St. Paul’s Baptism reference causes some confusion

Submitted on May 23, 2008

Send to friendQuestion: St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians speaks about Baptism for the dead. What is that, and how would one be baptized for someone who has died? Answer: In his first letter to the Corinthians St. Paul describes how belief in the resurrection, Jesus Christ’s and our own, is essential to Christian faith. If Christ is not raised, he wrote, our whole religion is absurd. "In Christ shall all be brought to life" (15:22). At one point he introduces a puzzling argument. If we are not raised from the dead, "What will people accomplish by having themselves baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are they (Christians still alive) having themselves baptized for them (the dead)?" (15:29). This perplexing verse has provoked endless speculation. Some scholars maintain the passage is not authentic. Baptizing the living for the dead is so foreign to Paul’s theology, they claim, he would never have alluded to such a practice, even as an argument. The predominant interpretation, however, seems to be that some early Christians did have themselves baptized for deceased nonChristians for reasons unknown to us. This is not to say that St. Paul promoted or approved the practice. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) follows a practice of baptizing living members for deceased ancestors, a custom which grows out of a theology of faith and salvation totally alien to Christian tradition. God has told us much about how His grace flows through Baptism and the other sacraments, but He has not told us everything. Certainly God is not limited by the sacraments. Catholic belief is that God has his own ways of reaching unbaptized persons with His saving grace, and we do not need to resort to this sort of sacramental gymnastics to assure the opportunity for His grace to be effective for every human being. A free brochure, in English or Spanish, answering questions Catholics ask about Baptism practices and sponsors is available by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Father John Dietzen, Box 3315, Peoria, IL 61612. Questions may be sent to Father Dietzen, a priest of the Peoria Diocese, who writes a weekly column distributed by Catholic News Service, at the same address, or e-mail: jjdietzen@aol.com. Address questions of a general nature about the Catholic faith to Dear Father, St. Louis Review, 20 Archbishop May Drive, St. Louis, MO 63119. You can also fax them to (314) 792-7534 or send by e-mail to slreview@stlouisreview.com. One question at a time, please.