When this comes to pass, then what was written by the prophet Hosea (Hos. 13:14) will be fulfilled. Since he said something astonishing, he confirms the truth of his words with the testimony of Scripture. "In victory" (εις νίκος, unto victory), that is, completely, so that death, having been defeated, will be destroyed, and there remains for it not even the hope of ever regaining its power thereafter.
1 Cor. 15:55. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?
As if having seen this accomplished in deed, he is inspired, utters a victory cry and triumphs, as if trampling upon vanquished death and treading it underfoot. Between "hell" and "death" you can find a certain distinction, namely: "hell" holds souls, while "death" holds bodies; for souls are immortal.
1 Cor. 15:56. The sting of death is sin.
For through sin, death received its power, using sin as a weapon of sorts and a sting. For just as the scorpion itself is a small creature, but has its power in its sting, so also death received its power through sin, and otherwise it would have been ineffective. This is evident also from the example of the Lord Himself, since death did not find sin in Him, it remained powerless over Him.
1 Cor. 15:56. And the strength of sin is the law.
Why? Because when there was no law, we sinned in ignorance and were subject to a less severe condemnation, but when the law exposed sin, it subjected us to great condemnation, since we know and yet sin, and made it strong — not by its own nature, but because of our negligence, since we did not make use of the law as we should have, as a remedy, about which more has been said at greater length in the Epistle to the Romans. Therefore, O man, do not doubt the resurrection. You see that sin, which was the weapon of death, has been destroyed, and the law, which accidentally became the power of sin, has been abolished. When death has been disarmed, it is obvious that it no longer has power.
1 Cor. 15:57. Thanks be to God, who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
The Lord Jesus fought the contest, and to us the victory was given — not by merit, not by obligation, but by the grace and love of God the Father, Who made us victors through the contest of His Son.
1 Cor. 15:58. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.
Since, he says, you have learned that there will be a resurrection and recompense for the good and the wicked, be steadfast; for they were wavering in the teaching about the resurrection. And since they were also neglecting the good life, on account of there supposedly being no resurrection, he says: "always abound in the work of the Lord"; not only do it, but do it in abundance. The "work" "of the Lord," that which the Lord loves and which He requires of us, is virtue.
1 Cor. 15:58. Knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
That is, hope that there will be a resurrection, and you will lose nothing from your labors. For previously you were not zealous for virtue because you did not believe in the resurrection and therefore did not want to labor in vain, but now you know that none of your labor will remain in vain. "In the Lord" (εν Κυρίω) means either your labor which is "in the Lord," that is, for which you had help from above, since it is directed toward God-pleasing works; or "with the Lord" your labor will not remain in vain, but you will receive recompense from Him.