What does "baptized for the dead" mean?

Question: I would like for you to let me know, and explain what the verse in I Corinthians 15:29 is. My friend said that this verse means you pray for the dead.”

Answer: I Corinthians 15:29 is one of the most misunderstood verses in the Bible. There are dozens of opinions on what this verse means. How do we know which is right?

One way to tell which of the interpretations of this verse are false is to find the ones that do not harmonize in meaning with the topic of the verses around it. Or secondly, if a particular interpretation of this verse is proven false by a clear teaching from elsewhere in scripture, then we know that interpretation is wrong. Therefore, to clear the air on this verse it would be good to go through and address what I Corinthians 15:29 is not teaching first.

I Corinthians 15:29 reads, “Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?”

First of all, it is NOT teaching that those who are dead and without Christ still have a chance of being saved. Once you die, your opportunity to accept Him is over. Hebrews 9:27 says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” There are no second chances after you die. Secondly, it is not encouraging prayer for the dead. Prayer is not even mentioned in this verse or its context.

II Corinthians 5:10 declares, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” When we are judged before God it will be based on the choices we made while “in the body.” Death is a separation of the spirit from the body (see James 2:26). Therefore, after your body and spirit are separated you will face judgment for what you did while “in the body” before you died.

Therefore, the erroneous teaching that you can be baptized in the place of someone who is dead to save them is proven utterly false. The idea that you can pray for the dead and take them from torment to paradise contradicts the teaching of II Corinthians 5:10 and Luke 16:26. Salvation is based upon your response of faith before your death not on anything anyone does for you after death. Therefore, the above interpretations cannot be what I Corinthians 15:29 means.

Who is Paul talking about in verse 29, when he refers to the “dead?” When we look at the context of this verse, the only dead mentioned are the dead “in Christ” in verse 18. The dead “in Christ” don’t need to be saved or prayed for because Romans 8:1, teaches, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” The dead in verse 29 are the dead who are saved.

So what does verse 29 mean in the context? In I Corinthians 15 Paul is defending the Gospel and future hope of the resurrection of the dead. He is listing several ways our faith would be useless and pointless if the dead in Christ are not raised at Christ’s return (see verses 13-20, 23, & 29-32).

Paul’s arguments in this chapter can be paraphrased as: If there is no resurrection of the dead, why are we preaching Jesus arose? Why are we living for the next life not this one? Why do we endanger ourselves every hour by preaching Christ? Why do we suffer the hardships of the Christian life? Therefore, what ever verse 29 means it must be proving that the practice would be pointless if there were no resurrection of the Christian dead.

The word “for” in verse 29 could be translated as “on account of.” So why were they baptizing people for or on account of the dead Christians? I believe it’s to replenish church membership and sustain the church after the present believers have passed on. It’s to preserve a remnant who can proclaim the Gospel to the next generation.

All through the chapter Paul is questioning why they are doing the things Christians do if there is no resurrection. I think verse 29 could be paraphrased, "why are we making new converts to replace those who have died in Christ if there is no resurrection?" But the dead will be raised, so be ready for death by being saved today!

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