OET interlinear 1COR 15:29

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

ἐπεὶ

otherwise

Here, Otherwise introduces the opposite of what Paul has argued in 15:12–28. If what he has argued about Jesus’ resurrection and its importance is not true, then what he says in this verse must be true. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express Otherwise with a word or phrase that introduces an opposite or contrast. Alternate translation: [If all that is not true]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τί ποιήσουσιν, οἱ βαπτιζόμενοι ὑπὲρ τῶν νεκρῶν?

what ˱they˲_/will_be/_doing who_‹are› /being/_baptized for the dead

Paul does not ask this question because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks it to involve the Corinthians in what he is arguing. The implied answer to the question is “They will accomplish nothing.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this question by using a strong negation. Alternate translation: [those who are baptized for the dead do nothing.]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ποιήσουσιν, οἱ βαπτιζόμενοι

˱they˲_/will_be/_doing who_‹are› /being/_baptized

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Paul uses the passive form here to focus on those who are getting baptized rather than focusing on the person doing the “baptizing.” If you must state who does the action, you can use a vague or indefinite subject. Alternate translation: [will those do whom others baptize] or [will those do who receive baptism]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ποιήσουσιν, οἱ βαπτιζόμενοι ὑπὲρ τῶν νεκρῶν

˱they˲_/will_be/_doing who_‹are› /being/_baptized for the dead

Here Paul speaks of “doing” something in the future. He could be referring to: (1) the intended result of being baptized, which happens after the baptism. Alternate translation: [will those accomplish who are baptized] (2) what the people being baptized think that they are doing. Alternate translation: [do those who are baptized for the dead think that they are doing]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ποιήσουσιν, οἱ βαπτιζόμενοι ὑπὲρ τῶν νεκρῶν & βαπτίζονται ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν

˱they˲_/will_be/_doing who_‹are› /being/_baptized for the dead & ˱they˲_/are_being/_baptized for them

It is unclear what being baptized for the dead actually means and what kind of practice it refers to. What is clear is that the practice only makes sense if one believes that the dead are raised. If possible, express these phrases in general terms. Two of the most common ways to understand being baptized for the dead are that it could refer to: (1) the practice of living believers receiving baptism in place of people who died without being baptized. Alternate translation: [will those do who are baptized in place of the dead … are they baptized in their place] (2) people receiving baptism because they believe that the dead will “rise.” They could be expecting their own resurrection or the resurrection of people they knew who are dead. Alternate translation: [will those do who are baptized with the dead in mind … are they baptized with them in mind]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

τῶν νεκρῶν & νεκροὶ

the dead & /the/_dead

Paul is using the adjective dead as a noun in order to refer to all people who are dead. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: [the dead people … the dead people] or [the corpses … the corpses]

Note 7 topic: grammar-connect-condition-contrary

εἰ ὅλως νεκροὶ οὐκ ἐγείρονται

if actually /the/_dead not /are_being/_raised

Here Paul is making a conditional statement that sounds hypothetical, but he is already convinced that the condition is not true. He knows that the dead really are raised. He uses this form to show the Corinthians the implications of their claim that the dead are not raised. Use a natural form in your language for introducing a condition that the speaker believes is not true. Alternate translation: [if the dead actually are not raised at all]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

νεκροὶ οὐκ ἐγείρονται

/the/_dead not /are_being/_raised

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Paul uses the passive form here to focus on those who are or are not raised rather than focusing on the person doing the raising. If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that “God” does it. Alternate translation: [God does not raise the dead]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τί καὶ βαπτίζονται ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν

what why also ˱they˲_/are_being/_baptized for them

Paul does not ask this question because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks it to involve the Corinthians in what he is arguing. The implied answer to the question is “There is no reason why.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this question by using a strong negation. Alternate translation: [they are baptized for them for nothing.]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

βαπτίζονται

˱they˲_/are_being/_baptized

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Paul uses the passive form here to focus on those who are getting baptized rather than focusing on the person doing the “baptizing.” If you must state who does the action, you can use a vague or indefinite subject. Alternate translation: [do others baptize them] or [do they receive baptism]

Note 11 topic: writing-pronouns

βαπτίζονται ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν

˱they˲_/are_being/_baptized for them

Here, they refers to the people being baptized for the dead, while them refers to the dead. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state explicitly what people these pronouns the refer to. Alternate translation: [are these people baptized for the dead]