Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Peter 4:5
Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
5. who shall give account ] The phrase is one of the many echoes in this Epistle of our Lord’s teaching (Luk 16:2). The thought of the Final Judgment from which there will be no appeal is made here, as in 1Co 4:5, a motive for patience and courage under the false accusations and unjust judgments of men. They who now demand an account (chap. 1Pe 3:15) will one day have to render it. Christ holds Himself in readiness to judge both the living and the dead. There is nothing in the context to lead us to any other than a literal interpretation of the familiar phraseology. Commentators who have taken the words of those who are spiritually living and spiritually dead have been led, for the most part, by their unwillingness to accept the natural meaning of the words that follow.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Who shall give account – That is, they shall not do this with impunity. They are guilty in this of a groat wrong and they must answer for it to God.
That is ready to judge – That is, who is prepared to judge – to hetoimos echonti. See the phrase used in Act 21:13; I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem. 2Co 12:14; the third time I am ready to come to you. Compare the word ready – hetoimos – in Mat 22:4, Mat 22:8; Mat 24:44; Mat 25:10; Luk 12:40; Luk 22:33; 1Pe 1:5. The meaning is, not that he was about to do it, or that the day of judgment was near at hand – whatever the apostle may have supposed to be true on that point – but that he was prepared for it; all the arrangements were made with reference to it; there was nothing to hinder it.
To judge the quick and the dead – The living and the dead; that is, those who shall be alive when he comes, and those in their graves. This is a common phrase to denote all who shall be brought before the bar of God for judgment. See the Act 10:42 note; 1Th 4:16-17 notes; 2Ti 4:1 note. The meaning in this connection seems to be, that they should bear their trials and the opposition which they would meet with patiently, not feeling that they were forgotten, nor attempting to avenge themselves; for the Lord would vindicate them when he should come to judgment, and call those who had injured them to an account for all the wrongs which they had done to the children of God.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 5. To judge the quick and the dead.] They shall give account of these irregularities to Him who is prepared to judge both the Jews and the Gentiles. The Gentiles, previously to the preaching of the Gospel among them, were reckoned to be dead in trespasses and sins, Eph 2:1-5; under the sentence of death, because they had sinned. The Jews had at least, by their religious profession, a name to live; and by that profession were bound to give to God.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Who shall give account to him; of their evil speaking as well as of other sins, Jud 1:15; it is a metaphor taken from stewards giving account to their masters, Mat 18:23; Luk 16:2.
That is ready; not only prepared for it, but at hand to do it, Jam 5:9.
To judge the quick and the dead; those that shall be alive at Christs coming, and those that died before, but then shall be raised, and brought to judgment. Hereby he intimates, for their comfort, that though their enemies and ill-willers might outlive them, yet they shall not escape Gods judgment.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. They who now call you toaccount falsely, shall have to give account themselves for this veryevil-speaking (Jude 15), and becondemned justly.
readyvery speedily(1Pe 4:7; 2Pe 3:10).Christ’s coming is to the believer always near.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Who shall give account to him,…. “To God himself”, as the Syriac version reads; of all their blasphemies, and hard speeches spoken by them against God, Christ, the Gospel, and good men, and receive their just punishment. This the apostle says, to calm the minds of God’s people, and make them to sit easy under all censures, reproaches, and calumnies, and not think of avenging themselves, but commit themselves to him that will judge righteously; even to him,
that is ready to judge the quick and the dead; that is, all men, such as will be found alive when he comes, and those that have died before, who will then be raised from the dead, to receive their judgment; and by whom is meant the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom all judgment is committed; and who is ordained to be the Judge of quick and dead, and will judge both at his appearing and kingdom; yea, the day is appointed when this judgment will proceed by him, and he is at the door; so that he may be truly said to be ready for it, as he is every way equal to it, and will finish it with righteousness.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Who shall give account ( ). Future active indicative of . For this use with (account) see Matt 12:36; Luke 16:2; Acts 19:40; Heb 13:17. For the sudden use of the relative see Ro 3:8.
To him that is ready to judge ( ). Dative, “to the one readily judging,” correct text, not , “to the one ready to judge,” which “softens the rugged original” (Hart). That is Christ apparently (1Pet 1:13; 2Cor 5:10), but the Father in 1:17.
The quick and the dead ( ). “Living and dead.” Those living at the time and those already dead (1Th 4:15).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
That is ready [ ] . Lit, having himself in readiness; there at God ‘s right hand in heaven, wither he has gone (ch. 3 22). Implying, also, a near judgment. Compare ver. 7.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Who shall give account.” The term (Greek logon) indicates a detailed “ledger report” — which each person shall give to God, at the judgment. Ecc 12:13-14; Mat 12:36.
