"Else what
shall they do which are baptized for the dead
If dead not
rise not at all? why then are they baptized for the dead?"
(v. 29).
There
are two views given by others as to the meaning of
this verse.
I believe
both explanations are in error.
1. BAPTISM FOR THE
PHYSICALLY DEAD PERSON.
There are those that baptize themselves again for each one of those
who died without being baptized while they were alive.
They search their family tree and baptize
themselves again and again for each relative who died without being baptized.
This verse is taken literally without knowing of the Greek words,
and their meaning.
They do not have other verses to confirm
this teaching,
but rather, other verses contradict it.
This is futile,
because baptizing yourself for anyone
who is an unbeliever,
and already dead, will not give that person
eternal life.
One must believe in
the Lord Jesus,
His finished work on the Cross and His
resurrection,
to have forgiveness of their sins and
to inherit eternal life,
while he or she is alive physically.
After the person dies, it is too late
for that person.
Baptism
is a picture for those that are alive, depicting that he or she is dead
to the world and alive unto God
(Rom. 6:5; Eph. 2:5-6).
There is no
instance in the Gospel or in the epistles
of anyone
baptizing in place of another person
who died without
being baptized.
Those that do this, mistakenly believe that baptism is essential
for salvation.
The thief on the cross was not baptized,
yet Jesus said to Him,
“today thou
shalt be with me in paradise.”
The Apostle Paul baptized only Crispus,
Gaius and the house of Stephen
(1Cor. 1:14-16).
The Apostle Paul said
“For Christ
sent me not to baptize but to preach the gospel..."
(1Co. 1:17).
If baptism was essential for salvation,
Paul would not say this.
Paul also says to
the Corinthians,
“I have begotten
you through the gospel.”
2. BAPTIZING IN THE RANK
OF THE BAPTIZERS WHO DIED.
The
second interpretation is the baptizers are those that have taken the place
of the former baptizers that physically died.
The question
of 1Cor. 15:29 is not about the baptizers.
Nor is it about the literal baptism.
It is about the spiritual meaning of baptism
which includes the resurrection,
the rising from the dead.
Many, misunderstandings, or lack of understandings,
comes because Christians look for the
literal meaning of the verse.
If you look for the spiritual meaning,
it becomes clear.
(1Cor. 2:13; 2Cor. 4:18)
THE CORRECT INTERPRETATION
3. BAPTIZED BEYOND THE GRAVE.
To
understand this verse,
you must read from 1Cor. 15:1-32
of
which, verse 29 is a part of.
You must also understand the theme of
this chapter,
and the audience that Paul is speaking
to.
You must know the essential Greek words
and their meaning.
Paul was speaking to those that did not
believe in the resurrection of the dead.
The
Apostle Paul is not teaching about baptism,
or how to baptized, in this portion.
You must not make a doctrine out of one
verse,
especially when the verse is taking out
of context,
and not in harmony with the rest of the
chapter.
The theme
here is about the resurrection.
The believers were observing the ordinance
of baptism,
and yet there were some of them that did
not believe in the resurrection,
or life after death.
The Apostle
Paul is asking,
why are those that believe in the resurrection,
and are being baptized if the dead
do not rise.
He tells them if there is not resurrection,
then all of them are yet in their sins.
If this is the case, why put yourselves
in danger,
by being baptized and revealing their
faith.
He warns them that they are yet in their
sins,
if Christ be not risen and they have believed
in vain.
But now Christ is risen and become the first fruits;
and afterward they that are Christ’s at
his coming. (1Cor. 15: 23).
"Else
what shall they do who are baptized for (Grk.
huper, above, beyond) the dead,
if the dead
rise not at all?"
"Why are they
then baptized for (above, beyond)
the dead?
And
why stand we in jeopardy every hour?"
1Cor.15: 29,30
The important
word that was misused in 1Cor. 15: 29
is the word FOR, in
baptized for the dead.
The Greek word is HUPER
which means ABOVE, BEYOND.
This
is how the verse 29 should read.
“Else
what shall they do who are baptized for (above,
beyond the dead)
into the resurrection
if the dead rise not at all?
Why are they then baptized ABOVE or
BEYOND the dead into the resurrection.”
The same Greek word used in Mat.
10:24;
“The disciple
is not above (huper)
his master, nor the servant above (huper)
his lord.”
Here
the correct word 'above' is used, instead of 'for'.
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