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Galatians 1:8-9 – Anathema, Anathema
Anathema, Anathema!
Paul is as mad at these false teachers as he is in any epistle, maybe and probably more. Why does Paul use such strong language as “anathema” (Galatians 1:8-9) which mean accursed or cursed? It is not an oft used word (Acts 23:14; Romans 9:3; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 16:22; Galatians 1:8-9). Not only does Paul use this word twice within this short epistle, but he also uses it twice in back to back sentences which increases its impact:
Galatians 1:8-9 (CSB) 8 ) But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! 9) As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!
On the surface it is obvious why, that is, these Judaizers had preached another gospel which was not another (1:6-7). They added to the gospel, adulterating it. But I think there is more than the obvious because there is more to the story of the gospel. Being cursed fits perfectly within two themes in Galatians: Creation and the Abrahamic Promise.
CREATION: “So the LORD God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than any livestock and more than any wild animal. You will move on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life.” (CSB’17 Genesis 3:14)
PROMISE: “I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (CSB’17 Genesis 12:3)
Going with this latter theme, Paul argues that the gospel was preached through the promise to Abraham:
Galatians 3:8 (CSB) Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you.
God took seriously those who cursed Abraham, and God curses those who preach another gospel other than the one preached to Abraham.
What advantage is there for us today in seeing this connection? Other than the obvious damnation of a curse, we see how the Old and New Testaments are connected. There is one story, and it is about Jesus. Change that story, that gospel, that blessing, and more than Paul gets mad. God is the one ultimately who pronounces the curse as preached to Abraham and preached again by Paul.
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