4:6 What does it mean that the gospel was preached to "them that are dead"?
4:6 What does it mean that the gospel was preached to "them that are dead"?
Them that are dead is a reference to those who had the gospel preached to them during their lifetime, but who are now dead. In order that all men may be judged justly, the gospel was given to all alike. It goes as far back as Abel.
He offered animal sacrifices to God which pointed to the supreme sacrifice, Jesus (cp Gen 4:3-4 with He 11:4; Ga 3:8; He 4:1-2; 11:7-10, 31-34).
That they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit in 1 Pe 4:6 means that many were judged by men and suffered persecution and even martyrdom for the faith.
But though they were dead physically, they still lived spiritually with God. All their judgements had been fully accomplished while they lived so they will live eternally with Jesus. These are the "spirits of just men made perfect" in the "church of the firstborn" referred to in He 12:23 (cp He 11:35-40 with He 12:23).
Anyone who has not heard the gospel or been under the law will be judged on the basis of what light they have had and how their lives accorded with their conscience. God has not left anyone without light sufficient to justify or condemn them in the judgement (cp Ro 1:19-21; Ro 2:12-16).