What Do You Make of This Verse ?

Kosherboy · 10-26-2008, 06:33 PM

1st Corinthins 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?[/align]

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Dozen Arrows · 10-26-2008, 06:38 PM

Very good point!

Their temples are filled with the bones of men and they decorate their dead. But follow Jesus and let the dead bury their own dead!

Well done my brother! Blessed are you!

Leafrivermac · 10-26-2008, 06:47 PM

I don't know Alex . . . . .I hope your setting us up and will give your thoughts. I looked into this once and found a lot of conflicting opinions. Seems that the most commonly held opinion was that folk were getting baptized for family that had died without being baptized . . .but it seems that there is no historical reference to this practice.
From there, my memory fades . . . .something about it maybe being a reference to Pauls suffering . . . .something about being baptized on inspiration of a beloved christian being put to death ????

The Rev · 10-26-2008, 07:30 PM

If Christ was not raised from the dead, then we are still in sin and there is no resurrection to life, and we are found to be foolish, because there is no life after death. All hope is then lost and our faith is worthless. On the other hand, if Christ has died and taken away our sin, and been resurrected the firstfruits of the dead, then our faith is not in vain, and we have been baptized or cleansed for the dead, in Christ. Then does the gospel truth Paul preached stand! By being in Christ when He died and was resurrected, we are baptized (Spiritually cleansed), and also resurrected as He was.

cardeeer · 10-27-2008, 02:09 AM

REV is Right in his interpetation.No such thing aswe getbaptized for a dead loved one. We got to be careful just pulling verses out and seperating them for there time table ,where and what was going on in the particular chapter. Baptism represents the death ,burial and resurrection of Christ. He was baptized symbolically on the cross for the dead in sin.Thats us. Be careful not to make us mini-christ.I probably made that clear as mud.

Snooky · 10-27-2008, 08:25 AM

I think Rev is pretty much on track. IMO the dead spoken of is Jesus, the testator who brought the Testament into force through his death.

cr422 · 10-27-2008, 08:57 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: cardeeer

REV is Right in his interpetation.No such thing aswe getbaptized for a dead loved one. We got to be careful just pulling verses out and seperating them for there time table ,where and what was going on in the particular chapter. Baptism represents the death ,burial and resurrection of Christ. He was baptized symbolically on the cross for the dead in sin.Thats us. Be careful not to make us mini-christ.I probably made that clear as mud.

Agreed. You have to read that whole chapter to understand what Paul is talking about. Some verses can stand alone, but others will not make sense if taken out of context.

Kosherboy · 10-27-2008, 01:59 PM

Paul is conforting a group of people in the church of Corinth that did not believe in resurrection. He asked them how can they have saving faith in a risen Lord, if he did not rise.

12But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.....16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

So, if we are baptized in the name of someone who died and was not raised, what good was the baptism?