What is the Immersion of the Dead? Is it in the Torah?
Many have read this verse and have not understood what Shaul (Paul) is referring to.
1 Corinthians 15:29
29 Otherwise, what shall they do who are immersed for the dead, if the dead are not raised at all? Why indeed are they immersed for the dead?
WHAT IS SHAUL REFERRING TO? TO WHOM IS HE WRITING? WHAT IS THE CONTEXT?
North of the city of Corinth there was a city called Eleusis. In this place, a series of pagan rites were performed in which people literally “washed” themselves in the sea, for their dead, supposedly ensuring them a good life after death [Scripture says the dead are asleep and await the resurrection]. This religion was mentioned by Homer in the “Hymn to Demeter”, in the 7th Century before Yeshua. It is known that the Corinthians were deeply influenced by other pagan religious customs and traditions like the ones found in Eleusis where-according to Shaul in verse 29-the rite of the immersion for the dead was practised among the pagans.
Shaul uses this pagan rite as an example to contradict some people who affirmed that there was no resurrection of the dead that is why he says :
1 Corinthians 15:29
29 Otherwise, what shall they do who are immersed for the dead, if the dead are not raised at all? Why indeed are they immersed for the dead?
This is significant because the Assembly (of believers) did not practice ‘immersion for the dead’, nor was Shaul approving it in any form. Those who did practice it were without any doubt pagans.
Unless noted otherwise, Scripture is taken from The Scriptures,
Copyright by Institute for Scripture Research.
Used by permission.