1 Corinthians 15:29 kjv
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?
1 Corinthians 15:29 nkjv
Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?
1 Corinthians 15:29 niv
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?
1 Corinthians 15:29 esv
Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?
1 Corinthians 15:29 nlt
If the dead will not be raised, what point is there in people being baptized for those who are dead? Why do it unless the dead will someday rise again?
1 Corinthians 15 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 15:29 | else what will those do who are baptized for the dead? | Resurrection, Faith, Christian Practice |
| Matt 28:19 | Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them | Great Commission, Baptism Mandate |
| Acts 2:38 | Repent and be baptized | Baptism, Repentance, Forgiveness |
| Rom 6:3 | Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? | Union with Christ, Baptismal Identity, Death and Resurrection |
| Gal 3:27 | for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ | Baptism, New Identity in Christ |
| Col 2:12 | having been buried with him in baptism | Baptism, Burial, Resurrection |
| 1 Pet 3:20-21 | Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you | Baptism, Salvation, Noah's Ark Parallels |
| John 3:5 | Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." | New Birth, Water, Spirit, Kingdom of God |
| Acts 19:1-6 | Paul lays hands on believers in Ephesus, who were baptized into John’s baptism, then into Jesus’ name | Baptismal Succession, Spirit Baptism |
| 1 Cor 1:13 | Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? | Unity in Christ, Authority of Apostles |
| Rom 4:25 | who was delivered up for our transgressions and raised for our justification | Atonement, Justification, Resurrection |
| 1 Cor 15:14 | And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. | Resurrection, Foundation of Faith, Gospel Proclamation |
| 1 Cor 15:17 | If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. | Resurrection, Faith's Efficacy, Sin, Redemption |
| Acts 1:5 | For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit within the few days. | John's Baptism, Spirit Baptism, Promise of the Spirit |
| 1 Cor 15:32 | If I fought wild beasts at Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? | Perseverance, Reward, Resurrection Hope |
| 1 Thess 4:13-14 | concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. | Resurrection, Grief, Hope, Reunion with Believers |
| 1 Cor 15:18-19 | Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. | Resurrection, Loss, Hope in this Life vs. Eternity |
| Heb 11:5 | By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: "He was not found, because God took him up." | Faith, Translation, Resurrection Precedent |
| Luke 20:27-38 | Jesus addresses the Sadducees concerning the resurrection | Resurrection, Life after Death, Old Testament Support |
| Mark 10:45 | For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. | Christ's Ministry, Sacrifice, Redemption |
1 Corinthians 15 verses
1 Corinthians 15 29 Meaning
This verse explores the theological purpose and practice surrounding baptism performed on behalf of the dead. It suggests a covenantal understanding of baptism, where participating in it for someone deceased signifies their association with the community's faith in the resurrection. It underscores that if the dead are not raised, then the very act of being baptized for them becomes meaningless and void.
1 Corinthians 15 29 Context
First Corinthians chapter 15 directly addresses a significant theological crisis in the Corinthian church: disbelief or doubt concerning the resurrection of the dead. Various scholars and theological analyses highlight that the Corinthians may have been influenced by Greek philosophical ideas that denigrated the body and emphasized the spirit's liberation. Paul systematically refutes this notion by establishing the resurrection of Christ as the anchor of Christian faith. He explains that a bodily resurrection is essential for the resurrection of believers and for the efficacy of Christian practices. This verse, specifically, tackles a peculiar practice of baptism performed on behalf of those who have died, addressing its rationale and implications in light of the resurrection. The entire chapter aims to solidify the church's understanding and conviction regarding this fundamental doctrine.
1 Corinthians 15 29 Word Analysis
εἰ δὲ μήγε (ei de mēge): "But if not at all" or "But if otherwise." This is a strong conditional conjunction introducing a negative outcome, emphasizing the consequence of the preceding statement being untrue. It sets up a hypothetical scenario.
βαπτίζονται (baptizontai): "are baptized." This is the present passive indicative of the Greek verb baptizō. The passive voice indicates that the subject is acted upon, signifying the act of baptism performed by someone else for the deceased.
ὑπὲρ τῶν νεκρῶν (yper tōn nekrōn): "for the dead" or "on behalf of the dead." The preposition hyper can mean "for," "on behalf of," "in place of," or "concerning." In this context, it strongly suggests substitution or representation. The "dead" (nekrōn) refers to individuals who have died, specifically those in the Christian faith in the broader context of this chapter.
1 Corinthians 15 29 Bonus Section
The practice of baptism for the dead is unique within the New Testament and raises questions about its origin and purpose. Some scholars suggest it may have arisen in response to specific Corinthian customs or to address situations where individuals died suddenly after professing faith but before formal baptism. Another perspective is that it represents a deeply communal understanding of baptism, where the living stand in solidarity with the departed in their hope for the resurrection. The emphasis remains on the communal and covenantal nature of baptism, tying individual salvation and participation in the life of the Church to the larger reality of Christ's victory over death. The ultimate refutation of this practice, Paul argues, rests on the non-resurrection of the dead, demonstrating how deeply ingrained the resurrection hope was for Paul and for the early Church.
1 Corinthians 15 29 Commentary
This verse posits a challenging question about a practice: baptism for the dead. It highlights the logical necessity of a future resurrection if such a ritual has any meaning. The act of being baptized for someone who has died implies that this posthumous baptism confers some benefit or confirms some status for the deceased in anticipation of their own resurrection. Paul uses this hypothetical practice to underscore the foundation of Christian hope: the resurrection of Christ. If the dead are not raised, then all efforts to secure benefits for them after death, including this peculiar baptism, are futile. The practice itself remains a subject of scholarly debate, with interpretations ranging from a proxy baptism for believers who died before being baptized to a broader symbolic act of commitment to the resurrection community on behalf of the departed. Regardless of the precise nature of the ritual, its connection to the resurrection is explicit.