Show BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD the church of jesus jesua christ of lat ter day saints has haa among its ita distin gui puishing shing tenets the doctrine of baptism lor for the dead and the question arises is this a scriptural doctrine that it Is among the grandest conceptions within the whole bauge of the human mind all who thoroughly understand the subject williD willingly gly admit but Is it entirely now new to this age or was it preached and practiced in former ages age as well paul in I 1 cor xi xv 29 uses the following well known argument else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead if the dead rise not at all why are they then baptized lor for the dead by reference to the context it will be seen that there were some of the abrie fians in corinth who were inclined to skepticism on the doctrine of re reo tion probably the first resurrection and the apostle argues to set the doubts at rest in doing so he be first proves the resurrection of christ and add then states that those who belong to christ shall be raised at his coming after which event cornea comes the end when everything shall be subject to his reign it if this is not so he be argues our preaching is vain the th goi dead d have perished and above all these who aze ae baptized ced fur for the dead are performing a vain labor anil and every suffering in the cause of christ Is unprofitable here is an irrefutable proof that the doctrine of baptism tor for the dead was so well understood and practiced among the primitive Christ christians lans that it could form the logical basis for an argument in favor of the resurrection from the dead we are aware that various interpretations have been given to this passage by theologians who admit that they do not understand it the word baptism here to ie to be taken in a figurative sene as meaning martyrdom he paraphrases it thus whit what shall they do who have undergone and do undergo martyrdom if there be not a resurrection this rendition however is s valuable only as to what absurdities even the pr fi indest scholars will go when they encounter insurmountable ot 1 tables martyrdom is indeed in matt 22 23 referred to under the name of baptism metaphorically uzea but baptism for the deau pa Is never so employed oo on theory it would be martyrdom for the dead a phrase still more inexplicable than baptism for the dead griesbach with his usual ingenuity proposes to amend sinead the text and read what shall hall they do that are baptized brou frou dead but this destroys not only the present text but the evide t argument of tue Apo apostil the orji mance be refers to must form some connection between the living and the desa or e se there is in no do torce force in it so aa an argument for the resurrection there are numerous other apropo e A 1 interpretations to which we cannot here refer I 1 the baptism spoken of by the apostle to is sin an ordinance performed by the jiving instead oi 01 or in behalf of or for the au advantage vantage of toe dead the idea of substitution is in clearly expressed I 1 in u the or grek ek original of the passage where the proposition aper misused is used illethe it is the same idea of substitution that Is found in numerous nume roua places in relation to the work of christ for mankind christ became a cu ough es for or up u he was wag made to be sin in our be behalf balf he gave himself up for up ue etc these ar arc instances of the true meaning of that proposition preposition the doctrine that the ordinance of baptism can be performed on behalf of another should not startle anyone who believes Del ieves in christ for as his hie work was largely vicarious so BO also alao must the orui nancee dances typifying that work be baptism la Is indeed rom bom vi 6 5 the holy ordinance by which the believer is united with christ in his death and as such entitled to the benefits accruing i how can it be but of the fame am vicarious nature as the atonement with which it identifies the believer and when it to ig that bat the gampol to la not limited to the living but reaches out alao to the vast vas t masses behind the collit becomes clear that baptism for the dead to ii a doctrine without which would be incomplete that it is was preached in the first ages agee of our era we have shown its ite restoration in this age la Is al mother proof of the divine character of the message delivered to the world by joseph the pr phet |