...a figure, not literal.
**...a figure, not literal.**
“....the days of Noah,....eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” 1Peter 3:20,21
For without the resurrection, baptism would be only vanity.
“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?” 1Cor. 15:29
The “dead” in that verse is Jesus Christ, the subject of the previous 28 verses, who, of course is not dead, praise God!