The Sting of Death is Sin
C. Hodges, D.D. 1 Corinthians 15:55-58 O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?… That is, death would have no power to injure us if it were not for sin. This is true for two reasons. 1. Because if there were no sin there would be no death. Death is by sin (Romans 5:12). 2. Because sin gives death, when it has been introduced, all its terrors. If sin be pardoned, death is harmless. It can inflict no evil. It becomes a mere transition from a lower to a higher state. (C. Hodges, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? WEB: "Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?"