Law, sin, and death: an edenic triad?

Abstract

"It is understandable that Friedrich Horn in his examination of 1 Cor 15:56 would entitle his article, “1 Korinther 15,56—ein exegetischer Stachel” and that Ulrich Wilckens in his study of Paul and the law expressed the now classic statement regarding the passage, “Im dortigen Kontext ist dieser Satz in seiner gedrängten, sentenzhaften Kürze rätselhaft.”1 The verse appears at the end of Paul’s lengthy apologetic for the resurrection of the believer. After two quotations triumphantly describing the eschatological defeat of death (vv. 54–55) and before an outburst of gratitude for this victory (v. 57), Paul makes an unexpected and unexplained statement regarding the relation between law, sin, and death: to; de; kevntron touÅ qanavtou hJ aÒmartÇa, hJ de; duvnamiÍ thÅÍ aÒmartÇaÍ oJ novmoÍ (v. 56). The verse appears abrupt and seems to be oddly situated. Its omission would seem to give a far smoother and more logical reading with the thanksgiving in verse 57 following immediately after the declaration of victory in verses 54–55.2"