Baptized for the Dead

In 1 Cor. 15:29 Paul says, "Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?" (NKJV) It is said by commentators that there is broad disagreement as to what is being referred to by the phrase "baptized for the dead." It is common to find in most commentaries an extended discussion of the verse with much more space being devoted to it than there is to the average verse.

I have no doubt that the verse is a reference to water baptism for the remission of sins (yes, I can hear my critics already). Why do I say that? In the very first chapter of First Corinthians Paul begins a discussion of the divisions in the church at Corinth. To show the brethren the error they were following in dividing up into followers of men he says, "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name." (1 Cor. 1:13-15 NKJV)

This does not mean that only a few of those whom Paul converted in Corinth were baptized, not at all. Paul established the church in Corinth in Acts 18 and it is said there that "Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized." (Act 18:8 NKJV) What were the Corinthians hearing?

They were hearing the entire gospel message (1 Cor. 15:3-4), "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." (NKJV) They were hearing what was demanded of them – faith, repentance, baptism for the remission of sins.

But, many will object to the last point. Remember who established the church at Corinth – Paul. He is the one doing the preaching. He is the one Ananias told in Acts 22:16 to "Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16 NKJV) Is Paul who had to be baptized to wash away his sins going to then turn around and tell the Corinthians, yes, I had to but you don’t? Why are many of the Corinthians being baptized under Paul’s preaching? (Acts 18:8) To ask is to answer.

But, there is even more. In 1 Cor. 6:9-10 Paul gives a list of what were some real serious sins (they all are) and then says in the next verse, "And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Cor. 6:11 NKJV) Does the word "washed" here remind you of the word "wash" as in "wash away your sins" (Acts 22:16), the words of Ananias to Paul when he was yet known as Saul. So the church at Corinth, meaning each Christian in it, had been washed of their sins the same way Paul himself had in the waters of baptism where the blood of Jesus is contacted spiritually.

What does all of this have to do with 1 Cor. 15:29 and the baptism for the dead? A lot. As Paul spoke to the Corinthians through his writing he was speaking to them of that which they knew – baptism for the remission of sins – and that which they had done. I could tell you exactly what I think this verse is teaching but that is not the point I want to drive home in this article.

The point I want to make is that 1 Cor. 15:29 shows beyond any doubt that the Corinthians had been taught and firmly believed that baptism was essential to salvation or else why be baptized for the dead? We are always looking at this verse wondering who the dead are or what the meaning is but in doing so overlook this obvious lesson. If baptism is a meaningless thing, only a symbol or sign, then why be bothered with it?

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