AN EXPLANATION OF 1 CORINTHIANS 15:29

Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them? (1 Corinthians 15:29).

The context of this passage is one in which Paul is arguing on behalf of the doctrine of the ****** resurrection. The Greeks as a rule did not hold to a ****** resurrection. It was a new concept to them. Their religion taught that the afterlife consisted of a disembodied existence. Throughout this chapter, Paul gives one argument after another showing that Christians legitimately believe in a resurrection.

Now his argument takes a new turn. This new turn is introduced in verse 29, but that is not a stand-alone verse. It must be read in its context.

Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them? 30 Why are we also in danger every hour? 31 I protest, brethren, by the boasting in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. (1 Corinthians 15:29-32).

We notice immediately that this verse appears in a context of suffering. There is are the following elements described:

Danger (15:30)

Dying (15:21)

Fighting wild beasts (15:32).

This is the language of persecution and martyrdom.

Here is the question. If there is no ****** resurrection, then why should I risk my life by holding onto my Christian faith? In Paul’s day, it was not healthy to be a Christian. Paul himself had suffered many things for the cause of Christ. He had been beaten with rods, ******, lashed and thrown into prison. He had come through hunger, thirst, exposure and sickness.

Now comes the question. Why is Paul doing this if there is no ****** resurrection when the only reason he is being persecuted is because he said that a certain dead Galilean got up and walked?

It is in this context that Paul asks, "What will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?" The Mormons take this verse to indicate that it is possible for a person to be baptized on behalf of someone who has already died and thereby gain salvation for that person. They point to the phrase for the dead and point out that the Greek preposition can be translated, "in place of the dead." They are correct linguistically, but miss the point that the passage is written in a context of persecution and martyrdom.

Here is the question that Paul asks. Why do believers who are under persecution continue to hold to their faith in a resurrection that results in their being persecuted if there is no resurrection? And why do new converts rise up to be baptized in place of those who are being put to death if there is no resurrection of the dead? Why are new believers being baptized and filling up the ranks of the church in place of those who have died if there is no resurrection when it results in being in danger every hour and in daily danger of death ("I die daily")?

If Paul were to be thrown to the lions in the great stadium in Ephesus because of his stand for Christ, that would be of great benefit. But that is only true if there is a resurrection from the dead. If there is no resurrection of the dead, then it is silly for Paul to risk his life.

If there is no resurrection from the dead, then we have followed a lie. If this is the case, then we are not doing God’s will, but only the will of another group of men. If I am martyred only on the basis of some misguided men, what does it profit me?

The good news is that Christ HAS risen from the dead. And that is why people continue to believe in Him, filling up the ranks of those who have gone before us. And that is why YOU have been baptized in place of the dead.

Thus, the picture of being baptized in place of the dead is a picture of new converts coming to Christ and being baptized to replace those who have died in Christ. There is a sense that when you were baptized and brought into the body of Christ, you were baptized to take the place of those who had come before

Sometimes
I get scared
that maybe
I don't like
the things that I like.

That my yearning
to be liked
has caused me
to lie to
myself.

The scary part is
I don't know
if I'm right or wrong.

my room smells like that sandwich
i bought home
because of the fear of
loneliness

that sandwich
with
cold bacon
baked with temporary warmth.
spiced
with sweet onion
mayonnaise
honey mustard
which flavours fill the emptiness.
healthy-ised it with
lettuce
tomato
cucumber
onion
to make the most out of things.

my room smells like that sandwich
i bought home
because of the fear of
*loneliness

I tear my heart open just to feel my crimson slime drip through the cracks of my shattered ribs. I cut through my charades of arms and skins and let the red hot blade slide through and burn the wounds so I leave no mess. I'm a ***** mess as I walk barefooted down badly paved roads. It's the darkest hour of the night, But no one told me it would be the warmest. I stepped across the tared pavement street with my bare, ***** feet. I walked for miles in the darkest hours. I walked without shoes, I walked without shirt. I walked across highways, I walked through towns. People only stare and gawk at the less fortunate. But who said that I was less fortunate? I was driven by only one purpose, To make someone else happy. I did not do this for myself. I was on no pilgrimage. I took the walk in the darkest hours just to see a love of mine. I had fallen in love and out of reality. I had lost many friends; many resources; much credibility. I beat the ground until my knuckles bled. I caused more intentional harm to my own body than anyone or thing had done to me in ten years time I've traversed this path many a time but it never gets any easier. To think I'm doing this based upon a thought or rumor. To think of all I've done and yet I am poor; I am cold; I am walking to find a place to sleep. A place where I may rest my chin up upon a rope and slip off the rock underneath. A place where I could be happy and rest in a peace I haven't known in years. It's like you're spitting fire in your words. I can feel every syllable slap across whatever scarred canvas I have left. That's really all I am isn't it? A canvas where you can paint whatever picture you want; because you know I'll follow your every demand. Have I just become your toy? I tell everyone I do it out of love. I tell myself I do it out of love. But really, Is it just muscle memory? Lately I've been losing sleep. Even less sleep then I would normally get, rolling about and wallowing in my own despair. Isn't that sad? Isn't there some way I can actually convince myself it's supposed to be like this? What's it matter. The farther I walk the less I realize how far I stray from the side of the road. These yellow lines? I'm in the middle? But how? I haven't even noticed myself drifting. Drifting? Wasn't I just walking? But how? And that's when it hits me. The branch, I mean. How could I not even notice I've hung my own body? Has my life really come down to this? Walking barefoot down a cold road to find a nice place to die? What's it matter, you know? sometimes rambling is best. Just to be heard. Just to know someone is out there, looking at my words and knowing I exist. I exist. You know what? That's right. I do exist and ******* if that's what I have to tell myself to stay here, I'll do it for you. Because I love you. And not hell or high water will change that. I love you and I'm here for you. I exist. Please remind me I exist?