In our Sunday evening class we’ve been studying the views of Mormonism. One of the practices of Mormonism is baptism for the sake of the dead, were Mormons are baptized in the place of non-Mormon’s who have died with the belief that in the afterlife the “newly” baptized person (i.e. the deceased non-Mormon) will be able to enter into a higher level of Mormon heaven.
Quotes from Mormon leaders concerning the “baptism of the dead”
"The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead...Those saints who neglect it in behalf of their deceased relatives, do it at peril of their own salvation" (Joseph Smith, in Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.356, 196).
"These are the principles in relation to the dead and the living...their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation...they without us cannot be made perfect---neither can we without our dead be made perfect...there is a welding link of some kind or other between the fathers and the children...it is baptism for the dead. For we without them cannot be made perfect" (Doctrine and Covenants 128:15,18).
Biblical Basis?
Mormons also believe that this is what Paul is teaching in 1 Corinthians 15:29 where Paul writes, “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? Is this what Paul is speaking of? Can one represent another in baptism? [It should be pointed out here that Mormons also believe water baptism saves so therefore being baptized, an act of salvation, for someone else can be the means of another’s salvation.]
What is Paul actually teaching in 1 Corinthians 15?
To conclude the Mormon teaching of “baptism of the dead” from 1 Corinthians 15:29 is to complete ignore context and faithful exegesis. Let’s take a look at Paul’s teaching in the larger context of this passage.
1. Paul, in the first 19 verses of chapter 15, has focused specifically on the resurrection of Christ as a historical fact. There were some within the Corinthian church who had started doubting this reality, therefore Paul deals with the proofs of the resurrection. In addition, Paul gives the theological implications if Jesus is not resurrected, namely we are still dead in our sins (15:12-19)
2. Next, in verses 20-23, Paul speaks of the order of the resurrection [Christ first, then those who are united with Him will be resurrected when He returns]. From there, Paul deals with the reign of Christ and the final destruction of death.
3. From this Paul questions, “what will those do who are not baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?”
Historical Context
Paul is writing to the church in Corinth. Corinth was surrounded by a variety of pagan religions. One group in particular was located in a city named Eleusis, just north of Corinth. This group practiced baptism in the sea as a guarantee for a good afterlife and anticipation of a future resurrection (see Homer in “Hymn to Demeter” pg 478-79).
The Corinthian church had demonstrated on multiple occasions to have been influenced by the beliefs around them, thus Paul’s writing to “set the straight.” An example of this can be found in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 where Paul quotes the false teachers (“Food is for the stomach and the stomach for food”) but goes on to teach the Corinthians that the “body is for the Lord and the Lord is for the body (6:13). {There are more examples of this kind of referencing in 1 Corinthians as well and in Acts 17 where Paul quotes their own philosophers as a means of leading them to Christ.]
Meaning of 1 Corinthians 15:29
So going back to 1 Corinthians 15:29, what does Paul mean then by the “baptism of the dead?” Paul, knowing of the practice and teaching of this pagan religion, uses them as an example. Since Paul’s primary point has been “if there is no resurrection, we are dead in our sin and our preaching is in vain (12-13)”, he uses the example of these pagans (those who were trying to be baptized for the dead) as an example to show than even the pagans see the importance of the resurrection otherwise they would not practice “baptism for the dead.”
One of the key phrases in the text is “otherwise what do people”. Therefore, Paul is NOT encouraging the practice and the Corinthians are NOT practicing such a ritual. Rather, Paul is trying to show believers the importance of the resurrection by showing them that if the pagans around them place such a great importance on the resurrection, how much more those who put their faith in the resurrected Christ.
Now some will respond that the above is not correct because the word “they” is not in the Greek text, namely “they are baptized on their behalf” rather than “you (the Corinthians) are baptized on their behalf.” However, the Greek word “baptizontia” is a present, passive, indicative, in the 3rd person, plural, meaning that “they” (3rd plural, the pagans not the Corinthians) are “being baptized” (present passive).
