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the phrase, (SanrifyaQat vvrsp ruv vsxpuv, to be baptized for (over) the dead. For they are baptized for (over) the dead [super mortuis], who receive baptism and profess Christianity at that time, when they have death set before their eyes, who are likely every moment to be added to the general 7nass of the dead , either on account of the decrepitude of age, or disease, or pestilence, or by martyrdom ; in fact, those who, without almost any enjoy- ment of this life, are going down to the dead, and are constantly , as it were, hanging over the dead ; they who might say D'"Qp> the graves are ready for me , Job xvii. 1. III. The first part of the verse is of a milder character ; but the last part which begins with if after all , has also an epitasis [an emphatic ad- dition. Append.] expressed in its own protasis by after all , and in the apodosis by the even [r/ xa/j : and these two particles correspond to each other ; and the same apodosis has an anaphora [the repetition of the same words in the beginnings of sections], joining its two parts by why even. IY. We must mark the connection of the subject under discussion. With the argument respecting the resurrection of Christ, from which our resurrection is derived, Paul connects the statement of two absurdities (indeed there are more than two, but the preceding absurdities are repeated, though they have been already suf- ficiently refuted by former reasonings) which would arise, if there be no resurrection of the dead, if Christ have not risen : and in the meantime, having disentangled the argument con- cerning Christ, ver. 20-28, he refutes those two absurdities by a discussion of somewhat greater length, which draws the sinews of its strength from the argument concerning Christ. The latter absurdity (for this has its relation to the argument more evident) regarding the misery of Christians in this life, he set forth at ver. 19, and now discusses at ver. 29 in the middle, and in the following verses ; if after all : and in like manner he stated the former concerning the 6 perishing’ of the Christians that are dead, at ver. 18, and now discusses, or repeats, or explains it in the first part of ver. 29. Y. The force of the apostle’s argument, which in itself is both most clear and most urgent. YI. The propriety of the several words consistent with themselves, a) What shall they do ? is future, in respect of eternal salvation, i.e., such persons being baptized, will be
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