1 Corinthians 16:22

22. [Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν] after κύριον, rec. with DEFG Vetus Lat. Vulg. Peshito. Text אABC.

22. εἴ τις οὐ φιλεῖ τὸν κύριον. φιλέω signifies the intimate and familiar personal affection subsisting between individuals, rather than the wider and more general feeling of love usually enjoined in the N.T. It is the word used when our Lord for the third time asks St Peter the question ‘Lovest thou me?’ (John 21:17). Christians are to cultivate a feeling of personal loyalty and affection for Jesus Christ, such as a soldier feels for his general, or a disciple for his master. And this though they have never seen Him. As the natural precedes the spiritual (ch. 1 Corinthians 15:46), so the love for Christ as Man must precede, and lead up to, the love for Him as God. See notes on ch. 1 Corinthians 15:23; 1 Corinthians 15:28.

ἀνάθεμα. The word is derived from two Greek words signifying to set apart, and is equivalent to the Hebrew cherem, which denotes something devoted to destruction for God’s honour’s sake, as the city and spoil at Jericho, Joshua 6:17. See also Leviticus 27:28-29.

μαρὰν�. Two Syriac words, signifying ‘our Lord is come.’ The meaning is ‘our Lord is come, beware how you treat Him.’ Cf. Philippians 4:5; James 5:8-9. Lightfoot cites Malachi 4:6, the last words of the last prophet, ‘Lest I come and smite the earth with a curse’ (cherem). It is difficult to account for the Aramaic form of the word, unless we suppose with some that the utterance of the formula in the Apostle’s own language was likely to be more impressive. For the foregoing word as well as these consult Smith’s Dictionary of the Bible. These words must not be regarded as a part of the anathema. The meaning is Let him be anathema. The Lord is come. It is possible, though less agreeable to the context, that they signify ‘Come Thou, O Lord.’