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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1Co_15:29-34
29Otherwise, 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? 30Why are we also in danger every hour? 31I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. 33Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." 34Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
1Co_15:29 This verse has caused major problems in interpretation. We have no parallel passages in Scripture. We have no other reference for this practice in the early church, although there is some historical evidence about something similar being practiced among the heretics of the second and third century. We must admit we just do not know biblically exactly to what this refers. Some theories are:
1. new Christians baptized to take the place of dead Christians
2. new converts baptized because of their respect for a dead loved one
3. persons in catechism having died before being baptized were proxy baptized by living Christians
4. new converts were baptized over the graves of great Christians.
Hermeneutically several assumptions need to be applied to the interpretation of this verse.
1. It basically is in a series of examples/illustrations of the reality of the resurrection.
2. One does not build theology/doctrine on illustrations.
3. Since there is no clue to the exact historical reference, this text should not be emphasized or applied and surely not turned into a doctrine (i.e. Mormonism)
4. It is even contextually uncertain if Paul is affirming this practice or simply making an allusion to it (cf. TEV, NJB)
▣ "If" This is a first class conditional sentence used to make a strong counterpoint. The Greek text has the word holôs (actually) in this clause. See notes at 1Co_5:1.
1Co_15:31
NASB, NKJV "I affirm"
NRSV "that is as certain"
TEV "I declare this"
NJB "I swear"
This is not in the Greek, but in context the following phrase might be an oath formula. Paul uses oath formulas quite often to assert the truthfulness of his statements (cf. Rom_9:1; 2Co_1:18; 2Co_1:23; 2Co_11:10-11; 2Co_11:31).
▣ "by the boasting in you which I have in Christ" Paul is asserting that his work in Corinth is an evidence of his labor for Christ. His labor has been worth it (cf. 2Co_3:1-2; 2Co_7:4; 2Co_9:2-3). Paul's churches were an evidence of his apostleship and effectiveness.
▣ "I die daily" This phrase is placed first in the sentence for emphasis (cf. 2Co_5:14-15; Gal_2:20; 1Jn_3:16). 1Co_15:30-32 refer to the difficulties Paul faced in service to Christ (cf. 2Co_1:8-10; 2Co_4:8-12; 2Co_6:3-10; 2Co_11:23-27). He knew it was worth it because he had personally seen the glorified Christ on the road to Damascus (cf. Act_9:1-22; Act_22:3-16; Act_26:9-18). Paul's theology was informed by personal experience and personal revelation (cf. Act_9:1-22; Gal_1:11-12) and the Old Testament (his rabbinical training).
1Co_15:32 "If" Paul uses two First class conditional sentences to make the point. If there is no resurrection and no Christian reward, why was Paul willing to suffer daily for the gospel?
▣ "I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus" Paul does not mention this experience in his litany of sufferings in 2Co_11:23-27, and because Paul was a Roman citizen, he should not have been forced to fight wild beasts. This must be a metaphor of the difficult spiritual situation that Paul encountered at Ephesus (cf. 1Co_1:8-10). Some take this text literally and assert an imprisonment at Ephesus.
▣ "what does it profit me" Paul's labors for Christ are of no spiritual effect if there is no resurrection, either of Christ and thereby no resurrection for Paul. He labors for the gospel, but if the gospel is not true, there is no reward (i.e., no salvation, no resurrection, no eternal life, no fellowship with God, no reuniting with loved ones in heaven, cf. 1Co_15:12-19).
▣ "let us eat, and drink, for tomorrow we die" This was the motto of the Epicureans. It is also a quote from Isa_22:13 (cf. Isa_56:12; Luk_12:19). This is similar to the current saying, "You only go around once in life, so get all the gusto you can!" But, what if there is a resurrection? What if we do stand before a Holy God to give an account of the gift of life (cf. Dan_12:2)?!
1Co_15:33 "do not be deceived" This is a negated present passive imperative. The church at Corinth was being led astray by false theology (cf. 1Co_6:9).
▣ "Bad company corrupts good morals" This seems to be a quote from the Greek prophet, Menander's Thais, relating to a prostitute. Some factions at Corinth were proud of their (1) Greco-Roman heritage or (2) sexual freedom. Paul intensifies their attitudes by quoting from their own philosophers (cf. 1Co_15:32-33). Paul was raised in Tarsus, which was well known for its schools of Greek philosophy (cf Act_17:28 and Tit_1:12). He was uniquely learned in rabbinical Judaism and secular Greek thought.
▣ "corrupts" See Special Topic at 1Co_15:42.
1Co_15:34
NASB "become sober-minded"
NKJV "awake to righteousness"
NRSV "come to a sober and right mind"
TEV "come back to your right senses"
NJB "wake up from your stupor as you should"
This is an aorist active imperative. This seems to mean, "come to your moral senses once and for all."
▣ "stop sinning" This is a present active imperative with a negative particle which usually means to stop an act in process. It is obvious that those who denied the resurrection were also living godless lives. Paul uses their immorality as a way to show the faulty validity of their theological assertion (i.e., no resurrection).
▣ "no knowledge of God" In English this is the term "agnostic." This was a subtle sarcastic remark to those who revered knowledge so highly. Their theology and actions clearly showed they had no true knowledge!