Hi William, thanks for sharing your interpretation. I read somewhere that this passage has over 30 interpretations. Needless to say, it is widely disputed.
1Co 15:29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
1Co 15:30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
1Co 15:32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
1Co 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Here is what I believe is going on in 1Co 15:29-32 → Baptism for the dead is to die a martyrs death (cf. Mat 20:22-23). What does ‘for the dead’ mean? This is talking about the people that are spiritually dead (cf. 1Co 15:22; Eph 2:1; Col 2:13).
Baptism in the Bible is an identification. The first baptism that takes place in the scripture is the nation of Israel being baptized unto Moses as the crossed the Red Sea on dry ground (1Co 10:2).
If the resurrection were not true, then martyrdom would be in vain (1Co 15:32). But the resurrection is true and thus the child of God should be willing to lay down his life.
In 1Co 15:33 we see bad doctrine (i.e. denying the resurrection) leading to bad conduct (i.e. not being willing to lay down ones life).
