Baptized For The Dead
In 1 Corinthians 15:29, Paul asks: "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?" If we get first, the meaning of the preposition "for," and second, the theme Paul is discussing, I believe the subject will become clear. The preposition "for" is from the Greek word, huper, and is rendered "for" 103 times. Young defines "huper" as meaning "on behalf of" and I think that is the import of "for" in each passage where it is from the Greek word, huper.
The Emphatic Diaglott renders 1 Cor. 15:29 thus: "Otherwise what will these do who are being immersed on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they immersed on their behalf?" What is the thought as expressed in either translation? Simply that if the dead are not raised then baptism is of no value whatever. This is the kernel of the argument that Paul makes. The whole argument of Paul from the first verse to the thirty second is an answer to certain teachers at Corinth who were declaring that the resurrection had already past. Paul assembled the great array of eye witnesses first of all who had seen Jesus after he arose, the last of whom was himself. Then he says: "Now if Christ be preached that he arose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection from the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain," and still more, "we are false witnesses," "you are yet in your sins," "they also who are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." And in the twenty-ninth verse he argues in substance that their baptism is also vain. For if there is no resurrection, then Christ is not raised, and what shall they do who are baptized for (on behalf of a dead Christ). After he had proved preaching, faith and hope were all vain if there be no resurrection, "for then Christ is not raised," Paul simply applied the same argument to their baptism. The thought in paraphrase is this: "You first heard it preached that Christ was crucified, buried, and arose from the dead the third day. This you believed and "on behalf of Christ," or in obedience to him you were baptized. If as some are now teaching, there be no resurrection, then Christ is still dead, the apostles are false witnesses, their faith is vain, they are yet in their sins, their baptism is of no value, "and why stand we in jeopardy every hour?" for preaching the resurrection?
— Christian Worker, Vol. 18, No. 36, Oct. 6, 1932, p. 8.