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Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead. That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead[a]—so although they were destined to die like all people,[b] they now live forever with God in the Spirit.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. 4:6a Greek preached even to the dead.
  2. 4:6b Or so although people had judged them worthy of death.
  3. 4:6c Or in spirit.

They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.(A) But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.(B) For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead,(C) so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

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