Beth-El Baptist Church

01/10/2010

Greg Tomlinson


Does Paul advocate prayers and baptism on behalf of others who died?


Roman Catholicism and Mormonism both advocate prayers or baptism on behalf of people who have already died. The person being prayed for may be a professing believer who may or may not be in an intermediate purging place or they may never have professed any faith in Jesus Christ. Supporters claim biblical support by Paul


  1. What is the context of baptism for the dead?

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 – Preached and believed gospel is highlighted by the resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:12-19 – The ramifications of no resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 – The reality and necessity of Christ's resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:24-28 – The accomplishments of Christ's resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:29 – The illustration of those baptized for the dead

1 Corinthians 15:30-34 – Paul's experience in preaching the resurrection


The context of the passage is about the resurrection and not on death nor on baptism. Some people in the church of Corinth are claiming that there is no resurrection of any kind and Paul is addressing this issue on multiple fronts. He clarifies that the Gospel message lives or dies upon the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and thus those who trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The verse in question (v29) is not in the context of receiving either support nor rejection but is used to illustrate their own hypocrisy. The same people who are claiming there is no such thing as the resurrection are spending their time baptizing others or being baptized on behalf of someone else who has departed from this world. It is silly to claim there is no resurrection while at the same time claim to be baptizing on behalf of another who is deceased. What in the world would be the benefit of the baptism? Their own actions betray their belief in the resurrection.


1 Corinthians 11:34; 15:55-58


Paul does not endorse the baptizing for the dead but recognizes that it is taking place. He does clarify that the church of Corinth is having great difficulties that he needs to deal with and that he will deal with them in person. The practices of a wandering church should not be providing the practices that ought to be followed.


  1. What does water baptism accomplish?

Matthew 3:13-15 – Fulfills righteousness

Matthew 3:10-12; Acts 2:37-39; 19:3-5 – Repentance

Matthew 28:19-20 – Fulfilling Christ's command

Romans 6:3-5 – Demonstrating allegiance with Christ's death, burial, resurrection

1 Corinthians 1:14-18; John 4:1-2 – Jesus and Paul sent to preach not baptize


Water baptism is done as an act of obedience to God and Christ. It is used to demonstrate that the baptized person has repented of his sins and is relying on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to be applied to him as his death, burial, and resurrection to newness of life. Since water baptism is a baptism of repentance and obedience, a dead person is incapable of repenting and obeying and no man can repent and obey for another person. It is important to note that neither Jesus nor Paul focused on baptism but on the proclamation of the Gospel.


  1. What is the context of prayers for the dead?

2 Timothy 1:8-12 – Reminder of the afflictions associated with preaching the Gospel

2 Timothy 1:13-15 – Encouragement to remain in the faith and not reject Christ

2 Timothy 1:16-18 – Example and prayer for Onesiphorus and his household


Many claim that Paul knows that Onesiphorus has died and that in verse 16 Paul prays that Onesiphorus 'may find mercy of the Lord', therefore Paul is praying for the dead. First note that the death of Onesiphorus has not been identified here nor anywhere else. All Paul is doing is identifying that Onesiphorus was not ashamed of Paul as others were and that Timothy should follow in the steps of Onesiphorus. Paul's prayer for Onesiphorus does not necessarily mean that he is praying for someone dead but that he is praying for God to remember the kindness and service of Onesiphorus just as Nehemiah prayed that God would remember his service (Nehemiah 13:29-31).


  1. Who are the dead that believers can help?

Ephesians 2:1-3 Romans 7:7-11

Psalm 49:7-9


The only dead people that a believer can help are those who are still dead in their sins. They do not know nor understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many do not even recognize that they are desperate sinners in need of redemption. We can pray for them that they might hear and receive the Gospel. We can share the Gospel with them. There is nothing one person can do for another so that they might escape the ravages of hell. It is Jesus Christ and the relationship with Jesus Christ that identifies a person's eternal location. We can neither pray nor be baptized on behalf of another so that they might receive life. There is only one life that we have been given and after that, God's judgment is invoked (Hebrews 9:27).