2) “To him that is ready.” (Greek to etoimos) “to the one who is ready” (Greek echonti) having or holding the authority — this one is Jesus Christ, to whom judgment accounting is committed. Joh 3:35; Joh 5:22.
3) “To judge the quick and the dead.” To judge the (Greek zontas) “living” and the (Greek nekrous) dead bodies, to give to each his righteous due, 2Co 5:10-11; 2Ti 4:1-2.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
1Pe. 4:5-6 who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead. 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.
Expanded Translation
These wicked persons shall render an account (report) to him (Christ) who is ready and prepared to judge those living and those dead. For unto this purpose was the good news (of salvation) preached also to those (now) dead, in order that they might be judged (condemned?) in accordance with (the judgment proper for) men who live in the realm of the flesh, but that (others) might live in harmony with God, and his will in the realm of the Spirit.
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who shall give account
ACCOUNTlogos, usually rendered word in the Scriptures, is translated reason in 1Pe. 3:15. Here it means account, report; an answer or explanation.
to him that is ready to judge
That is, Christ: Joh. 5:22-23, Act. 17:31.
the living and the dead
A phrase which has been variously interpreted.
Some believe the terms living and dead are to be understood of ones spiritual state. And you did he make alive, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins ((Eph. 2:1). . . . thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou are dead (Rev. 3:1). But she that giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she liveth (1Ti. 5:6).
Most scholars, however, have simply understood the phrase as referring to the universality or comprehensiveness of the judgment, as in 2Ti. 4:18. Many are familiar with the committal which concludes concerning the body in the grave:
. . . there to await the day of resurrection
When the earth and sea will give up their dead,
To appear before our Lord Jesus Christ,
The Righteous Judge of the living and the dead.
See 2Co. 5:10, Rev. 20:12-13.
for to this end was the gospel preached, even to the dead
If we have placed the right construction on the phrase living and dead, then the gospel must have been preached to many who were, at the time of Peters epistle, in their tombs. The thought here is so similar to that expressed in 1Pe. 3:19 that we dare not separate them. The spirits in prison there, is equivalent to the dead here.
We have commonly limited the term preach the gospel to the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Christ, and the fact that salvation is offered by this One who is the Son of God. True, 1Co. 15:1-58 does so define the Gospel, and this message of salvation through the resurrected Christ is by far the most frequent usage of the word evangelidzo in the New Testament. Peter himself so uses it in 1Pe. 1:12; 1Pe. 1:25, and the noun form (euangelion, gospel) in 1Pe. 4:17.
But this specific definition of the term is only an application of its basic meaning: to proclaim or announce good tidings. Several times in the Septuagint, and in a number of New Testament passages it is used in this basic sense (Rev. 10:7; Rev. 14:6; Mat. 11:5). Sometimes the writer obviously did not have salvation through the resurrected Christ, as such, in mind, but simply the message of salvation, which is surely good news, whether preached in the Patriarchal, Mosaic, or Christian dispensation.
But they (the Jews) did not all hearken to the glad tidings, For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report (Rom. 10:16).
Again the Apostle Paul speaks of the disobedient Jews, this time during the days of Moses:
Seeing therefore it remaineth that some should enter thereinto, and they to whom the good tidings were before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience . . . (Heb. 4:6).
The message to those of a previous era which provided salvation, then, may Scripturally be called good tidings, joyful message, good news, glad tidings, or gospel. This, I believe, was the gospel preached even to the dead, including the antediluvians (1Pe. 3:19-20), who were, at the time Peter wrote, dead, and whose spirits were in prison. They did not, for the most part, accept this gospel, but it was preached to them nevertheless. Caton pointedly remarks that if all are to be judged by the Gospel of Christ as promulgated by the Apostles, then there must be a post-mortem preaching of the same, or else there would be a failure of justice on the part of God.
that they (the dead) might be judged indeed according to men in the flesh
Referring to those who had refused to believe, accept, and obey the Gospel, the message of salvation.
The fact that they had the good news proclaimed to them but refused it, made their condemnation even more justifiable. Knatchbull translates, that they who live according to men in the flesh may be condemned . . .a quite frequent sense of judged in the New Testament; and a definite possibility here.
but live according to God in the Spirit
Or but (they who live) according to God in the Spirit may live. The words Indeed . . . but . . . (men . . . de) represent a definite contrast in the original: on the one hand . . . on the other . . . The contrast is between people who live in two realms or spheres, the flesh and Spirit. Though men living in the realm of the flesh condemned them and abused them by their evil-speaking, they were living in the spirit-realm with the approbation of God upon their lives.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(5) Who shall give account.Perhaps said with a reference to 1Pe. 3:15, where these very persons call the Christians to give account (the Greek word is the same). The side-purpose of the clause (as in the similar threat, 1Pe. 2:8) is to warn the readers against sharing their fate by sharing their sins.
