Baptism for the Dead

I Corinthians 15:29

     I Corinthians 15:29 “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?”

Paul is not teaching a doctrine in this passage about baptism in behalf of the dead, but is evidently alluding to a usage familiar to his readers.

Paul often used varied illustrations without background details or explanation since his main objective was not the illustration but the theme, which in this case is the “resurrection”.

Paul stated that there were customs and practices that he would personally set in order when he came to Corinth, such as in the passage of I Corinthians 11:34 “And the rest will I set in order when I come”.

According to Tertullian (160 -225 A.D.), an earlier church writer, some in Corinth historically practiced a baptism on behalf of the dead and this practice continued on for some time.

Tertullian tells of some heretics who took it to mean baptized in the place of dead people (unsaved) in order to save them.

Tertullian also records that the Jews cleansed by proxy a man dying under ceremonial pollutions bier of the dead person and answered in his name that he desired to be baptized.

A large number of both ancient and modern commentators adopt the view that a living Christian was baptized for an unbaptized dead Christian.

The Greek expositors regarded the words “the dead” as equivalent to “the resurrection of the dead”, and “the baptism” as a manifestation of belief in the doctrine of the resurrection.

Various explanations by Church Fathers:

1.     Chrysostom – “For our mortal bodies.”

2.     Calvin - “For those about to die.”

3.     Luther - “Over the dead body.”

4.     Le Claro - “To supply the vacancies left by the dead.

5.     Passing through a baptism of suffering and fire.

6.     Some practice of substitutionary baptism observed in the Pagan mysteries.

7.     Some take it to be baptism over the dead.

8.     Others take it to mean that Paul and others were in peril of death as shown by baptism.

9.     Some believe it to mean converts to Christianity by the heroism of the martyrs.

10.Still others believe baptism refers to martyrdom, the baptism of blood as in Luke 12:50 and Mark 10:38.

11.Others say the death of Christians by martyrdom leads to the conversion of survivors.

12.There are at least 30 explanations that have been put forth concerning this obscure passage.

A doctrine must not be made from an obscure passage like this one especially when there are no other clear scriptural support for such a teaching regardless of which interpretation one may adopt concerning this subject, but rather Scripture repudiates such a possible practice of proxy baptism because of the necessity of personal belief, faith, trust in Christ not proxy faith.  Also baptism symbolizes by an outward sign what has already occurred in the heart of the individual who has received Christ (not proxy belief), but rather become sons and daughters by personal faith in Christ Jesus as Lord and not proxy faith in behalf of others.