I've been reading your posts on this subject and would like to make some observations and suggest another view of this subject than has been expressed.
First of all, it seems that two views have been discussed here:
(1) The Mormon view, that Christians are baptized on behalf of other people who have already died and have been buried.
(2) The view that those to which Paul refers, who were baptized for the dead, were not believers but pagans.
Kevin and David have concluded that this view is the correct one on the basis of the third person pronoun "they" which seems to stand in contrast to the second person pronouns "ye", "you" and "your" which Paul uses of the Corinthian saints whom he is addressing.
I agree that such pronouns are very important and need to be noted in order to discover exactly who it is that is being referred to. But I do not find any other reference in this chapter to pagans! But I do find the third person pronouns "they" and "them" used a number of times in this chapter and most of these instances refer to believers!
-In verse 10 "them" is used of the 500 plus brethren (v.6) and James and all the apostles (v.7).
-In verses 18 and 20 these pronouns are used of "they which are fallen asleep in Jesus" and of "them that slept".
-In verse 23 "they" is used of "theybthat are Christ's at His coming".
-In verse 35 "they" is used of "the dead".
-In verse 35 "they" is used of those "that are earthy".
So I see no compelling reason to conclude that that "they that are baptized for the dead" in verse 29 MUST be PAGANS!!
Rather, the "they" in this verse refers to those whom the text designates, namely those who are "baptized for the dead"!
The question remains, who are baptized FOR THE DEAD??
I think we have disregarded many statements of scripture when seeking to understand this passage, simply because Mormons teach an entire doctrine which is based on this verse alone!
Think about the facts of scripture:
-baptism of believers portrays death, burial and resurrection. Romans 6:3,4
-believers are dead to sin and thus freed from sin. Romans 6:2,7
-we are dead with Christ and thus will live with him. Romans 6:8
-we are to reckon ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin and alive unto God. Romans 6:11
-we are alive from the dead. Romans 6:13
-we were sinners when Christ died for us Romans 5:8 and the wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23
-we are become dead to the law by the body of Christ that we might be married to the resurrected Christ. Romans 7:4,6
-II Cor.5:14 tells us that "if one died for all, then were all dead, and that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them and rose again."
-"I through the law am dead to the law..." Galatians 2:19
-"I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. Galatians 2:20
-We who were dead in our sins and in the uncircumcison of our flesh, God has quickened together with Christ, having forgiven us all our trespasses. Colossians 2:13
- Because we are dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, we should no longer be living in the world as being subject to such ordinances as "touch not", "taste not" or "handle not". Colossians 2:20
-We are dead and our lives are hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3
-We being dead should live unto righteousness, I Peter 2:24
-The gospel is preached to "them that are dead" and those who believe it "live unto God in the spirit". I Peter 4:6
Now with all of this testimony of scripture before us, let me ask two questions.
(1) According to scripture, who is to be baptized?
Disciples of Christ (Matthew 28:19),
Believers (Acts 8:37),
those who are brethren in Christ (Acts 9:17,18),
those who have received the Holy Ghost (Acts 10:47)
(2) When believers are baptized in obedience to the Word of Christ, WHOSE DEATH ARE THEY BEING BAPTIZED FOR? WHOSE DEATH IS IN VIEW? WHOSE DEATH ARE THEY TESTIFYING TO?
Is it not THEIR OWN???
If they have not died to sin, if they are not dead with Christ, if they are not dead to the law, if their death did not take place by means of crucifixion, and if they have not been quickened from the dead, THEY ARE NOT SAVED AND THUS ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO BE BAPTIZED!!
In view of these truths, does not I Cor.15:29 teach what many other scriptures clearly teach, that believers are baptized for the dead, i.e. reckoning themselves to be dead indeed unto sin and alive unto God?
Does not this view have far more scriptural basis than either of the two views previousl;y suggested?
What do you think?
Your servant for Jesus' sake, Bruce
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