To him that is ready to judge.This carries on the history of Jesus Christ a step further still. The last thing was His sitting on the right hand of God. This is the order of the Apostles Creed. Bengel wisely remarks: The Apostles, when they are not expressly treating of the date of Christs advent, set forth that advent to their longing and devotion as close at hand. Hence Peter includes the slanderers of his day among the living, as just about to be judged.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. Give account Since these profligates and revilers must render an account to Christ, his maligned and suffering people may safely leave their vindication in his hands, following his own example, 1Pe 2:23.
Ready to judge The blessed side of Christ’s readiness for his second advent, St. Peter sets forth in his speech in Solomon’s porch. Act 3:19-20. And he is, on his part, fully prepared to take his seat on the judgment throne, as he has ever been since the apostle wrote. Not the nearness of the event, but its certainty, is intended.
The quick and the dead It obviates no difficulty to take these words figuratively. They must, we think, be taken in their usual sense, as in Act 10:42, Rom 14:9, and 2Ti 4:1, meaning those who are living when Christ comes, and those who are then dead.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Who will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.’
Peter now gets to the heart of what the reason was, and no doubt this was part of the Christians’ explanation for their behaviour. It was because they knew that they would have to give account to Him Who is ready to judge the living and the dead. They recognised that their lives would be called to account. They would have to explain what they had done, whether good or bad. Compare 1Pe 1:17; Rom 14:10-12; 1Co 4:5; 2Co 5:10; Jas 5:9; Heb 12:23.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
1Pe 4:5 points to the judgment which awaits the evil-speaking heathen: ] . (Mat 12:36 ; Heb 13:17 ; Act 19:40 ). Antithesis to , chap. 1Pe 3:15 .
] “that is, the Saviour risen, and seated at the right hand, chap. 1Pe 3:22 ,” de Wette.
The expression: , “ to be ready ,” with the exception of here, only in Act 21:13 ; 2Co 12:14 .
] As often in the N. T. of the last judgment, which by . . is pointed out as near at hand; comp. 1Pe 4:7 . does not denote some dead and some alive, but the aggregate of all, whether they be living or already dead when the day of judgment comes; comp. Act 10:42 ; 2Ti 4:1 . [239] It is erroneous to understand by the quick and the dead the Christians only (Wichelhaus, Schott), or those who speak evil only. Peter, by naming Him to whom the evil-speakers shall render an account, the Judge of the quick and the dead, implies thereby that they are not to remain unpunished, whether they die before the day of judgment or not. And this, as a testimony to the justice of God, should serve to comfort the Christians under the calumnies which they had to endure, and exhort them not to be led aside by them to a denial of their Christian walk.
It must further be observed, that this passage adds the last to those elements of the glory of the exalted Saviour mentioned at the close of the last chapter, namely, the office of judge which He will execute at the end of the days.
[239] Gerhard: vivos , quos judex veniens reperiet vivos, mortuos , quos ex sepulcris in vitam revocabit. Several commentators erroneously understand the words in a figurative sense; Joh. Huss: vivos in gratia ad beatitudinem, mortuos in culpa ad damnationem; Bened. Arias: vivos adhuc in carne illa Adami: mortuos in Christo.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
Ver. 5. Who shall give account ] Of their ungodly deeds and hard speeches, Jdg 1:15 . Angels did their first execution in the world upon luxurious Sodomites; they will be very active doubtless against such at the last day. See2Pe 2:102Pe 2:10 , and mark that word, chiefly.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
5 .] who (your blasphemers. The consideration is propounded for the comfort and stay of Christians unjustly slandered) shall render account (reff.) to Him that is ready (reff.) to judge (aor.: once for all, decisively) living and dead .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
1Pe 4:5 . , will render account if of their blasphemy, cf. Mat 12:36 , if of their (see note) cf. the steward of Luk 16:2 . , i.e. , to Christ rather than to God (as 1Pe 1:17 ). The Christians took over the Jewish doctrine that every man must give an account of his life (Rom 14:10 ). As already Enoch (lxix. 27 = Joh 5:22 ; Joh 5:27 ) taught that this judgment was delegated to Messiah. So St. Peter said at Caesarea this is he that hath been appointed by God judge of living and dead (Act 10:43 ). Compare Mat 25:31 ff. for a more primitive and pictorial statement. The use of probably represents (see 1Pe 1:5 ) i.e. , the future judge ; Greek readers would understand the imminent judge ( cf. use of = ready, sure to come , Homer, Il. , xviii. 96, etc.). The 5., . softens the rugged original.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
give = render. As in Heb 13:17.
account. App-121.
is ready. See Act 21:13.
judge. App-122.
