HydroMan: personally Ive seen baptism of the dead as a metaphorical expression for martyrdom;
A Baptism for the dead is a religious practice in which a baptism occurs for the deceased. It involves a living person who chooses to be baptized on behalf of a deceased person so that the deceased person can one day be resurrected and receive eternal life. This form of baptism is unbiblical – a person needs to willingly choose for themselves whether or not they wish to receive eternal life, and this can only occur while the person is alive (imagine a deceased anti-theist waking up in the afterlife and finding out that they are going to live with a God they hate!). In other words, baptism of the dead robs a person of their free will. Thus, no one can grant eternal life on behalf of dead person (see Isaiah 38:18). However, 1 Corinthians 15:29 seems to approve of Baptisms for the dead when Paul says, “what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?” So how do we explain this? There are many different interpretations as to what Paul’s baptism for the dead is referring to. The following is perhaps the most accurate;
In context of the passage, Paul is speaking about the resurrection of the dead. Some of the Christians in Corinth did not believe that the dead would be resurrected (v12). In response, Paul explains how important it is to believe in the resurrection of the dead; for if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, our faith also is vain, and we are false witnesses of God because we testified that God raised Christ, when in actual fact He did not raise Christ. The point that Paul is trying to make is this; people have gone to great lengths in trying to prove that Christ’s resurrection is real, thus the resurrection of the dead is also real. This is when the baptism for the dead comes in. When Paul speaks of those who are "baptized for the dead", he is referring to those who have died for their faith (a metaphor for a martyr; as martyrdom and baptism were so closely and intimately connected). This can be seen when Jesus identifies His death as a baptism; "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" (Mark 10:38) - “But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!” (Luke 12:50). Paul is basically saying, “the resurrection of the dead is going to happen – for if the dead do not rise, then the baptism for the dead (dying for Jesus) would be a worthless cause (if the dead are not going to be raised, and Jesus has not been raised, then why are people dying for their faith? Why would a person die unless they know that they will one day be raised alive again?)
To summarize, the baptism for the dead (in which Paul speaks of) is not in reference to a living person choosing to be baptized on behalf of a deceased person so that the deceased person can one day be resurrected and receive eternal life. Instead, the baptism for the dead is simply referring to a Believer dying for their faith (while being persecuted) because they know that they will one day be resurrected (Baptism for the dead: to undergo death and then be raised to life again - submerge from one thing and emerge from another)
HydroMan: as mentioned, there are many different interpretations, but this is one I find the most accurate. Personally, when it comes to all the different baptisms in the NT, I have more trouble and difficult in understanding what baptism of the Holy Spirit is
just a couple of other things
(1) All believers receive the Holy Spirit when they put their faith in Jesus (Ephesians 1:13) However, in the Bible, there seems to be cases where Believers did not receive the Holy Spirit immediately when they put their faith in Jesus;
“There he [Paul] found some disciples and asked them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:1-2). This passage clearly identifies the people as believers and disciples of Jesus.
“No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit” (Acts 19:2). So even though they were true believers and followers of Jesus, they did not have the Holy Spirit inside of them.
“Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied” (Acts 19:6). This passage identifies the disciples receiving the Holy Spirit after becoming aware of the Holy Spirit.
now, would it be accurate to say, that all believers receive the Holy Spirit when they put their faith in Jesus. But in early years of the church, God wanted to “delay” the receiving of the Holy Spirit for some so that they could receive the Holy Spirit through a miracle (gift of tongues and prophesy as evidence that they received the Holy Spirit)?
(2) Jesus told the apostles to baptise people in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But whenever we read about the apostles baptising someone in Acts, they seem to baptise people in the name of Jesus (don't include the Father or Holy Spirit) Any idea why?
A Baptism for the dead is a religious practice in which a baptism occurs for the deceased. It involves a living person who chooses to be baptized on behalf of a deceased person so that the deceased person can one day be resurrected and receive eternal life. This form of baptism is unbiblical – a person needs to willingly choose for themselves whether or not they wish to receive eternal life, and this can only occur while the person is alive (imagine a deceased anti-theist waking up in the afterlife and finding out that they are going to live with a God they hate!). In other words, baptism of the dead robs a person of their free will. Thus, no one can grant eternal life on behalf of dead person (see Isaiah 38:18). However, 1 Corinthians 15:29 seems to approve of Baptisms for the dead when Paul says, “what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?” So how do we explain this? There are many different interpretations as to what Paul’s baptism for the dead is referring to. The following is perhaps the most accurate;
In context of the passage, Paul is speaking about the resurrection of the dead. Some of the Christians in Corinth did not believe that the dead would be resurrected (v12). In response, Paul explains how important it is to believe in the resurrection of the dead; for if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, our faith also is vain, and we are false witnesses of God because we testified that God raised Christ, when in actual fact He did not raise Christ. The point that Paul is trying to make is this; people have gone to great lengths in trying to prove that Christ’s resurrection is real, thus the resurrection of the dead is also real. This is when the baptism for the dead comes in. When Paul speaks of those who are "baptized for the dead", he is referring to those who have died for their faith (a metaphor for a martyr; as martyrdom and baptism were so closely and intimately connected). This can be seen when Jesus identifies His death as a baptism; "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" (Mark 10:38) - “But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!” (Luke 12:50). Paul is basically saying, “the resurrection of the dead is going to happen – for if the dead do not rise, then the baptism for the dead (dying for Jesus) would be a worthless cause (if the dead are not going to be raised, and Jesus has not been raised, then why are people dying for their faith? Why would a person die unless they know that they will one day be raised alive again?)
To summarize, the baptism for the dead (in which Paul speaks of) is not in reference to a living person choosing to be baptized on behalf of a deceased person so that the deceased person can one day be resurrected and receive eternal life. Instead, the baptism for the dead is simply referring to a Believer dying for their faith (while being persecuted) because they know that they will one day be resurrected (Baptism for the dead: to undergo death and then be raised to life again - submerge from one thing and emerge from another)
just a couple of other things
(1) All believers receive the Holy Spirit when they put their faith in Jesus (Ephesians 1:13) However, in the Bible, there seems to be cases where Believers did not receive the Holy Spirit immediately when they put their faith in Jesus;
“There he [Paul] found some disciples and asked them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:1-2). This passage clearly identifies the people as believers and disciples of Jesus.
“No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit” (Acts 19:2). So even though they were true believers and followers of Jesus, they did not have the Holy Spirit inside of them.
“Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied” (Acts 19:6). This passage identifies the disciples receiving the Holy Spirit after becoming aware of the Holy Spirit.
now, would it be accurate to say, that all believers receive the Holy Spirit when they put their faith in Jesus. But in early years of the church, God wanted to “delay” the receiving of the Holy Spirit for some so that they could receive the Holy Spirit through a miracle (gift of tongues and prophesy as evidence that they received the Holy Spirit)?
(2) Jesus told the apostles to baptise people in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But whenever we read about the apostles baptising someone in Acts, they seem to baptise people in the name of Jesus (don't include the Father or Holy Spirit) Any idea why?