If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? I might prefer to translate the beginning, ‘Otherwise, what are those baptising on behalf of the dead doing?’ What is baptism on behalf of the dead? Third, note that in this whole paragraph his main point is that there is life after this life, life after death. This practice in Greek culture of a ‘baptism on behalf of the dead’ only makes sense if people believe in life after death.