Therefore, Paul is simply using an example practiced by the pagans to illustrate how important even the pagans view the resurrection. How much more should we who have find our identity in the true resurrection…Jesus of Nazareth, the ONLY ONE who was baptized (the cross) on behalf of others!!!
Pastor Wes
Quotes from Mormon leaders concerning the “baptism of the dead”
"The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead...Those saints who neglect it in behalf of their deceased relatives, do it at peril of their own salvation" (Joseph Smith, in Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.356, 196).
"These are the principles in relation to the dead and the living...their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation...they without us cannot be made perfect---neither can we without our dead be made perfect...there is a welding link of some kind or other between the fathers and the children...it is baptism for the dead. For we without them cannot be made perfect" (Doctrine and Covenants 128:15,18).
Biblical Basis?
Mormons also believe that this is what Paul is teaching in 1 Corinthians 15:29 where Paul writes, “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? Is this what Paul is speaking of? Can one represent another in baptism? [It should be pointed out here that Mormons also believe water baptism saves so therefore being baptized, an act of salvation, for someone else can be the means of another’s salvation.]
What is Paul actually teaching in 1 Corinthians 15?
To conclude the Mormon teaching of “baptism of the dead” from 1 Corinthians 15:29 is to complete ignore context and faithful exegesis. Let’s take a look at Paul’s teaching in the larger context of this passage.
1. Paul, in the first 19 verses of chapter 15, has focused specifically on the resurrection of Christ as a historical fact. There were some within the Corinthian church who had started doubting this reality, therefore Paul deals with the proofs of the resurrection. In addition, Paul gives the theological implications if Jesus is not resurrected, namely we are still dead in our sins (15:12-19)
2. Next, in verses 20-23, Paul speaks of the order of the resurrection [Christ first, then those who are united with Him will be resurrected when He returns]. From there, Paul deals with the reign of Christ and the final destruction of death.
3. From this Paul questions, “what will those do who are not baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?”
Historical Context
Paul is writing to the church in Corinth. Corinth was surrounded by a variety of pagan religions. One group in particular was located in a city named Eleusis, just north of Corinth. This group practiced baptism in the sea as a guarantee for a good afterlife and anticipation of a future resurrection (see Homer in “Hymn to Demeter” pg 478-79).
The Corinthian church had demonstrated on multiple occasions to have been influenced by the beliefs around them, thus Paul’s writing to “set the straight.” An example of this can be found in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 where Paul quotes the false teachers (“Food is for the stomach and the stomach for food”) but goes on to teach the Corinthians that the “body is for the Lord and the Lord is for the body (6:13). {There are more examples of this kind of referencing in 1 Corinthians as well and in Acts 17 where Paul quotes their own philosophers as a means of leading them to Christ.]
Meaning of 1 Corinthians 15:29
So going back to 1 Corinthians 15:29, what does Paul mean then by the “baptism of the dead?” Paul, knowing of the practice and teaching of this pagan religion, uses them as an example. Since Paul’s primary point has been “if there is no resurrection, we are dead in our sin and our preaching is in vain (12-13)”, he uses the example of these pagans (those who were trying to be baptized for the dead) as an example to show than even the pagans see the importance of the resurrection otherwise they would not practice “baptism for the dead.”
One of the key phrases in the text is “otherwise what do people”. Therefore, Paul is NOT encouraging the practice and the Corinthians are NOT practicing such a ritual. Rather, Paul is trying to show believers the importance of the resurrection by showing them that if the pagans around them place such a great importance on the resurrection, how much more those who put their faith in the resurrected Christ.
Now some will respond that the above is not correct because the word “they” is not in the Greek text, namely “they are baptized on their behalf” rather than “you (the Corinthians) are baptized on their behalf.” However, the Greek word “baptizontia” is a present, passive, indicative, in the 3rd person, plural, meaning that “they” (3rd plural, the pagans not the Corinthians) are “being baptized” (present passive).
Therefore, Paul is simply using an example practiced by the pagans to illustrate how important even the pagans view the resurrection. How much more should we who have find our identity in the true resurrection…Jesus of Nazareth, the ONLY ONE who was baptized (the cross) on behalf of others!!!
Pastor Wes
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