Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 15:56

What does 1 Corinthians 15:56 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 15:56 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 15:56 means

Death’s sting is sin, and sin’s power is the law. Sin brings guilt and judgment; the law reveals sin and condemns it, giving death its legal claim. This diagnosis explains why death once reigned so fiercely. But the implication, given the surrounding triumph, is that in Christ, sin is forgiven and the law’s condemning power is satisfied, removing death’s sting. The verse shows the moral and legal framework behind death’s tyranny and prepares for thanksgiving to God who, in Christ, has dealt with sin and law so decisively that death’s weapon is blunted and its victory undone.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

The pain of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the sting of the death <FI>is<Fi> the sin, and the power of the sin the law;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Now the sting of death is sin: and the power of sin is the law.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Now the sting of death [is] sin, and the power of sin the law;

Context

Having taunted death (v. 55), Paul explains how death wielded power—through sin and the law (v. 56). This paves the way for gratitude in v. 57, crediting God with victory through Jesus Christ. The context completes the theological logic: Christ’s death and resurrection address sin, fulfill the law’s demands, and thereby neutralize death’s sting.

v.55O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?

v.56This passage

v.57but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • John 8:24

    I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

  • Galatians 3:10

    For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.

  • John 8:21

    He said therefore again unto them, I go away, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sin: whither I go, ye cannot come.

  • Romans 4:15

    for the law worketh wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression.

  • Romans 5:12

    Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned:—

  • Romans 5:15

    But not as the trespass, so also is the free gift. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound unto the many.

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