Slices
Prepare
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia! Spend a few moments thanking God that Jesus is risen and has conquered death.
Bible passage
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he ‘has put everything under his feet’. Now when it says that ‘everything’ has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptised for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptised for them? 30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31 I face death every day – yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 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.’
33 Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ 34 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.
Explore
In yesterday’s reading, the conclusion was bleak (v 19). Today, there is a different story (v 22). Adam represents the starting point of humankind choosing to go their own way, breaking relationship with God (Genesis 1–3). ‘But Christ’ (v 20) brings humankind back into relationship with God. Verses 20–28 are full of life and hope. Read these verses again slowly, noticing the good things that Paul says will happen because of Jesus’ resurrection.
If this is all true, to say there is no resurrection doesn’t make sense (vs 29–32). In those times, some people were baptised on behalf of a loved one who had died. We may not understand this today – but, in any case, without resurrection, it didn’t make sense! And, Paul himself has been willing to risk his life for them because of the hope he has in Christ. What would be the point if it was all for nothing?
There is another danger in not believing in the resurrection: some were saying, if death is the end, you might as well live how you please now (v 32b). Watch out, Paul warns, ‘Don’t get in with the wrong gang’ (v 33). Don’t be distracted from following Christ by others who live as if there is nothing after death.
Respond
How has Jesus’ resurrection helped you to live as a Christian? Ask God to help you bring this good news to others.
Deeper Bible study
‘Facing a task unfinished that drives us to our knees.’1
It would be easy to emulate superman and leap over verse 29 with a single bound, but I promised not to duck the difficult issues, so here goes. What is baptism for the dead? The major academic commentary on 1 Corinthians considers in depth thirteen different understandings, reckoned to be the most important.2 Yet this is really only the tip of the iceberg, since many more solutions have been proposed. The phrase most probably refers to some form of proxy baptism: baptism on behalf of the dead (NRSV) is probably a better translation. Some have nuanced this idea by suggesting that a person may have made a deathbed confession of Christ. There was no time to baptise them, so someone else underwent the rite in their place. But this is speculative.
What are we to make of this? We should be clear that Paul doesn’t support the practice, he merely notes that it happens in Corinth – a church that, for all its Spirit-filled life, is riddled with issues of belief and behaviour. Does he perhaps pass over it because he has more important things to tackle and can leave this one till he visits them? For the sake of clarity, I strongly urge readers of these notes not to be baptised for the dead! What such a practice reflects is a yearning for others to experience salvation. However, if someone living cannot be baptised there is no need to fear, as Jesus’ reassurance to the dying thief on the cross vividly demonstrates.3 The yearning for others to be saved is best met by speaking to them while they can still respond, for it is faith in Christ rather than proxy baptism which counts. All who truly trust in Christ will be saved. As this chapter demonstrates so wonderfully, the death and resurrection of Jesus guarantee it.
Bring before God in prayer particular people who you long to see trust in Christ. Be ready to be God’s answer to your prayer and take the gospel to them.
1 FM Houghton, ‘Facing a Task Unfinished’, 1930 2 Antony C Thiselton, 1 Corinthians [Greek Text], Paternoster, 2000, p1240–1249 3 Luke 23:43
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Jeremiah 32,33; John 12
Pray for Scripture Union
Please pray for the Communications and Marketing team as they seek to promote our new autumn resources, the Diary of a Disciple Holiday Club and Jesus is the Light?. Pray that they will find creative ways to reach new people with these resources.
