1 Corinthians 15 has within it the question by Paul, “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?”[1]
This inquiry by Paul appears at first glance to bring to the imagination a class of people who were undergoing a rite of water baptism on behalf of or for others in some way.
However, this is not actually what he is talking about. What he is speaking of is the witness of the Holy Spirit to the resurrected and ascended Christ by providing spiritual gifts especially at Pentecost for the preaching of the gospel.
We are going to dive deep into the context of 1 Corinthians 15 by reviewing what was being said in previous chapters as well as cross referencing with other passages that speak of Pentecost. Let us apply line upon line and precept upon precept.
The rite of water baptism in the Bible is frequently associated with the Holy Spirit.[2] In addition to this, baptism language is also applied directly to the outpouring of the Spirit, independent of the water rite, especially with regard to Pentecost.
for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” … 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”[3]
I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”[4]
I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’[5]
Matthew 3:11 NKJV I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
The purpose of the gifts of the Spirit on Pentecost was for the advancement of the gospel to the end of the earth. And those gifts also served as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.
“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.[6]
We will now take a look at multiple passages in the Bible that give insight into the event of Pentecost. There are recurring themes in these accounts and the language of Psalm 110 especially is repeatedly cited in Acts 2, 1 Peter 3, Hebrews 1 and 1 Corinthians 15. These show that Jesus was enthroned at the right hand of God, all were made subject to Him and His enemies made His footstool. This could only have happened on Pentecost if Jesus had been resurrected. The testimony of this happening in Heaven was the outpouring of the Spirit in giving spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues. This was a form of baptism in the Bible accounts.
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words… 24 [speaking of Jesus] whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it… 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. 34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, 35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’[7]
On the day of Pentecost, Peter stated that those with him were all witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus. The outpouring of the Spirit was further testimony of this truth. He quoted from Psalm 110 by speaking of Jesus being seated at the right hand of God and all enemies made His footstool.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time [resurrection of the righteous]… 10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.[8]
In the introduction of Peter’s first epistle he speaks of the resurrection of Jesus that he links with the resurrection of the redeemed. Then he moves into making it clear that the gospel was preached by the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven through those that were ministers of salvation.
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.[9]
In 1 Peter 3, the Apostle again speaks of the resurrection of Jesus. The Holy Spirit that worked with Jesus to bring about His resurrection is the same Spirit that preached to the antediluvians. This would have been primarily through Enoch and Noah as well as the working of the Spirit upon the conscience. Those antediluvians heard the prophetic warnings in their living flesh, but now they are dead and awaiting a resurrection.
And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”[10]
Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints…”[11]
and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;[12]
Peter then compares the preaching by the Spirit before the flood to his contemporary context speaking of “an antitype which now saves us—baptism.” He directly associates baptism with Pentecost by speaking of the resurrection of Jesus and all “having been made subject to Him.”
What does Peter mean when he speaks of the antediluvians as the “spirits in prison” in 1 Peter 3:19? We can be either prisoners of Satan or prisoners of God. The wicked are in captivity to sin and kept under guard.[13] The people of God are the Lord’s prisoners by principle, in a good way.
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called… 8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”[14]
There are multiple passages that speak of God rescuing the redeemed from a state of imprisonment.[15] On Pentecost, Jesus “led captivity captive.” The gifts He gave to men at that time were the gifts of the Spirit.[16]
For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.[17]
In 1 Peter 4, the disciple of Jesus stated that “the gospel was preached also to those who are dead.” Who might the dead be that he speaks of? Those in sin are in a state of spiritual death. Though they appear alive in the flesh, they are the walking dead.[18] Those who enter redemption enter into life.[19] And those who die in Christ will rise in the first resurrection.[20] Death is also a state of custody.[21] For the righteous, even if they are dead in the flesh, God sees them as the living.[22]
There are two scenarios that explain Peter’s language of preaching to the dead. The first scenario is that he is preaching to those in sin. The second scenario is that he has preached to those who heard the gospel, accepted Christ as their personal Savior and passed away, awaiting the resurrection. Either of these align with the gospel narrative of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In Hebrews chapter 1, Paul speaks of what happened to Jesus in Heaven on Pentecost. He cites Psalm 110 by speaking of Christ having sat at the right hand of God and His enemies made His footstool.
… who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high… 8 But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom… 13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?[23]
God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?... 8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”[24]
Paul tells us that the evidence or witness of the enthronement of Christ was the outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Since Jesus had become the head of redeemed humanity, Paul also quotes Psalm 8:4-6, “You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”
We will now discuss the context of Paul’s writing leading up to 1 Corinthians 15. A major theme of 1 Corinthians 12 is the various gifts of the Spirit. In the midst of that chapter, he states that “by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.”[25] Chapter 13 speaks of the necessity of love as more important than gifts of the Spirit such as tongues or knowledge. Chapter 14 continues with a discussion of spiritual gifts with a focus on appropriate conduct when prophesying or speaking with the gift of tongues. He states, “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy,” and “desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.”[26]
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul confronts those who deny the resurrection of Jesus.[27] He points out that around the time of Pentecost over five hundred people were eye witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection.[28] Later in time, Paul also was an eye witness of the resurrection.[29]
For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.”[30]
Paul then uses Psalm 110 language linked with Pentecost by stating, “He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.”
