Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
but he was raised to life in the Spirit (or in spirit): Flesh and spirit are often contrasted (e.g., Romans 7:5-6; Romans 8:2-11). Here, flesh stands for ordinary human life; the Spirit stands for the new realm inaugurated through Christ’s death and resurrection. Christ died in the old realm, and came to life in the new realm. NLTSB