1 Peter 3:18
What does 1 Peter 3:18 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Peter 3:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Peter 3:18 means
Here is the heart of Christian hope: Christ suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God. His death was substitutionary and sufficient—no repeat needed. He was “put to death in the flesh” but “made alive in the spirit,” pointing to the transition from His mortal state to resurrection life by the Spirit’s power. Our access to God rests not on our merit but on His atoning work. For believers facing unjust suffering, this anchors everything: Jesus walked this path first, bore sin’s penalty, and opened the way to the Father. His resurrection proves the victory of righteousness over death and assures that suffering for good is not the end of the story.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
KJV
King James Version · 1611For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Because Christ once went through pain for sins, the upright one taking the place of sinners, so that through him we might come back to God; being put to death in the flesh, but given life in the Spirit;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862because also Christ once for sin did suffer--righteous for unrighteous--that he might lead us to God, having been put to death indeed, in the flesh, and having been made alive in the spirit,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Because Christ also died once for our sins, the just for the unjust: that he might offer us to God, being put to death indeed in the flesh, but enlivened in the spirit,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890for Christ indeed has once suffered for sins, [the] just for [the] unjust, that he might bring us toGod; being put to death in flesh, but made alive in [the] Spirit,
Context
Having urged believers to suffer for good if necessary (verse 17), Peter grounds that call in the saving work of Christ (verse 18). This verse transitions from ethical exhortation to redemptive events: Christ’s atoning death and resurrection life. Verses 19–20 will introduce a challenging but purposeful reference to His proclamation to the spirits in prison, tied to the days of Noah, leading into verse 21’s explanation of how baptism corresponds as a saving appeal through Jesus’ resurrection. The section culminates in verse 22 with Christ’s exaltation and universal authority, assuring the church of ultimate vindication.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass.
- 2 Corinthians 13:4
for he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him through the power of God toward you.
- Romans 8:3
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
- 1 Peter 4:6
For unto this end was the gospel preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
- Hebrews 9:28
so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation.
- 2 Corinthians 1:24
Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for in faith ye stand fast.
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