quick = living. App-170.
dead. App-139.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
5.] who (your blasphemers. The consideration is propounded for the comfort and stay of Christians unjustly slandered) shall render account (reff.) to Him that is ready (reff.) to judge (aor.: once for all, decisively) living and dead.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
1Pe 4:5. , shall give account) in particular of their evil speaking: Jud 1:15.-) to Christ.- , who is ready) The apostles, when they do not professedly treat of the time of Christs coming, set forth that coming as close at hand to their expectation and piety: hence it is that Peter comprehends those who then reviled under the living, as though shortly about to be judged.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
shall: Mal 3:13-15, Mat 12:36, Luk 16:2, Rom 14:12, Jud 1:14, Jud 1:15
that: Psa 1:6, Ecc 12:14, Eze 18:30, Mat 25:31-46, Joh 5:22, Joh 5:23, Joh 5:28, Joh 5:29, Act 10:42, Act 17:31, Rom 14:10-12, 1Co 15:51, 1Co 15:52, 2Ti 4:1, Jam 5:9
Reciprocal: Joh 17:14 – the world Act 24:25 – judgment Rom 2:16 – God Rom 14:9 – Lord 2Co 5:10 – we 1Pe 4:14 – reproached 1Pe 5:5 – all
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Pe 4:5. Give account denotes that these people who persecute Christians in this world, will have to answer for it to the Lord Jesus Christ, he being ready (authorized and qualified) to judge the quick (living) and the dead. There will be men living when Jesus comes (1Co 15:51), and they will have to stand before the judgment of Christ, as well as the ones not living. (See Act 10:42 Act 17:31.)
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
1Pe 4:5. Who shall give account; the same phrase as in Heb 13:17, Act 19:40, and found on Christs own lips, e.g. Mat 12:36; Luk 16:2.
to him that is ready to judge. The formula ready to (which is used again only in Act 21:13; 2Co 12:14), along with the tense in which the to judge is cast, points to the last judgment as certain and near, and to the Judge as prepared to judge once for all. This Judge, too, as we may infer from the general conclusion to which chap. 1Pe 3:17-22 led up, is Christ,the Christ who is reviled when Christians are reviled, the Christ who, in the time of His own suffering, committed His case to Him that judgeth righteously.
the quick and the dead, or simply, quick and dead. Here, as in a good many passages of Scripture (e.g. Lev 13:10; Num 16:30; Psa 55:15; Psa 124:3; Act 10:42; 2Ti 4:1; Heb 4:12), the adjective quick has its ancient sense of living, which is now for the most part lost. Compare Shakespeares
I had rather be set quick i the earth.
Merry Wives, iii. 4, 90,
and the still current cut to the quick, quickset, quicksilver, etc. The universality and impartiality of the judgment are thus expressed. For the phrase quick and dead is not to be limited either to the heathen slanderers, or (with Schott) to the Christians who are to get their rights, whether alive or dead, at Christs coming. It is for the comfort of suffering believers to know that there is a judgment in waiting for their revilers, and that this judgment is in the hands of Him who will impartially give their rights to all, whether alive or dead, whether heathen or Christian.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
ARGUMENT 19
THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO ALL, LIVING AND DEAD
5. This certifies the general judgment, where all living and dead shall stand before the great white throne.
6. For unto this was the Gospel also preached to the dead in order that they may be judged according to men in the flesh, and live according to God in the Spirit. There is no argument here for second probation and not the slightest inference that the Gospel was preached to any one after death, but to the dead generations, while they were living. How is this Christ himself is the Gospel, the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world (John 19). The Holy Ghost, who shines on every human soul in all ages and nations, is the Spirit of Christ. Hence Paul says (Romans 1), The heathens are left without excuse, as salvation is, and always has been, possible to every human being. 1Jn 1:7, If we walk in the light… The blood cleanses from all sin, applies to every human being, regardless of age, race or religion. Those who walk in all the light they have, not only receive pardon, but complete purification from sin and readiness for heaven. In the final judgment, those who have lived under the former dispensation will be judged by the Old Testament only, Christian nations by the whole Bible, while the heathen will only be judged by the laws of nature. Thus the Holy Spirit, the Revelator of Christ, so shines upon every human soul as to leave none with an apology before the judgment bar, where they will only be responsible for the light they have rejected.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 5
Who; that is, those that reproach you for not joining with them in their sinful pleasures.–The quick and the dead; the living and the dead.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
Peter reminded his readers that God would condemn their unsaved friends’ behavior. Consequently they should not return to it. The Judge was already "ready" to judge (cf. Dan 3:15 [LXX]; Act 21:13; 2Co 12:14). Peter viewed those who slander Christians for their lifestyles as really slandering God, who called us out of darkness into the light.