The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-01-04
For the Central Presbyterian.
Baptized for the Dead.
BY REV. II. Il. HALVES.

for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Whv
are they then baptized for the dead And why
stand we in jeopardy every hour? "-1 Cor XIV
%, 30.
Here is a passage which has challenged
great attention. and the question, What
is its Interpretation? has never had a
satisfactory answer, so far as the writer
of this article knows. His Interpretation
is here offered for what it may be worth.
Note:
/. The word baptism" does not al
ways refer to the sacrament of baptism.
By turning to Matt. Xxx: 20-23, Mark =:
$3.50, Luke xii: so, we find that it is
used to indicate condition of suferino.
The mother of Zebedee's children came
to Jesus, asking that her two sons might
sit, one on His right hand, the other on
His left, in His kingdom "But Jesus
answered and said Ye know not what We
ask Are ye able to drink of the Gun
that [ shall drink Of and to be baptized
with the baptism that 1 am baptized
with ?" Now this looks to the future of
Christ's life, from that time. He had
been baptized with water, by John Bap-
list, as preparation for His priestly con
secration, and was not again to be bap-
tiled with water. The "cup" He was to
drink at some future time. So of this
baptism. This is made clear by Luke
Xii: so, when looking to His coming suf-
ferings, He cried: "But I have a bap-
tism to be baptized with; and how am 1
straitened, (pained, distressed) till it be
accomplished" Here it is evident that
baptism" denotes condition of suffer-
ing. Keeping this in mind-note-
q The chief cause of Paul's great suf
ferings was his faith in and preaching OF
the resurrection of the dead 2 Tim. i
lO-12, "Our Saviour Jesus Christ, who
hath abolished death, and brought life
and Immortality to light through the
gospel. Whereunto am appointed a
preacher, and an apostle, and teacher of
the Gentiles. For which cause suffer
these things" Also 2 Tim. ii: 8, 9,
Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed
of David, was raised from the dead, &C
cording to my gospel, wherein suffer
trouble, etc. At Jerusalem (Acts xiii
6) Paul declared the cause of his perse-
cution in these words: "Of the hope and
resurrection of the dead, am I called in
question" Before Felix (Acts xiv: 21)
he declared that his prosecutors found no
evil-doing In him while he was before the
council at Jerusalem, Except it be for
this one voice, that I cried, standing
among them, touching the resurrection
of the dead, am called in question of
you this day" See also Acts XIV: 10.
He re-asserted this as the cause of his
troubles, also, before Agrippa; asking
this king" Why should it be thought a
thing Incredible with you, that God
should raise the dead ?" Acts XVI: 8 to
%. In Phil iii: he tells us how he gave
up all things and suffered all things for
the excellency of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus and of the hope before
which all his being bowed eff by any
means l might attain unto the resurrec-
ton of the dead" The suferinos en-
countered and endured by Paul and his
fellows were baptism, like that of their
Lord. Note
3. The 18th chapter of l Corinthians
was written to show (among others) three
things: % The resurrection of Jesus
Christ. ~ That this involved the re-
surrection of His people, and their attain
ment to full salvation. CO That this
was the supreme hope to cheer Christians
in times Of trouble. If Christ be not
risen, what follows? Our preaching is
vain; faith is vain hope is destroyed ;
all comfort is gone; those who are dead
have utterly persisted.
Some XIV: 12) were saying: "There is
no resurrection Of the dead. If that be
true, then all the sad results, Just men
toned, follow. Then all our self-denials
and suferings are but so much folly.
WhV endure them If tbio hone a,d fa;fL
in the resurrection is only an imagina-
tion2 Il die daily" ". 81) in the en-
durance Of these suferings. / have fought
with human beasts at Ephesus for this
faith; but what advantageth it me, if
there is no truth in this doctrine? If
this faith, for which we suffer, is decep-
ton, lie, then away with the sufferines;
let us eat and drink for tomorrow we
die (apothneskomen--yot perish eutireZ1.
See verse 36). And if this be so, why
suffer for the faith any longer? Why
expose ourselves every hour ". BOZ to
frnh rI-O no