By Roy B. Blizzard
Today's Passage in Translation comes as a result of a question from one of our readers who asked, after talking to a Mormon, why they say someone can still be saved after death.
Question: In talking to a Mormon they say someone can still be saved after death by applying this scripture. 1 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?
Let me begin to answer this question by saying first, the Jews never had a practice or custom of baptizing in behalf of someone who had already died. Secondly, you have to know the Pauline theology on the subject of baptism to understand this particular passage which has nothing whatsoever to do with baptizing for one who had already passed away.
In order to understand this passage, you have to reflect back to Paul's teaching on the subject in Romans 6:3-11 when he declares:
[3] Know ye not that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?
[4] Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
[5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, so we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,
[6] knowing this: that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
[7] For he that is dead is freed from sin.
[8] Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,
[9] knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth no more; death no more hath dominion over Him.
[10] For in that He died, He died unto sin once; but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God.
[11] Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
In this passage, Paul explains very pointedly the purpose of baptism is that one is baptized into death, the death of Christ. And, just as he was raised from the dead, so we also shall arise to walk in newness of life.
So, the question – if the dead are not raised why are you being baptized into death. You see, it has nothing to do with baptizing in behalf of dead people but rather the figurative purpose of the ritual of baptism. Unfortunately, this is a subject that is not clearly understood by most Christian denominations. I might add in closing that we have a rather comprehensive study on the subject on our CD program, The Blood Covenant which can be ordered on our Web site.
