1 Peter 3:18

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

For Christ suffered once for people’s sins [to be forgiven]. [It was the case of] a righteous Man suffering for unrighteous people, so that He could bring you [or, “us”] to God [for salvation]. [Though] He [i.e., Jesus] was put to death physically, He was brought back to life by the Holy Spirit [Note: Some translations say “in spirit”].

Cross References

Matthew 27:19

Then while Pilate was seated in his courtroom of justice, his wife sent [word] to him, saying, “You should have nothing to do with that innocent man. For I was very troubled in a dream over him today.” [Note: That is, she was troubled over a dream she had before waking up that morning].

Matthew 27:24

So, when Pilate saw that he was not convincing anyone, but that a riot was brewing instead, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd saying, “I am not responsible for this man’s blood. [Note: Some ancient manuscripts say “righteous man’s blood”]. You tend to the matter.”

John 16:10

[It will be shown] what is right because I am going [back] to the Father and you will not see me anymore.

Acts 22:14

And he said [to me], ‘The God of our forefathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One [i.e., Jesus], and to hear His voice [speaking to you].

Acts 3:14

But you denied the Holy and Righteous One [His rightful freedom] and asked for a murderer to be released to you [instead].

Romans 1:4

He was appointed to be the Son of God with power through the Spirit of holiness [Note: This could refer to the Holy Spirit] when He was raised from the dead.

Romans 4:25

[This] Jesus was delivered up [to die] for our sins and was raised [from the dead] to make us right with God.

Romans 5:2

And not only this, but we also rejoice in our troubles, knowing that [experiencing] troubles produces endurance;

Romans 8:11

But if the Spirit of God, who raised up Jesus from the dead, lives in your hearts, [then] that One [i.e., God] who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead, will restore life to your mortal bodies also, through [the power of] God’s Spirit who lives in your hearts.

Romans 8:3

For what the law was not able to do [for mankind], since it was [too] weak [to deliver them from condemnation] because fleshly people [were unable to obey it perfectly], God condemned sin in the flesh [i.e., sin was declared evil and its power over man broken]. God did this by sending His own Son in a body like sinful man’s, and to destroy sin,

2 Corinthians 1:24

For we do not have [the right to] rule over your faith [i.e., to dictate concerning your personal relationship with God], but we want to work with you for your happiness. For you are [already] standing firm in your faith. [Note: This whole narrative alludes to some unresolved problems still existing there in Corinth]

2 Corinthians 13:4

For He was weak when He was crucified [i.e., by assuming a human body capable of suffering and death], but [now] He lives by God’s power. For we too are weak, [along] with Him [i.e., each of us experiences the frailties of a human body], but by [this same] power from God, we will live with Him to serve you. [Note: The various translations differ widely on how to properly translate this difficult verse].

2 Corinthians 5:21

God considered Christ to be sinful on our behalf, even though He never sinned, so that we could be considered right with God through Him.

Galatians 1:4

who gave Himself to [save us from] our sins so that He might deliver us from [the control and condemnation of] this present evil world. [This is] according to the will of our God and Father,

Galatians 3:13

Christ bought us back from the curse [caused by our not obeying all the requirements] of the Law of Moses; He became a curse for us [by dying on the cross], for it is written [Deut. 21:23], “Every one who hangs on a tree [i.e., a cross] is cursed [i.e., cut off from God].”

Ephesians 3:12

It is in [fellowship with] Christ that we have boldness and confident access [to God] through our faith in Him.

Titus 2:14

He gave Himself up for us, to buy us back from [enslavement to] all [kinds of] wickedness and to purify for Himself a group of people who belong to Him and who are eager to do good deeds.

Hebrews 10:10

By [Christ doing] what God wanted we have been set aside for God through Jesus Christ offering His body once for all time.

Hebrews 9:14

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Holy Spirit [or, His eternal Spirit] offered Himself without [moral] blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from deeds which lead to [spiritual] death to serve the living God?

Hebrews 9:26

For then He would have had to suffer often since the creation of the world; but now at the end of the ages [i.e., the final period of world history] He has been revealed once [for all] to remove sin by sacrificing Himself.

Hebrews 9:28

so Christ also, who was once [for all] offered [as a sacrifice] to take away the sins of many people, will come back a second time, not to take away sin, [but] to provide salvation to those who are waiting for Him.

James 5:6

You have condemned and murdered the righteous man [i.e., the innocent person, See verse 4] and he does not [even] resist you.

1 Peter 3:19

It was by the Holy Spirit that He went to preach [See Eph. 2:17] to the [now departed] spirits [of pre-Flood people who are now] in prison [i.e., Hades].

1 Peter 4:1

Therefore, since Christ has suffered physically, you people should fortify yourselves with the same attitude He had. For the person who has suffered physically [i.e., in standing for Christ] has quit sinning.

1 Peter 4:6

This is the purpose that the Gospel was preached to those who have died physically [for the faith]: It was so that, even though they had been judged physically [i.e., by suffering death at the hands of men], they could still live spiritually in the presence of God.

1 John 1:9

[But] if we confess our sins [to God], He is faithful [to His promise] and righteous [in His judgment], and will forgive us of those sins and cleanse us from all of our wrongdoing.