What baptism is 1 Corinthians 15:29 referring to?
1 Corinthians 15:29 refers to the Spirit baptism by which God places believers into the body of Christ, as explained in 1 Corinthians 12:13, not water baptism or baptism by proxy. The verse's point is that such union with Christ would be meaningless if there were no resurrection from the dead.
Les explains that 1 Corinthians 15:29 is not teaching water baptism, nor is it endorsing baptism by proxy. Instead, he points back to 1 Corinthians 12:13: by one Spirit all believers—Jew or Gentile, bond or free—are baptized into one body, placed into the body of Christ by God's act. The argument in 1 Corinthians 15 is that if there is no resurrection, God would not bother doing anything on behalf of the believer, and everything becomes vanity or futile.
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
More Questions
What is the baptism for the dead in 1 Corinthians 15:29?
The baptism Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 15:29 is the Spirit's baptism into the body of Christ, as described in 1 Corinthians 12:13.
Does 1 Corinthians 12:13 refer to water baptism?
The baptism in 1 Corinthians 12:13 is not water baptism; there is no water in the verse.
Who baptizes believers in 1 Corinthians 12:13?
1 Corinthians 12:13 says believers are baptized by the one Spirit, meaning the Holy Spirit is the one who baptizes them.