In writing to vouch for the truth of the resurrection of the dead, Paul throws out a curious statement in 1 Corinthians 15:29: "Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people being baptized for them?"
This is the only place in Scripture where this is mentioned, and he says it almost in passing, so people can only guess about the practice to which he was referring. There are many interpretations. It's either an incorrect practice where believers thought they could be baptized to provide some benefit to those who already died, or it could have been baptism with the hope of the resurrection in mind. For example, trusting that Christians who had died were in heaven, Christians on earth were inspired to be baptized in this hope and to see these people again some day in heaven.
Paul doesn't condone the practice one way or the other; he simply uses it as an example of something being done at the time to make a point: "Why would people be doing this if there was no resurrection?"
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