THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER
"Search the scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. " (John 5:39)

VOLUME 3, NUMBER 30, AUGUST 24, 2003

BAPTIZED FOR THE DEAD

            1 Corinthians 15 is one of the most encouraging and uplifting chapters found in God’s Word.   There were those who were denying the future resurrection of the dead and in a most powerful way, Paul presents the truth of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and how His resurrection guaranteed the general resurrection of the dead. 

            Paul’s progression of logic in verses 13 – 20 is unassailable.  He argues first in verse 13, that if there is no general resurrection of the dead, then Christ was not raised.  In verse 14, he proceeds by stating an obvious truth – if Christ was not raised, then there is no point in preaching the gospel and faith in it is worthless.  Indeed, verse 15 makes the point that the apostles must then be false witnesses, liars, because they were teaching that God raised up the Lord, who was not raised up if it were true that there was to be no resurrection.   Again, in verse 16, the point is made that if there is to be no general resurrection of the dead, then Christ was not raised.  If that was the case, verse 17 drives home the point that they had believed something that was just not true.  Their belief was vain and they were still dead in sins and all of their brothers and sisters in Christ who had died in faith were in fact lost.  If there was no resurrection, then Christians are of all people to be pitied the most.  The reason why that is true is that they had put everything they were and everything they ever hoped to be on something that was just not true, and such a one deserves pity.   In verse 20, Paul asserts with great boldness, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”  In other words, He is risen and all that they had believed was absolutely true.   The future general resurrection that they looked forward to was assured.

            In verses 29 – 32, Paul asked some questions that must be viewed in light of the discussion of the reality of the general resurrection of the dead.  He wrote, “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all?  Why are they then baptized for the dead?  And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.  If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not?  Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.”

            The phrase, “baptized for the dead” in verse 29 has generated a lot of discussion and controversy.  It has even given rise to the Mormon practice of baptism by proxy.  In other words, people who are living can be baptized for those who have already died, thus securing, or making possible, the salvation of those who lived their lives even in opposition to Christ.  I do not believe that is correct.

            There are several ways of looking at this.  I will give you the one that is the most logical, and contextually sound, as far as I can tell.    Brother Mike Willis gives the following paraphrase in his Commentary on Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians, p. 563.  I believe he as expressed the meaning of the verse very well.  “Otherwise what shall they do who are baptized?  For the dead? (i.e., are they baptized to belong to, to be numbered among the dead, who are never to rise again?)  Indeed, if the dead do not rise again at all, why are people baptized?  For them?” (i.e., are they baptized to be numbered among the dead who are never to rise again?)”

            I believe Mike has hit the nail on the head.  This expresses well the meaning in its the context.  It recognizes the real purpose of New Testament baptism and it fits perfectly into Paul’s argument.  A person is baptized in order to be saved.  That was the reason the Corinthians had been baptized, and it is the reason that all faithful Christians were baptized.  If there is no resurrection from the dead, then what difference does it make whether or not a person has had his sins washed away?  If there is no resurrection from the dead, why were they baptized?  To simply die and perish?  No!  If the dead are not to be raised, then being baptized is nonsensical.

            Additionally, if it were true that there was to be no general resurrection from the dead, then why did Paul and the others risk their lives every hour to spread the gospel?  If there was to be no general resurrection from the dead, why was Paul willing to lay down his very life for Christ if it should prove to be necessary?  Why did he go through the persecution and torment that he did if he knew that what he was preaching was not true?  If there was to be no future resurrection from the dead, then there was no point in trying to live a righteous life here.  What powerful reasoning!  What inspiring logic!

            Let’s conclude with verses 51 – 54, “Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”

                                                            Greg Litmer

A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE…

The Bible class teacher asked one of the men in his class if he could come to the map and point out the location of Dan and Beersheba.

            “You mean they are cities?”

            “They certainly are.”

            “I thought they were husband and wife like Sodom and Gomorrah.”