1 Corinthians 15:56 (GNV)

Passage

The sting of death is sinne: and ye strength of sinne is the Lawe.

Nearby Context

1 Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible hath put on incorruption, and this mortall hath put on immortalitie, then shalbe brought to passe the saying that is written, Death is swallowed vp into victorie.

1 Corinthians 15:55 O death where is thy sting? O graue where is thy victorie?

1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sinne: and ye strength of sinne is the Lawe.

1 Corinthians 15:57 But thankes be vnto God, which hath giuen vs victorie through our Lord Iesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore my beloued brethren, be ye stedfast, vnmoueable, aboundant alwayes in the worke of the Lord, forasmuch as ye knowe that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "sting", "death", "sinne", "strength", and "lawe". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "sting" and "death", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 55's "O death where is thy sting O..." into verse 57's "But thankes be vnto God which hath...", so "sting" and "death" belong inside that flow. In 1 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "sting" and "death" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.