One of the most intriguing verses in my Bible is 1 Corinthians 15:29:
“Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?” (1 Cor. 15:29)
What? People were baptized on behalf of the dead in the early church? Or was this just something that Paul was suggesting undermined some people’s faulty theology on future resurrection? Or should we just give up trying to figure it out?
There are plenty of opinions in scholarly literature and I’m sure there are plenty of opinions within non-scholarly circles. After spending last night reading through and considering the text, I came to one conclusion: after reading the Greek, my past proposal was impossible! Argh!
So I’d like to know what you believe is the way to understand this verse! Let’s discuss…
Luke is a pastor-theologian living in northern California, serving as a co-lead pastor with his life, Dawn, at the Red Bluff Vineyard. Father of five amazing kids, when Luke isn’t hanging with his family, reading or writing theology, he moonlights as a fly fishing guide for Confluence Outfitters. He blogs regularly at LukeGeraty.com and regularly contributes to his YouTube channel.
I think Paul was using an example from the world at that time (cultural practice) to challenge a logical fallacy they held to. I don’t think he was advocating the practice.
FWIW…I wrote a brief exegetical paper on this verse a few years back that can be read at http://www.scribd.com/doc/29991576/Baptism-of-the-Dead-1-Cor-15v29
Luke, what was your prior take on the meaning?
I’ve never looked much into it, but for a while now have taken it to mean that the early church practice was to baptize a living Christian on behalf of those that had been saved or “made the good confession” but died prior to being baptized. They would have taken Christ’s command to be baptized as a very literal and integral part of salvation, so much so that even those who had “fallen asleep” would be baptized vicariously through believing brothers or sisters in obedience to the Lord.