1 Peter 3:18

For 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:

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Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
For	ὅτι hoti	G3754	demonstrative · conjunction
Christ	Χριστὸς Christos	G5547	anointed · noun — nominative singular masculine, a title
also	καὶ kai	G2532	and · conjunction
hath	ἔπαθεν, epathen	G3958	to experience a sensation or impression (usually painfu… · verb — second aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular
once	ἅπαξ hapax	G530	one (or a single) time (numerically or conclusively) · adverb
suffered	πάσχω páschō	G3958	to experience a sensation or impression (usually painfu…
for	περὶ peri	G4012	properly · preposition
sins	ἁμαρτιῶν hamartiōn	G266	a sin (properly abstract) · noun — genitive plural feminine
just	δίκαιος dikaios	G1342	equitable (in character or act) · adjective — nominative singular masculine
for	ὑπὲρ huper	G5228	"over" · preposition
unjust	ἀδίκων, adikōn	G94	unjust · adjective — genitive plural masculine
that	ἵνα ina	G2443	compare G3588 (ὁ)) · conjunction
bring	προσαγάγῃ prosagagē	G4317	to lead towards · verb — second aorist active subjunctive, 3rd person singular
us	ἡμᾶς hēmâs	G2248	us
God	θεῷ, theō	G2316	figuratively · noun — dative singular masculine, a title
death	θανατωθεὶς thanatōtheis	G2289	become dead · verb — aorist passive participle, nominative singular masculine
flesh	σαρκί, sarki	G4561	flesh (as stripped of the skin) · noun — dative singular feminine
but	δὲ de	G1161	but · conjunction
quickened	ζῳοποιηθεὶς zōopoiētheis	G2227	to (re-)vitalize (literally or figuratively) · verb — aorist passive participle, nominative singular masculine
Spirit	πνεύματι, pneumati	G4151	a current of air · noun — dative singular neuter

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvat…
Hebrews 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away si…
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
1 Peter 4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live acc…
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Romans 5:6-8 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Colossians 1:21-22 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 1 Peter 3:18-20

Here, I. The example of Christ is proposed as an argument for patience under sufferings, the strength of which will be discerned if we consider the several points contained in the words; observe therefore, 1. Jesus Christ himself was not exempted from sufferings in this life, though he had no guilt of his own and could have declined all suffering if he had pleased. 2. The reason or meritorious cause of Christ's suffering was the sins of men: Christ suffered for sins. The sufferings of Christ were a true and proper punishment; this punishment was suffered to expiate and to make an atonement for sin; and it extends to all sin. 3. In the case of our Lord's suffering, it was the just that suffer…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Peter 3:18

Confirmation of Pe1 3:17, by the glorious results of Christ's suffering innocently. For--"Because." That is "better," Pe1 3:17, means of which we are rendered more like to Christ in death and in life; for His death brought the best issue to Himself and to us [BENGEL]. Christ--the Anointed Holy One of God; the Holy suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust. also--as well as yourselves (Pe1 3:17). Compare Pe1 2:21; there His suffering was brought forward as an example to us; here, as a proof of the blessedness of suffering for well-doing. once--for all; never again to suffer. It is "better" for us also once to suffer with Christ, than for ever without Christ We now are suffering our "…

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Adam Clarke on 1 Peter 3:18

Christ also hath once suffered - See the notes on Rom 5:6; Heb 9:28 (note). Put to death in the flesh - In his human nature. But quickened by the Spirit - That very dead body revived by the power of his Divinity. There are various opinions on the meaning of this verse, with which I need not trouble the reader, as I have produced that which is most likely.

John Gill on 1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins,.... Not his own, for he committed none, but for the sins of his people; in order to obtain the remission of them, to make reconciliation for them, and to take and put them away, and finish and make an end of them; which sufferings of his, on account of them, were many and great: he suffered much by bearing the griefs, and carrying the sorrows of his people, whereby he became a man of sorrows, and acquainted with griefs, from his cradle to his cross; and from the temptations of Satan, being in all points tempted, as his members are, though without sin; and from the contradiction of sinners against him, in his name, credit, and character, abusing hi…

The Church Fathers

For to this end had He come, that, being Himself pure from sin, and in all respects holy, He might undergo death on behalf of sinners. Similarly, you who emulate Him in condoning sins, if you yourself have done no sin, plainly suffer in my stead.
— Tertullian, On Modesty

"For Christ," he says, "hath once suffered for our sins, the just for the unjust, that he might present us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but quickened in the spirit." He says these things, reducing them to their faith. That is, He became alive in our spirits. "Coming," he says, "He preached to those who were once unbelieving." They saw not His form, but they heard His voice.
— Clement of Alexandria ((as quoted by Cassiodorus)), From the Latin Translation of Cassiodorus

Again Peter expounds Christ's death and resurrection. Notice how he proclaims the mystery to us. For by saying that he died in the flesh and that he was made alive again in the Spirit, what he is really saying is that he died for the sake of our flesh, which is under the power of corruption, but that he rose again as God, for the word spirit means "God" in this instance.
— Andreas of Caesarea, CATENA

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Noah — Rest, (Heb. Noah) the grandson of Methuselah (Gen. 5:25-29), who was for two hundred and fifty years contemporary with Adam, and the son of Lamech, who was about fifty years old at the time of Adam’s…
Resurrection of Christ — One of the cardinal facts and doctrines of the gospel. If Christ be not risen, our faith is vain (1 Cor. 15:14). The whole of the New Testament revelation rests on this as an historical fact. On the…
Access To God · Is by Christ — Is by Christ
Antediluvians · Noah preaches to — Noah preaches to
Atonement · .Ma — .Ma
Atonement, The · Made but once — Made but once
Baptism · 2:12; — 2:12;
Example · CHRIST, OUR — CHRIST, OUR
Holy Spirit · 1:9,32,33;3:5,6,34;4:14;6:45,63;7:38,39;14:16,17,26;15:26;16:7-14;20:22; — 1:9,32,33;3:5,6,34;4:14;6:45,63;7:38,39;14:16,17,26;15:26;16:7-14;20:22;
Holy Spirit, The, Is God · As raising Christ from the dead — As raising Christ from the dead
Power Of The Holy Spirit, The · Exhibited in: Raising Christ from the dead — Exhibited in: Raising Christ from the dead
Resurrection Of Christ, The · Effected by: The power of the Holy Spirit — Effected by: The power of the Holy Spirit

1 Peter 3:18

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 1 Peter 3:18-20

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Peter 3:18

Adam Clarke on 1 Peter 3:18

John Gill on 1 Peter 3:18

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

1 Peter 3:18

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 1 Peter 3:18-20

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Peter 3:18

Adam Clarke on 1 Peter 3:18

John Gill on 1 Peter 3:18

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Calvin on 1 Peter 3:17-18

Tyndale Open Study Notes on 1 Peter 3:18-22