If these things are not so, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?
Parallel translations
- WEB Or else what will they do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead aren’t raised at all, why then are they baptized for the dead?
- KJV 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?
- NKJV Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?
- NASB For 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?
- NLT If the dead will not be raised, what point is there in people being baptized for those who are dead? Why do it unless the dead will someday rise again?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul asks why people are baptized for the dead if the dead are not raised. It matters because it is another argument that resurrection denial is self-defeating.
Overview
Paul references a Corinthian practice of being 'baptized for the dead,' the exact nature of which is debated and not endorsed here; he simply uses it to expose inconsistency. Whatever the practice meant, it made no sense if there is no resurrection. Faithful interpreters differ on the details, but Paul's point is clear: their own behavior assumes the resurrection they were denying.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Rom 6:3–4Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
- 1 Cor 15:16For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised.
- Matt 20:22“You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” the brothers answered.
- 1 Cor 15:32If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for human motives, what did I gain? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 15:29 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.