What if it’s Not True? (1 Corinthians 15:29-34)

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15:12-19 centres on belief; 15:29-34 on ethics. With the resurrection of Christ, there is endless hope; without Him there is a hopeless end.

  1. Why be baptized for the dead?
    • 15:29. A difficult verse!
      1. Calvin says it refers to catechumens on the point of death who requested baptism.
      2. some try to take the baptism to be metaphorical – Mark 10:37-39.
      3. John MacArthur says it refers to those who were baptized because of the dead, i.e. because of the brave testimony of Christians who died.
      4. it may possibly mean ‘baptized in order to see the dead’ i.e. to see their dead relatives. Henry Venn told his children and grandchildren: ‘if anything could make heaven not heaven to me, it would be the not having you with me there.’
      5. Paul seems to be referring to a practice of baptism for the dead which he does not endorse but refers to for the sake of argument. See 1 Cor.11:34b, but note the baptism-resurrection link in Rom.6:3-4.
  2. Why take risks for the gospel?
    • 15:30-32a; 2 Cor.4:8-11; 11:23-28. The crucifixion Psalm uses this language – Ps.22:12-13. Paul was not literally thrown to beasts but he did nearly die at Ephesus – Acts 19:23, 29-32; 2 Cor.1:8-10. Faith in the resurrected Christ should give us courage.
  3. Why not live as you like?
    • 15:32b-34. See Isa.22:13; Luke 12:19-20. Why not party like there’s no tomorrow? 2 Peter 3:10-11. ‘Wake up, come to your senses,’ says Paul. Thucydides says that when the plague came to Athens, people thought the end was near so they indulged in all sorts of vice and crime.