"But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 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? And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 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."
In today's quote Paul laid out the order of the resurrection. Christ having been the first to rise and then through His efforts the rest of us whom are saved will rise when He has overtaken all sin and returns to gather His own.
In the latter part of this quote, Paul made reference to being "baptized" for the dead. This reference causes confusion for some as to what is meant by the reference.
Being "baptized" for the dead is what Jesus accomplished for all those who, prior to His coming, had faith that God would eventually provide a redeemer for His people who had maintained faith in Him. Jesus, in that regard, was "baptized for the dead".
In this text, Paul, because he and all who are saved by the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, were and are to be deliverers of the gospel message, included us all with Christ as having been "baptized" for the dead; "I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily." When Paul said "I die daily" he was describing a daily baptism for the dead.~
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