Originally posted by Christopher
Pauls' argumant is not concerning 'dead' people at all! He is arguing the position of those who denied the ressurection, by stating that Baptism typifies our hope of ressurection, and our new life in Christ. The dead people were being baptized for, was not some saint who had passed , or some obscure family member, or a lost soul. Paul is playing 'devil's advocate' if you will. If the dead do not rise, then Christ did not rise. If Christ did not rise your baptism shows no victory, no new life, no hope in Christ, but a vain faith in a dead'savior', who would in this case be no savior at all. Paul was arguing for the purpose of baptism, its symbolic message, and the truth it teaches concerning ressurection. We shall rise because he is risen! Praise the Lord.
btw, Hi edp - an associate from Theologyforums some time back.
Christopher