Another Look at 1 Corinthians 15:29, “Baptized for the Dead” -- By: John D. Reaume

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 152:608 (Oct 1995)
Article: Another Look at 1 Corinthians 15:29, “Baptized for the Dead”
Author: John D. Reaume


Another Look at 1 Corinthians 15:29, “Baptized for the Dead”

John D. Reaume

[John D. Reaume is Lecturer of Biblical Studies, United Missionary Theological College, Ilorin, Nigeria.]

First Corinthians 15:29 has puzzled many Bible students throughout church history. In this verse Paul wrote, “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?” More than two hundred interpretive solutions have been proposed, but only a few remain as legitimate possibilities.1

A surface reading of the passage leads to the interpretation that believers were actually being baptized for the benefit of those who died without baptism. This practice is also known as vicarious baptism, that is, substitutionary baptism for the dead.2 The interpretation of vicarious baptism is problematic for two reasons: first, there is no historical evidence of the practice of baptizing for the dead during New Testament times,3 and second, it seems doubtful that Paul would have written of such a practice so contrary to his theology without condemning it.4

Despite these problems, a majority of modern scholars have adopted this interpretation while at the same time rejecting other possible interpretations that may in fact be more legitimate. A reexamination of this text and possible interpretations will highlight the deficiency of this majority view and suggest other more plausible explanations. A survey of the most common positions will be followed by an examination of the verse and the various exegetical problems encountered in it. Then a summary of the most plausible explanations will be given.

Possible Interpretations of 1 Corinthians 15:29

Of the scores of proposed interpretations for 1 Corinthians 15:29, only those views enjoying the widest acceptance and greatest support will be considered in this discussion. Three major categories encompass the views suggested by various commentators.5 These categories are (a) vicarious baptism, that is, water baptism undertaken by a living individual for the benefit of a dead person who had died without being baptized; (b) metaphorical baptism, which refers to either martyrdom or Paul’s sufferings; and (c) Christian baptism, water baptism of new believers.

Vicarious Baptism

Most commentators hold to so...

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