Mormons an entirety of their baptismal practice on this singular verse – baptism for the dead. Can someone actually be baptized for someone who has already gone to eternity? What is Paul talking about here?
“Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?” (1 Cor 15:29-30).
1) Nowhere in Scripture do we see a command to be baptized for the dead.
This Scripture is describing a certain group of people baptizing for the dead. Never is it a command anywhere in the Bible.
We do know from history that the Marcionites practiced baptism from the dead, but they were later first century and early second century. But it is likely that there were some other groups in the time of Paul doing this as well.
2) Paul makes an us/them distinction.
We see Paul as saying “and as for us,” implying that this was not his practice or teaching. He is not condoning ore prescribing baptism for the dead. In fact, he is distinguishing himself from them.
3) Those baptizing for the dead were “bad company” that corrupted “good character” and they are “ignorant of God” and they were misleading the people.
And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,
“Let us eat and drink,
for tomorrow we die.”
Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame” (1 Cor 15:30-34).
This group that was practicing baptism for the dead were not righteous in any way. In fact, they were a danger to the people. Nothing about this situation is holy.
4) It likely that he is attacking those baptizing for the dead as being inconsistent with their own beliefs.
What Paul is saying is, If this errant group denies the resurrection, then why are they baptizing for the dead? Their proclaimed beliefs and practices are not lining up.
The root issue in the big picture is that there was a denial of the resurrection, which made this life all important. As such, it gave the people permission to sin and practice immorality, because in their ability to justify themselves, there was no afterlife, no judgment, and no need for the fear of the Lord.
The didn’t truly believe it, or they wouldn’t be baptizing for the dead. But they were baptizing for the dead which did not line up with their beliefs. The truth is, they just wanted to sin. Likely sexual immorality is that is the #1 influencer for a person to deconstruct their faith and justify sin. And we see that in Corinthians that their sexual sin was out of line with Scripture.
In the big picture, should people get baptized for the dead? Absolutely not. Scripture does not teach this. Paul is describing a problem, not prescribing a practice.