What Does It Mean That The Evangel Has Been Proclaimed To The Dead?

For to this end the Evangel was also brought to dead ones, that indeed, according to man, as regards the flesh, they may be judged, yet, according to God, as regards the spirit, they may live.
1 Peter 4:6 NBG51

The Evangel is not being, but was brought to dead ones. Namely, when they were alive. Peter speaks here about people who heard the Evangel during their lifetime but have since died. People judged them according to the flesh (they were killed), but God will make them live again by His Spirit. In ch. 3:18 it is said of Christ that He was put to death according to the flesh, but made alive according to the spirit.

In the preceding verse (4:5), there was mention of Him who stands ready to “judge the living and the dead,” i.e., those who at this moment are living or dead. Everyone, therefore. For on the occasion of the future judgment, the dead are raised. So it is also with “the Evangel brought to dead ones.” It concerns those who are now dead, but to whom the Evangel was once brought.

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