Baptism is also used as a figure of speech. In Luke 12:50 Jesus exclaims "But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!" He refers to his death and resurrection-the reality now described by the symbol-baptism being for his followers a symbolic death and resurrection. The apostle Paul does the same in 1 Corinthians 15, a chapter that deals entirely with the significance of death and resurrection.

He refers in verse 29 to being "baptized for the dead" (or baptised to be dead-going through the experience of death). In effect he is asking those who deny resurrection: Why should we suffer as martyrs, only to end up being dead? What is the purpose of this 'baptism' (death and resurrection) if there is no resurrection from the dead?

Baal
Babylon
Baptism
  1. "Baptism for the dead"
  2. Baptism with the Holy Spirit
Barbarians
Beelzebub
Beginning
  1. The Creation of the World
  2. The New Creation in Christ
Begotten
Believe, Belief, Believer
Bible
Bishop
Blasphemy
Blessedness
Blessing
Blood
Body
  1. The physical body
  2. The spiritual body
  3. The body of Christ
  4. "The body of Moses"
  5. "Spiritual bodies"
Born
Bread
Breaking Bread
Brothers and Sisters
Burial