1 Corinthians 16:22

‘If any man does not love the Lord, let him be anathema. Maranatha.'

But he is so moved by the situation in the Corinthian church that he adds as his own comment, ‘If any man does not love the Lord, let him be accursed, for behold the Lord is coming.' In the end with all their spiritual manifestations the central test is whether they love the Lord. Is their trust in Him? Do they look to Him? Are they taken up with Him? Is it their concern to obey Him? If not they are still under the curse.

The use of the Aramaic ‘maranatha' suggests that Paul is reminding them of a solemn early credal statement, which binds the Lord's people to love Him, that would be recognised by all. It is thus not his personal curse, but one recognised by the whole church. He reminds them that on the one hand are those who are in Christ who love Him, on the other those who are anathema, devoted to destruction, when the Lord comes. Let them consider their ways.

‘Anathema.' Compare Galatians 1:8 where any, whether man or angel, who preach another Gospel than the one Paul has defined is anathema. In LXX it often translates cherem, devoted to God and therefore to be destroyed. (See also 1 Corinthians 12:3; Romans 9:3; and Acts 23:14, where it is a votive offering under which the man calls for a destructive curse on himself if he fails to keep his vow; for the use of the term).

‘Maranatha.' An Aramaic term. The words in ancient scripts ran together so we may read as marana tha (‘our Lord, come') or as maran atha (‘our Lord has come'). It became, or had become, part of early church worship as witnessed in the Didache where it is used in connection with the celebration of the Lord's Supper. But Paul's use of it here must surely point forward to the time of coming blessing and judgment at Christ's coming when all comes to an end (1 Corinthians 15:24). Note how he too connects ‘until He come' with the Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 11:26).