ble. Baptizing for the dead was not so bad as sitting at the table of devils, 10, 21. A second interpretation under this head gives the word baptize the figurative sense which it has in Matt. 20, 22. Luke 12, 50, "I have a baptism to be baptized Avith ; and how am I straitened until it be accomplished ! " According to this view, Paul here refers to the baptism of afflictions. ' Why do men suffer so for the hopelessly dead ? if the dead are not to* rise, what is the use of suffering so much for them ? i. e. of labouring so much, and enduring so much for men who, when dead, are never to live again.' This, however, evidently puts a sense on the word dead, which it will not bear. It is assumed to designate not those actually dead, but men who when dead are not to rise again.
Of the second class of interpretations some propose to ren- der vTrep by over. * Why do they baptize over the dead ? i. e. over their graves.' Sometimes, for the sake of expressing their faith in the resurrection. Christians are said to have been baptized over the graves of the martyrs. Others say that virip means in the place of. ' Why should men be baptized in place of the dead ? i. e. to supply their places in the church, and thus keep up the ranks of believers.' A third class propose to take viKpuiv for the singular, and to read, ' Why are they baptized for one dead ? ' Others say the meaning is, for the dead, i e. for bodies. What is the use of being baptized for a dead body ? a body which is never to live again. He that is baptized receives the ordinance believing that his body is not to remain dead. Calvin and others understand the dead to mean here, those about to die. ' Why should baptism be ad- ministered for those on the verge of the grave — if there be no resurrection ? ' Finally, some suppose the passage is elliptical. Fully expressed it would be, ' What do they do who are bat> tized for the resurrection of the dead ? ' i. e. in hope of the resurrection which was professed by all who receive baptism. The darkness which rests on this passage can never be entirely cleared away, because the reference is to a custom of which no account is extant. If the dead rise not at all belongs to the latter member of the verse. ' K the dead rise not at all, why are they baptized for them ? ' Instead of twi/ v^Kpuiv, the dead, modern editors read avruiv, them.
30. And why stand we in jeopardy every hour ? Here Paul speaks for himself. With baptizing for the