And so the whole overarching idea here is that the believer under persecution, under unjust treatment, under punishment and even death, even death, should be willing to suffer knowing there is triumph because though he may die in the flesh as a man, he will live in the spirit according to the will of God. What Peter is saying is that God has promised you that through death you’ll overcome sin. So he reminds his readers the gospel was preached to those now dead for this purpose, that though they are