baptism for the dead

1 definition found

baptism for the dead - Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary :

  Baptism for the dead
  only mentioned in 1 Cor. 15:29. This expression as used by the
  apostle may be equivalent to saying, "He who goes through a
  baptism of blood in order to join a glorified church which has
  no existence [i.e., if the dead rise not] is a fool." Some also
  regard the statement here as an allusion to the strange practice
  which began, it is said, to prevail at Corinth, in which a
  person was baptized in the stead of others who had died before
  being baptized, to whom it was hoped some of the benefits of
  that rite would be extended. This they think may have been one
  of the erroneous customs which Paul went to Corinth to "set in
  order."