<p>15:56 <i>The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law</i>- Again we see Paul addressing the problem of the Judaizers in Corinth. It was law which gave power and actuality to sin, as Paul noticed in his own experience throughout Romans 7, e.g. &quot;I had not known sin, except through the law. For I had not known coveting, except the law had said: You shall not covet&quot; (Rom. 7:7). The &quot;victory&quot; given against sin was through the abrogation of law; for we are now &quot;not under law&quot; (Rom. 6:14). If there is a cosmic 'satan' responsible for sin and death, now would be the time, surely, for Paul to refer to it. But instead we see a reference only to sin and death. Death is personified, as a snake, which achieves its kill by the venom of sin.</p>