what was paul talking about when he wrote this to the Corinthians?

The Church at Corinth was doing a lot of things that they should not be doing. Paul write twice to this church to correct them. Some of the new believer were from the Nation of Israel and they had not learned the grace message that salvation was without works because the Lord Jesus Christ did it all on the cross for those that would believe. The Nation of Israel was promised that they would be a kingdom of priest in the kingdom. Exodus 19: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. To be a priest they had to be washed (baptized). There were some that had died (like the thief on the cross) that had not been baptized so they were baptizing for the dead.

Throughout Paul's ministry and evangelical tours, he was up against Judaisers, who sought to bring new Christians back under the Old Testament Law. Corinth was no exception. Being Baptized, and put under the Law again is like being baptized for the dead. If we are Baptized, we are Baptized into new life!

Paul was pointing out the futility of trying to make Greeks follow Jewish Laws in order to become Christians. Christianity was often considered a sect of Judaism during the First Century.

Here Paul resumes the argument for the resurrection which was interrupted at Chapter 15, verse 19. Baptism for the dead has many interpretations, but for me It means being baptized as dead, that is dead to sin, dead with Christ, and buried with Him in baptism.

In chapter 15 Paul is addressing a heresy that there is no resurrection of the dead. He is sayint that without the resurrection we have no hope and there is no use in baptism because we would be baptising for a dead Christ.

1Co 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

1Co 15:13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

1Co 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

1Co 15:15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

1Co 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

1Co 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

1Co 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

1Co 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?

Remember verse 15?

1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

It is the teaching of the Bible that baptism is required for remission of sins. But if Christ did not rise baptism is not effective in remitting sins. That is my understanding of the verse.

Acts 2:38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

...yea for no context!!

I would guess that people in Corinth, or wherever Paul was talking about there, were getting baptized in the place of dead relatives, so that they would be saved, as well. And here, Paul is asserting that that makes no sense.

And, not crazy, just a little too culturally focused sometimes :-)

to me it sounds like Paul was saying , what good is it to baptize someone who is dead because their dead and will not rise, and also baptism does not save you, you have to accept Jesus as your savior then you get baptized, but not being baptized is not going to keep you out of heaven, rejecting Christ will keep you out.

No, he is not crazy and he was telling those who do not believe in the resurrection then there was no need for baptism. w/o Christ there is no resurrection and there is no need for baptism. He truly answers the question further down in the passage. 1 Corinthians was written for church to come to repentance, and 2 Corinthians was written to the church to accept back those who have repented.

No, Paul wasn't crazy. He was explaining that it is a useless practice (baptizing the dead) and does no good whatsoever.

God bless!

i do know of people whom do that....but thats not what paul

was talking about...i'd have to read the whole chapter and pray

on it but my first response is that he's talking about being batpised for Christ(the dead)....and that if Christ did not rise

from the dead..then why do it?

Double click on the following website for common interpretations:

http://ourworld.cs.com/mikegriffith1/id131.htm