Baptism for the dead in 1 Corinthians 15:29

Status
Not open for further replies.

Reformed Covenanter

Cancelled Commissioner
I heard 1 Corinthians 15:29 preached on in church yesterday morning (as part of a sermon on verses 20-34).[1] What is it to be "baptised for the dead" (Greek: βαπτιζόμενοι ὑπὲρ τῶν νεκρῶν)? For the Greek scholars among you, what is the significance of τῶν νεκρῶν being in the genitive plural?

[1] The preacher was the son of the Australian Anglican theologian, Dr Peter Jensen.
 
I'm not the greatest at greek, I have what I had out of seminary which is like a 5th grade greek education. :)

ὑπὲρ is generally followed by an accusative or genitive. Depending on which one it usually indicates how ὑπὲρ is to be taken.

With genitive, in basic form, it indicates: 1) representation/advantage (e.g. on behalf of, for the sake of); 2) Reference/respect (e.g. concerning, with reference to); or 3) Substitution (e.g. in place of, instead of).

With accusative, 1) Spatial (e.g. over, above) or 2) Comparison (e.g. more than, beyond).

Those are 'the rules', but in Greek, rules are made to be broken.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top