O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Corinthians 15:55-57)

Paul is thought to be - rather roughly - quoting Hosea 13:14. The Greek scripture of Paul's day, used by most Jews of the Diaspora, does not accurately reflect the Hebrew. But in this case the errors do not detract from Paul's meaning.

I have failed in God's purposes. I have wandered from the way that God intended. I have not kept faith with others or even with my own integrity. I have sinned. I deserve to be shamed and punished.

But instead I have been given victory - nike is the Greek - through the reign of Jesus the anointed. Despite my sin if I acknowledge that I belong to Jesus and submit to Jesus I can be victorious.

The error of translating the Hebrew to Greek is real. It complicates our understanding. But it does not remove the essential truth. The truth of both Hosea and Corinthians persist and is accessible to us.

In a similar fashion sin complicates our lives. Through grave errors we experience great pain. But this does not undo the truth of God's greater love and profound grace. The truth overcomes the error.

You may listen to O Death where is thy Victory performed by the Bach Collegium of Japan.