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand… 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. 12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?... 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.[31]
There are multiple verses in 1 Corinthians 15 with a focus on preaching the resurrection of Christ, in continuity with the preaching theme of chapter 14.
Consider the following verses as well.
… in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.[32]
And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,[33]
For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.[34]
To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.[35]
… for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.[36]
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”[37]
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness… 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.[38]
Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.[39]
The preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ is only possible in coordination with the Holy Spirit. This brings us to the very important passage of 1 Corinthians 15:29,
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?[40]
For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.[41]
In context, Paul has been referencing the witness of Pentecost. The theme leading up to this verse has been an extensive discussion of the gifts of the Spirit, especially to empower the gospel commission. Paul’s language correlates with the way Peter speaks as “the gospel was preached also to those who are dead.” Paul is speaking of individuals who have been baptized with spiritual gifts. Their gospel commission could be for those dead in sin or those who have heard the gospel in the past and are now dead in the flesh. Either way, if there is no resurrection, it makes no sense for the Spirit to have given special evidence of Jesus’ resurrection by pouring out the gifts on that powerful day. If there is no resurrection, why then were they baptized in a special way to preach to the lost?
And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? 31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”[42]
In the subsequent verses, Paul speaks of the difficult experiences of preaching, especially his own preaching. Paul endured imprisonment, beating, scourging, stoning and shipwreck. His work had been a fight. But it was worth it, because of the resurrection.
The baptism for the dead that Paul is referring to is not an esoteric rite. It is a special empowered commission by the Holy Spirit for the preaching of the gospel.
****
Daniel Buxton is a pathologist in Dayton, Ohio.
[1] 1 Corinthians 15:29 NKJV.
[2] Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32; Acts 2:38; Acts 9:17-18; Acts 10:37-38, 44-48; Acts 11:15-16; Acts 19:5-6.
[3] Acts 1:5, 8 NKJV.
[4] Mark 1:8 NKJV.
[5] John 1:33 NKJV.
[6] John 15:26 NKJV.
[7] Acts 2:14, 24, 30-35 NKJV.
[8] 1 Peter 1:3-5, 10-12 NKJV.
[9] 1 Peter 3:18-22 NKJV.
[10] Genesis 6:3 NKJV.
[11] Jude 1:14 NKJV.
[12] 2 Peter 2:5 NKJV.
[13] Exodus 5:2; Isaiah 14:16-17; Romans 7:23; Galatians 3:23; John 8:32-36; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; Acts 8:23.
[14] Ephesians 4:1, 8 NKJV ; also Psalm 68:18.
[15] Psalm 107:10-14; Psalm 142:7; Isaiah 42:6-7; Isaiah 49:8-9; Isaiah 61:1; Zechariah 9:11-12; Matthew 16:18.
[16] 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28; Acts 2:38; Acts 10:45; Acts 8:18-20; Luke 11:13; Hebrews 2:4.
[17] 1 Peter 4:6 NKJV.
[18] Genesis 2:17; Ezekiel 18:4; Hebrews 2:14-15; Romans 8:2; Proverbs 10:2; Proverbs 11:19; Proverbs 12:28; Proverbs 13:14; Proverbs 14:12; Proverbs 21:16; Psalm 1:5–6; Psalm 37:20; Psalm 7:12–16; Psalm 9:15–17; Psalm 73:18–19, 27; Romans 5:12, 15-17, 21; Romans 6:16, 21, 23; Romans 7:5, 10-11; Romans 8:2, 6, 13; James 1:14-15; James 5:19-20; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 56; Ephesians 2:1, 5; Colossians 2:13; 1 John 3:14-15; 1 John 5:16-17.
[19] Romans 6:11-13.
[20] 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 14:13.
[21] Revelation 20:13–14; Job 17:16; Jonah 2:6.
[22] Matthew 22:32; Mark 12:26; Luke 8:52; John 11:11.
[23] Hebrews 1:3, 8, 13 NKJV.
[24] Hebrews 2:4, 8 NKJV.
[25] 1 Corinthians 12:13 NKJV.
[26] 1 Corinthians 14:1, 39 NKJV.
[27] 1 Corinthians 15:17-22.
[28] 1 Corinthians 15:5-7.
[29] 1 Corinthians 15:8.
[30] 1 Corinthians 15:25-27 NKJV.
[31] 1 Corinthians 15:1, 11-12, 14.
[32] Romans 15:19 NKJV.
[33] 1 Corinthians 2:4 NKJV.
[34] 1 Thessalonians 1:5 NKJV.
[35] 1 Peter 1:12 NKJV.
[36] 2 Peter 1:21 NKJV.
[37] Acts 1:8 NKJV.
[38] Acts 4:31-33 NKJV.
[39] 1 Corinthians 12:3 NKJV.
[40] 1 Corinthians 15:29 NKJV.
[41] 1 Peter 4:6 NKJV.
[42] 1 Corinthians 15:30-32 NKJV.
