1 Corinthians 15:29

1 Cor. 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?" The Apostle uses the third person plural, "What shall they do that are baptized for the dead?" and "why are they then baptized for the dead?" because he has a special respect to those heretics themselves that infested the Church of Corinth, and taught that there was "no resurrection of the dead." They themselves had baptized for Christ, and if Christ be yet dead, what will they do? and if this be what they believe, that Christ is still dead, why should they go to be baptized for the dead? How inconsistently did they act with themselves in it! for if this be the case, their baptism did them no good, "their faith is vain, and they are yet unwashed from their sins." [Compare] Matthew 21:7, "And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set Him thereon." The plural number is twice used for the singular. See the original, and compare it with the other evangelists. There are instances also in the Old Testament of the plural number being put for the singular: "Dried up mighty rivers," whereas it was but one river - viz., Jordan. So Habakkuk 3:8, "Was the Lord displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou dist ride upon thine horses, and thy chariots of salvation?" And another instance in the New Testament not mentioned before, Matthew 26:8, "But when His disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?" When but one disciple is meant - viz., Judas. Mark 1:21, "On the sabbath-day," in the Greek t??? saßßas??, in the plural number, is in like manner put for the singular in Matthew 12:1; Matthew 28:1; Acts 13:14. See also Matthew 27:44; Genesis 19:29; Judges 12:7; Psalms 137:1; 1 Samuel 28:13; Genesis 21:7; Exodus 32:31; 1 Samuel 10:12, and Genesis 27:29. See 1 Samuel 17:43, "That thou comest to me with staves;" 1 Samuel 28:13; 2 Chronicles 24:25, "And for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest," when only one son is meant - viz., Zecharias, whom we read of, verses 20, 21. (See POOL, Synop. 2 Chronicles 24:25, where are quoted several instances from heathen writers.) Genesis 21:7, "Who would have said this that Sarah should have children suck?" Genesis 46:15, "All the souls of his sons, and his daughters," when he had but one daughter - viz., Dinah. See also verse 7.) Genesis 36:25, "The children of Anak were Dishon." Genesis 46:23, "And the sons of Dan; Hushim."

I add here from Edwards's "Miscellaneous Notes" MSS. No. 20, a further note on this difficult text: -

1 Corinthians 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?' What folly is it to baptize for persons that are dead, and are not risen again, nor are (ever) to rise! What folly is it to baptize in the name of such! but this is our case if these is no resurrection of the dead. We are baptized in the name of a dead man: but why are we, if He is not risen, not to rise? (The Apostle) in the foregoing verses is speaking of the resurrection of Christ, as from 1 Corinthians 15:16, 'For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised.' And if so, surely our baptism is also vain, as in this verse, 'And why stand we in jeopardy every hour,' if Christ is yet dead and so to continue."

"It is no objection against supposing that by the dead here, the Apostle has respect to Christ, who, those that he wrote against supposed to be a dead man, that the word is in the plural number, as is evident by Matthew 2:20, saying, "Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life." Matthew 9:8, "But when the multitude saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men;" also John 4:38, "I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours." Where, by other men, Christ means Himself, as seems plain by the context. John 3:12, If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?" Here is 'things,' when only one thing is intended. It is used in such a sense as here in John 11:4; Romans 1:5; Php_1:29; Acts 5:41, and 2 Thessalonians 1:5.

1 Cor. 16:21-23