It’s a Weird Verse
1 Corinthians 15:29
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?
The temptation to skip over this verse is great. I honestly considered putting it into a larger passage and forgetting that it’s there. But that doesn’t seem fair and so, instead of trying to make sense of this myself, I’m drawing a lengthy passage from Lockwood’s commentary on 1 Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 15:29 is one of the most obscure passages in the NT. The phrase “those … who are being baptized on behalf of the dead” seems to imply a kind of baptism otherwise unknown in the history of Christianity. The dozens of suggestions advanced to explain this apparently eccentric practice may be summarized in six categories.
1. Most scholars think Paul is speaking of a vicarious form of baptism in which living Christians were baptized on behalf of persons who had already died [a ritual practiced by the Mormons today]. If this majority view is correct, then Paul is referring to a form of baptism, which as far as can be determined, was without historical or biblical parallel. Some of the Corinthians seem to have been so concerned about relatives and friends who had died before receiving Christian Baptism that they were having themselves baptized (or rebaptized?) on behalf of the dead.
2. Some, like Murphy-O’Connor, take “those being baptized,” metaphorically. Paul is not speaking about people who were receiving Christian Baptism. Instead, he is speaking about “those being destroyed” (referring to the apostles).
3. A related interpretation which attempts to fit 15:29 into the epistle’s broader context is the proposal by White that Paul is speaking about regular Christian Baptism, but “the dead,” refers not to deceased persons, but to the living apostles: “Otherwise what will those do who are being baptized on account of the dead (that is, the dead, figuratively speaking; that is, the apostles)?”
4. O’Neill has revived the view that “the dead” is not a substantive, but must be taken adjectivally: “those who are being baptized for their [own] dying bodies.”
5. Some approaches postulate a different understanding of “on behalf of”. Luther suggested that it must be understood locally, “baptized over the graves.” Luther considered the Baptism to be regular Christian Baptism and explained that the purpose of the practice of baptizing over the graves of deceased Christians was to strengthen the faith of the Corinthians in the reality of the bodily resurrection.
6. Lenski, like Luther, considers the verse to be speaking about regular Christian Baptism and understands “the dead” to be deceased Christians only (not deceased unbelievers). Lenski renders the phrase with ὑπέρ as “with a view to the dead” and explains that “the dead” of whom Paul speaks are not [just] any persons who are dead but the baptized Christians who died as such Christians in the sure hope of a blessed resurrection. Their example, i.e., their baptism and their godly life and final death in this sure hope, furnishes the motive that prompts the living also to desire and to receive baptism for the same blessed purpose.
Lockwood, Gregory. Concordia Commentary: 1 Corinthians (p. 577) CPH.
I realize this is a fairly heady theological discussion. But it seemed the only fair way to help you process this weird (yes, I called it weird) verse. I’m not going to lose any sleep over it, so make of it what you will.
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?
The temptation to skip over this verse is great. I honestly considered putting it into a larger passage and forgetting that it’s there. But that doesn’t seem fair and so, instead of trying to make sense of this myself, I’m drawing a lengthy passage from Lockwood’s commentary on 1 Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 15:29 is one of the most obscure passages in the NT. The phrase “those … who are being baptized on behalf of the dead” seems to imply a kind of baptism otherwise unknown in the history of Christianity. The dozens of suggestions advanced to explain this apparently eccentric practice may be summarized in six categories.
1. Most scholars think Paul is speaking of a vicarious form of baptism in which living Christians were baptized on behalf of persons who had already died [a ritual practiced by the Mormons today]. If this majority view is correct, then Paul is referring to a form of baptism, which as far as can be determined, was without historical or biblical parallel. Some of the Corinthians seem to have been so concerned about relatives and friends who had died before receiving Christian Baptism that they were having themselves baptized (or rebaptized?) on behalf of the dead.
2. Some, like Murphy-O’Connor, take “those being baptized,” metaphorically. Paul is not speaking about people who were receiving Christian Baptism. Instead, he is speaking about “those being destroyed” (referring to the apostles).
3. A related interpretation which attempts to fit 15:29 into the epistle’s broader context is the proposal by White that Paul is speaking about regular Christian Baptism, but “the dead,” refers not to deceased persons, but to the living apostles: “Otherwise what will those do who are being baptized on account of the dead (that is, the dead, figuratively speaking; that is, the apostles)?”
4. O’Neill has revived the view that “the dead” is not a substantive, but must be taken adjectivally: “those who are being baptized for their [own] dying bodies.”
5. Some approaches postulate a different understanding of “on behalf of”. Luther suggested that it must be understood locally, “baptized over the graves.” Luther considered the Baptism to be regular Christian Baptism and explained that the purpose of the practice of baptizing over the graves of deceased Christians was to strengthen the faith of the Corinthians in the reality of the bodily resurrection.
6. Lenski, like Luther, considers the verse to be speaking about regular Christian Baptism and understands “the dead” to be deceased Christians only (not deceased unbelievers). Lenski renders the phrase with ὑπέρ as “with a view to the dead” and explains that “the dead” of whom Paul speaks are not [just] any persons who are dead but the baptized Christians who died as such Christians in the sure hope of a blessed resurrection. Their example, i.e., their baptism and their godly life and final death in this sure hope, furnishes the motive that prompts the living also to desire and to receive baptism for the same blessed purpose.
Lockwood, Gregory. Concordia Commentary: 1 Corinthians (p. 577) CPH.
I realize this is a fairly heady theological discussion. But it seemed the only fair way to help you process this weird (yes, I called it weird) verse. I’m not going to lose any sleep over it, so make of it what you will.
I enjoyed reading the different commentaries on this difficult verse. I had also read one somewhere that talked about Paul talking about a pagan practice for being baptized for the dead and using that as an argument that even they believe in life after death. Either way, I don't think we'll ever know definitively what was going on with this verse. Just look at all of the diverse opinions. Which leads me to the point that one of my theology professors made, and that is that "we should major in the majors and minor in the minors." This would clearly be a minor and we shouldn't build any major doctrine or practice around it.
ReplyDeleteI had to decide the same thing - we may not know this side of heaven just what is being discussed here. That’s why I put in all those ideas from theolgians of the past. And I was told the same thing decades ago by a theology prof. Major in majors and let the minors go. I’m still cool with that today!
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