The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 50

Here the apostle, no doubt, refers to the as these : " May we be anathema if we taste manner in which the nnbelieving Jews al- anght till we have killed Paul I " with lowed themselves, already then, to speak which we may conjoin Mark xiv. 71, "He of our Lord. Oloorly they meant thereby began to pronounce a 01use (a.vm8•µ.a:ri(e,v) more thnn merely "excommunicate," which and to swear "-not, to be sure, pronouncing, palliated sense some have endeavoured to e. curse npon Jesns, bnt wishing himself to give to "11Dathema;" they cannot be be anathema if he knew that Man. There supposed to have intended less than an can be little doubt that the anathema in object which merited that utter extinction both these cases involved a reference to to which he who was cherem was under eternal perdition. That no Iese is intended the Law doomed: their bla,spheming by the term in the present verse and there- thought, no doubt, inking into its view fore, also in that next to it, is further' proved not this world only, but that also which is by reference to the hypothetical "angel to come. 2. Rom. ix. 3, " I could pray from heaven" who should be found preaching that I myself were anathema from Christ e. different gospel. Being anathema must for my brethren's sake." The reader natur- involve for such a one excision from the ally casts about to find some qualification kingdom of light, together with whatever to give to an utterance which seems at first destrnction properly attend1t thereupon. sight to express a wish such as one who What, it will be asked, is the precise force loved Christ so ardently as Paul did could of the "let him be," both here and in 1 Cor. not possibly have entertained. Yet the xvi. 22? It cannot denote less than a com- words, " anathema from Christ," can mean placent satisfied acquiescence. The apostle- nothing less than being separated from prophet not only foresees that, at the final Christ by a curse consigning him to per- judgment, such will be the doom of the dition. The desiderated qualification must wilful perverter of the gospel, but foresees be sought in the phrase, "I could pray;" it with e. mind at one with the Jndge who this renders an imperfect verb (11vxt!µ.71v), shall pronour:ce it; he can himself desire, which expresses a turn of thought similar he does desire, no other. It is his loyal to that denoted in the (1i8ell.ov), "I could sympathy with Christ as Saviour, as ea.ring wish," of eh. iv. 20, on which see note. In for the souls of men, that prompts hiru to e1wh case the tense betokens a mere glance proclaim a.loud for the we.ruing of the false (so to speak) of wish which is instantly teachers themselves as well as for the w:ll"n- withrlro.wn. 3. 1 Cor. xvi. 22, "If any man ing of those inclined to hearken to their false loveth not the Lord, let him be anathema." teaching, his own solemn Amen to the terrible Here, too, the notion of Church-excommuni- sentence awaiting them. But if so, why not cation, whether by formal exclusion or by allow the imperative its full force, and. the withdrawal of brotherly recognition, understand the utterance o.s an imperative? 1 is not satisfactory. The Israelite notion It is granted that the apostle was apt o.t of being anathema, cherem, points to a no times to be carried away by the fervid im- mere negation, but to a condition of posi- petuosity of his feelings, even when writing. tive accursedness linked with exposure to to the utterance of words which ill calmer· utter destruction. Moreover the apostle mood he would be ready to a certain extent refers to a man's interior sentiments with to retract. We have n. clear cXitmple of respect to Christ-a matter not within the such retractation in 1 Cor. vi. 4, 5 (see note cognisance of human judgments. Who can below on eh. v. 12). But, in the case befure in many cases, or perhaps in any, determine us, that the Yehemence of the apostle's whether another loves Ubrist or not? It is language is o. deliberate ,·ehemence, and in truth a warning ago.inst a soul's disloyalty no mere moment:iry outburst of txcited to the Lord Jesus, clothing itself in the form feeling, is proYed by the solemn measured of an execration-an execration which, it is iteration in the next verse. And if we true, is o.n impetuous flashing forth of the suppose, what seems to bo most probo.ble, apostle's own flaming sense of what is due that that verso refers to n similor denunci- to Christ from every human being, but ation uttered among the G o.latians o. go, which is nowise clu,.rgeo.ble with extrava- wbile before, the proof is all the stronge~ gance. Its perfect j ustuess, as well as the that his language is no sudden exorbito.ncy verification which awaits it in the future of passionate emotion, but expresses au judgment, is evinced, o.s by other considera- abitlingsentiment. We are to remember that tions, so also by our Lord's own words in it is the very substance of tbe gospel wh 1ch Matt. xxv. 41-46. 4. Acts xxiii. 14, the apostle feels to be asso.iletl. Tile gospel, "We have bound ourselves undor a great he kuew, both by inspired insight und by curse;" literally," We have anathematized his own experience, to be " the power of [or, 'solemnly bound'] ourselves with o.no.- God unto salvation to every ono tha.t be- thema (dv.,811'".,., dv•B•µ."-rl<r"µ.•v l"u-rovs)." lieveth." Of this gospel Christ ho.d himself They had eo.111 1 no doubt, eome 1uoh word1 deolared that " he that believed it should 14 THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS. [en. I. 1-24.