive. The Lord sees respecting those to whom that preaching does not come in their life.-εὐηγγελίσθη) He, that is, Christ, was declared in the Gospel. While they were alive, He caused Himself to be preached to them by the Gospel. The Gospel is always preached at the present day: but Peter speaks in past time, for [i.e. having respect to] the time of judgment[in relation to which the preaching will have been past]; which, as we have said, he sees as it were close at hand.-ἴνα, that) The end and efficacy of the Gospel is, that men may be made like Christ in death and in life, ch. 1Pe 3:18. The way of salvation through Christ is both secured and made known to all: they who have believed are saved, and ought to be objects of imitation, not of reproach, to others; they who have not believed, nay, have even used reproaches, are justly punished.-κριθῶσι ζῶσι, might be judged: might live) They who receive the Gospel become like the death of Christ through repentance; and successively through (by means of) all adversities, even until the death of the body. That death is called a judgment, with reference to the old man; and to this judgment, distinguishing evil things from good, the faithful themselves readily subscribe: nor will they be liable to the dreadful universal judgment: 1Pe 4:5; 1Pe 4:17-18; 1Co 11:32. But the same also live with Christ: and they are said to live, not to be made alive; because they have been made alive already together with Christ: ch. 1Pe 3:18, compared with Eph 2:5. Respecting this judgment and life, comp. 1Pe 4:1-3; for the faithful, while they are engaged in the flesh, already receive the beginning of these things.-κατὰ ἀνθρώπους) as far as relates to men; for they are exempted from human affairs.-κατὰ Θεὸν) as far as relates to God; for they live to God.-πνεύματι, in spirit) See ch. 1Pe 3:18, note.