1 Peter 4:5

5 But they will have to give an account of themselves to God, who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

1 Peter 4:5 Meaning and Commentary

1 Peter 4:5

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.

1 Peter 4:5 In-Context

3 You have spent enough time in the past doing what the heathen like to do. Your lives were spent in indecency, lust, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and the disgusting worship of idols.

4 And now the heathen are surprised when you do not join them in the same wild and reckless living, and so they insult you.

5 But they will have to give an account of themselves to God, who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

6 That is why the Good News was preached also to the dead, to those who had been judged in their physical existence as everyone is judged; it was preached to them so that in their spiritual existence they may live as God lives.

7 The end of all things is near. You must be self-controlled and alert, to be able to pray.