Study of Peter 1 & 2: Chapter 4: 6-10...

6 For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as people, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God.

Verse 6

The Gospel was preached to those who are dead and refers to a spiritual death, not actual death.

The next part of the verse goes on to talk about being judged in the flesh.

Put another way the Contemporary English Versions say, judged for what they have done in life.

English standard version says, judged in the flesh the way people are.

This is the treatment they received in the flesh from people who are in the flesh according to Barnes' Notes on the Bible.

Verse 7

The end is near and then goes to list the things we need to do to be ready like be sober in spirit.

Verse 8

Above all constant, earnestly, warmly, deeply, true, steadily, and unselfishly....

All these words point out that we need to love one another with some urgency and obedience.

Love covers a multitude of sins.

Verse 9

Be welcoming, friendly, gracious, polite, and thoughtful are other words that can describe hospitable.

We need to do this without complaining about it.

Verse 10

Special Gifts means the spiritual gifts God has given us.

  6 However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one’s faith; 7 if service, in the act of serving; or the one who teaches, in the act of teaching; 8 or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

We are to use our Spiritual Gifts to serve others as good stewards.

We are to do this because of the manifold grace of God put another way in several Bibles.

Manifold according to the Oxford Dictionary says. many and various.

According to the Bible, we are using it means the same thing there are many graces of God.