Many have been the interpretations put on this verse. The Mormons use this to bolster up their idea of baptism,

vicariously on behalf of someone who has died, though what is this supposed to achieve, expressed in New

Testament terms? The New Testament knows nothing of such a practice and it was not heard of until the second

century and then among the heretics. Some have thought it means that the apostle refers to those who were baptized

on the basis of the testimony of some who had died. Others that the verse refers to young converts who took the

place in the church of older believers who had passed away, and yet again Paul was thinking of baptism as a symbol

of death and is not referring to those who have died physically.

We believe the best explanation has been given by Dr E.W. Bullinger in his Figures of Speech. Re-punctuating

the verse and supplying the ellipsis he translates:

`What shall they do who are being baptized? It is for dead bodies, if the dead rise not at all'.

That is to say, water baptism has no meaning apart from resurrection, and to this chapter 6 of Romans plainly

testifies and moreover it fits in to the context in chapter 15.

The afore-going will give some idea of the great importance of figures of speech as used in the Scriptures. All

sorts of wrong ideas and false doctrines can arise where these are not recognised and understood. We would

strongly advise the reader to obtain a copy of Dr. Bullinger's monumental work referred to above.

The relationship which the Old Testament sustains to the New, forms the basis for the consideration of types.

The fact that the Old Testament has a pronounced prophetic element links it indissolubly with the New, and

typological teaching is a form of prophecy. On the Lord's own authority He is to be found in the Old Testament.

To the disciples on the road to Emmaus He expounded the Old Testament Scriptures:

`And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things

concerning Himself' (Luke 24:27).

And to the disciples He said:

`... These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which

were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me' (Luke 24:44).

In John 5:39, the Lord Jesus said to the Jews: `Search (or ye search) the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have

eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me'. There can be therefore no doubt whatsoever that Christ is

prefigured by type and shadow in the Old Testament, and that this is a separate study in itself.

There are several Greek words used in the New Testament, which point back to the nature of the Old.

Hupodeigma means a representation, a copy, an example and occurs six times. `Let us labour ... lest any man fall

after the same example of unbelief' (Heb. 4:11). As chapters 3 and 4 of Hebrews make clear, the journey of the

Israelites through the wilderness has a typical meaning, which this verse reinforces: `... there are priests that offer

gifts according to the law: who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things ...' (Heb. 8:4,5). Here the

earthly priesthood is typical of heavenly realities.

Tupos and tupikos come from the verb tupto `to strike', and mean the impression formed by a blow, a pattern and

then a type.

`Now all these things happened unto them (Israel) for ensamples (types): and they are written for our admonition

...' (1 Cor. 10:11).

Once again the behaviour of Israel in the wilderness with their sin and rebellion is looked upon, not just as an

historical event, but something that was typical and pointed forward to the Christian era. Skia means a shadow,

sketch or outline. `For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things ...'

(Heb. 10:1 and 8:5). `Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new

moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come ...' (Col. 2:16,17). These verses show that the

ceremonial law was a shadowing forth in type of New Testament realities. Antitupos means a figure or likeness.