Anathema

Greetings. 

Today we will look at Galatians 1:8-9 where Paul announces a curse on those who would change the Gospel.  Here is my translatian: 

8 But if we, or even an angel from Heaven, proclaim to you a gospel different from the one we taught you, let them be under the curse of God. 9 Let me repeat myself.  I’m telling you, if anyone preaches a different gospel to you, other than the one you have received, let that person be accursed. 

I will remind you that Paul expressed astonishment that the Galatians would so quickly desert the Gospel of grace.  Now, in verse 8, he expresses the dire nature of such a decision.  Paul tells the churches in Galatia, that if even an angel from Heaven teaches them a different gospel other than the one that they had been taught, that person should be accursed.  He is obviously making reference here to these agitators who are perverting the Gospel of grace, but he is also making a universal statement.  In verse 8 we see that he has gone from astonishment to indignation. 

Anyone who preaches a different gospel, other than the gospel of God’s grace, is to be cursed by God.  God’s love and grace is the message.  Anything else is a different gospel, and therefore, no gospel at all. 

Paul is making things perfectly clear here.  These teachings are not supplemental teachings to the gospel, something to learn in addition to the gospel.  These are teachings that can lead both teacher and student to be accursed. Ἀνάθεμα (Anathema) is the word Paul uses here.  The Greek-English Lexicon of New Testament Words defines Ἀνάθεμα as “that which has been cursed, accursed.  Thayer’s Lexicon comments that anathema is “a person or thing that is doomed to destruction.” This is what Paul says is the fate of those who preach a different gospel.  

John Stott compares this idea of anathema to Achan in Joshua 7, who stole from the spoils of Jericho, from that God had placed under His ban and was doomed for destruction.  (Stott, 24.) Stott also states that this anathema applies to anyone who distorts the essence of the gospel and propagates this distortion.  (Stott, 25) (It makes sense that the Bible would warn teachers that they face a more strict judgment.  (James 3:1)  Teachers need to make sure that they have the gospel of grace on straight and that they spread that message properly.)

Paul makes it clear, speaking in some hyperbole that no one can come in and change the nature of the message of the gospel.  He essentially says, “Even if it is me, don’t listen to it.”  Then he takes it even further, “Even if it is one of God’s angels, don’t listen to it.”

Now, why would an angel come to them teaching a different gospel? An angel would not do that.  While seeing an angel might make the message pretty compelling, Paul says that if they are changing the Gospel, that we are not to listen to them. 

Paul is stressing the point here, that they should continue on in God’s grace, and not let anyone move them from it, no matter how convincing the messenger might be.  Thomas Schreiner points out that Paul includes himself and angels in his warning, not because either would pervert the nature of the Gospel, but to stress its unchangeable nature. (Shreiner, 87.) The Gospel of Grace does not change.  

What Paul is saying to the Galatians here is so important that he repeats it.  He wants this warning to be taken seriously, so he repeats the anathema. 

There are subtle differences in the second anathema.  He removes the reference to himself and to angels, and replaces it with the word τις (tis) which can be translated as someone or as anyone.  He is no longer speaking in hyperbole, but directly against those agitators.  Any message other than the gospel of God’s grace, is not true gospel, and anyone who preaches such a message as gospel is accursed.  

The Galatians had received the true gospel when Paul presented it to them, and this ‘new revelation’ was not leading them in the right direction, and was to be rejected.  

It is important to discern which ‘gospel’ we have accepted.  Are we receiving the gospel of God’s grace, or have we followed a gospel of rule-keeping?  Legalism can be insidious and difficult to discern, so we should examine our beliefs carefully to see if what we are holding is God’s grace, or some form of legalistic righteousness, where we are somehow earning it, becasue 'earning it' is not part of God's plan. His grace is sufficient.