Let Him Be Anathema Maranatha (1 Corinthians 16:22)

2023-01-11

If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. (1 Corinthians 16:22)

“We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). We may not love Him perfectly as He deserves, but we love Him because He breathed new life into us. Because He died for me and lives again, my life took a different course than it would have otherwise.

But those who hear the Gospel and understand and reject Him anyway, they are “Anathema.” We have the word in English, but it is also a literal transcription from the Greek text. It is translated elsewhere as “accursed.” Here is an example: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8).

But what is “Maranatha”? It is Aramaic for “our Lord has come” or “our Lord will come.” The Didache also uses the word: “If any man is holy, let him come; if any man is not, let him repent. Maran Atha. Amen” (Didache 10:13-14; Lightfoot).

An allusion to this word may be here: “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

What we learn from this is that, whether we love him or reject Him, the Lord Jesus is coming. Embrace His coming and order your life accordingly.