How does 1 Corinthians 15:56 relate to the concept of original sin? Text of 1 Corinthians 15:56 “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law.” Immediate Context: Resurrection Chapter Paul’s entire fifteenth chapter argues for the bodily resurrection of Jesus and, by extension, the future resurrection of believers. Verses 54-57 form a climactic doxology: death is swallowed up, its “sting” removed through Christ’s victory. Verse 56 isolates the causal chain: Law → sin → death. Understanding that chain is impossible without tracing it back to the primeval transgression of Adam and Eve—commonly called “original sin.” Original Sin Defined Original sin refers to (1) the historical first act of disobedience by the first human pair (Genesis 3) and (2) the inherited corruption and guilt that now characterize every human being (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12-19). The doctrine explains why death entered the world and why every human heart leans toward rebellion (Jeremiah 17:9). Biblical Foundations • Genesis 2:17—“for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.” • Genesis 3:19—“for dust you are, and to dust you will return.” • Romans 5:12—“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.” • Ephesians 2:3—“we were by nature children of wrath.” The Law as the “Power” of Sin Paul states that “the power of sin is the Law.” The Mosaic Law diagnoses sin and, by its very clarity, intensifies human accountability (Romans 7:7-13). Without the Law there is still sin (Romans 5:13-14), but once God codifies His will, transgression becomes “exceedingly sinful.” Thus the Law, good in itself, serves as sin’s leverage to produce death—a sequence originating in Eden when God issued a single prohibition. The Sting of Death: Sin’s Fatal Result A sting (kentron) injects venom; sin injects mortality. Adam’s breach inaugurated physical death (Genesis 5 repeatedly records, “and he died”) and spiritual alienation (Isaiah 59:2). Every cemetery silently preaches original sin. Adam to Christ: Federal Headship Paul’s “second Adam” contrast (1 Corinthians 15:45-49) presumes the first Adam’s representative role. As Adam’s guilt is imputed to humanity, Christ’s righteousness is imputed to believers. Denying original sin collapses Paul’s parallel: it would render Christ’s representative obedience unnecessary. Early Church Witness Ignatius (AD 110, Letter to the Trallians 2) quotes 1 Corinthians 15: “…destroyed death, spoiling its sting.” Irenaeus (Against Heresies 5.13.1) ties the verse directly to Adam’s fall: “For where there is sin, there is death; and man became subject to both.” These testimonies show that original-sin theology accompanies the verse from the second century onward. Pastoral Implications 1. Evangelism: Conviction of inherited sin prepares the heart for the gospel cure. 2. Sanctification: Believers still battle indwelling sin, but Christ’s resurrection power progressively neutralizes sin’s “sting.” 3. Hope in Bereavement: Death’s presence testifies to Adam; its defeat testifies to Christ. The funeral service becomes a declaration of both doctrines. Conclusion 1 Corinthians 15:56 is inseparable from original sin. Sin brought death; the Law amplifies sin; therefore death reigns. Christ’s resurrection removes the sting by satisfying the Law and conquering sin. Denying original sin empties the verse of meaning and the cross of necessity. Embracing it magnifies God’s grace and the believer’s hope: “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). |
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