Anathema
Jump to: Hitchcock'sSmith'sATSISBEEaston'sWebster'sConcordanceThesaurusGreekLibrarySubtopicsTermsResources
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Anathema

separated; set apart

Easton's Bible Dictionary
Anything laid up or suspended; hence anything laid up in a temple or set apart as sacred. In this sense the form of the word is anath(ee)ma, once in plural used in the Greek New Testament, in Luke 21:5, where it is rendered "gifts." In the LXX. the form anathema is generally used as the rendering of the Hebrew word herem, derived from a verb which means (1) to consecrate or devote; and (2) to exterminate. Any object so devoted to the Lord could not be redeemed (Numbers 18:14; Leviticus 27:28, 29); and hence the idea of exterminating connected with the word. The Hebrew verb (haram) is frequently used of the extermination of idolatrous nations. It had a wide range of application. The anathema_ or _herem was a person or thing irrevocably devoted to God (Leviticus 27:21, 28); and "none devoted shall be ransomed. He shall surely be put to death" (27:29). The word therefore carried the idea of devoted to destruction (Numbers 21:2, 3; Joshua 6:17); and hence generally it meant a thing accursed. In Deuteronomy 7:26 an idol is called a herem = anathema, a thing accursed.

In the New Testament this word always implies execration. In some cases an individual denounces an anathema on himself unless certain conditions are fulfilled (Acts 23:12, 14, 21). "To call Jesus accursed" [anathema] (1 Corinthians 12:3) is to pronounce him execrated or accursed. If any one preached another gospel, the apostle says, "let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8, 9); i.e., let his conduct in so doing be accounted accursed.

In Romans 9:3, the expression "accursed" (anathema) from Christ, i.e., excluded from fellowship or alliance with Christ, has occasioned much difficulty. The apostle here does not speak of his wish as a possible thing. It is simply a vehement expression of feeling, showing how strong was his desire for the salvation of his people.

The anathema in 1 Corinthians 16:22 denotes simply that they who love not the Lord are rightly objects of loathing and execration to all holy beings; they are guilty of a crime that merits the severest condemnation; they are exposed to the just sentence of "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord."

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) Anything forbidden by or society or religious authority.

2. (n.) A ban or curse pronounced with religious solemnity by ecclesiastical authority, and accompanied by excommunication. Hence: Denunciation of anything as accursed.

3. (n.) An imprecation; a curse; a malediction.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ANATHEMA

a-nath'-e-ma (anathema): This word occurs only once in the King James Version, namely, in the phrase "Let him be anathema. Maranatha" (1 Corinthians 16:22); elsewhere the King James Version renders anathema by "accursed" (Romans 9:3 1 Corinthians 12:3 Galatians 1:8, 9), once by "curse" (Acts 23:12). Both words-anathema and anathema-were originally dialectical variations and had the same connotation, namely, offering to the gods. The non-Attic form-anathema-was adopted in the Septuagint as a rendering of the Hebrew cherem (see ACCURSED), and gradually came to have the significance of the Hebrew word-"anything devoted to destruction." Whereas in the Greek Fathers anathema-as cherem in rabbinic Hebrew-came to denote excommunication from society, in the New Testament the word has its full force. In common speech it evidently became a strong expression of execration, and the term connoted more than physical destruction; it invariably implied moral worthlessness. In Romans 9:3 Paul does not simply mean that, for the sake of his fellow-countrymen, he is prepared to face death, but to endure the moral degradation of an outcast from the kingdom of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 12:3 the expression, "Jesus is anathema"-with its suggestion of moral unfitness-reaches the lowest depths of depreciation, as the expression, "Jesus is Lord," reaches the summit of appreciation.

Thomas Lewis

Greek
331. anathema -- that which is laid up, ie a votive offering
... 330, 331. anathema. 332 . that which is laid up, ie a ... solemn (1). accused,
anathema, curse. From anatithemai; a (religious) ban ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/331.htm - 7k

334. anathema -- a gift set up (in a temple)
... 333, 334. anathema. 335 . ... votive offering, gift. From anatithemai (like anathema,
but in a good sense); a votive offering -- gift. see GREEK anatithemai. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/334.htm - 6k

332. anathematizo -- to declare anathema, devote to destruction
... to declare anathema, devote to destruction. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
anathematizo Phonetic Spelling: (an-ath-em-at-id'-zo) Short Definition: I curse ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/332.htm - 7k

2652. katanathema -- curse.
... curse. From kata (intensive) and anathema; an imprecation -- curse. see GREEK kata.
see GREEK anathema. (katathema) -- 1 Occurrence. 2651, 2652. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2652.htm - 6k

Library

Anathema and Grace
... CORINTHIANS (To II Corinthians, Chap. V) ANATHEMA AND GRACE. ... If any man love
not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha.23. ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/anathema and grace.htm

Session xvi.
... To Theodore of Pharan, the heretic, anathema! To Sergius, the heretic, anathema!
To Cyrus, the heretic, anathema! To Honorius, the heretic, anathema! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/session xvi.htm

The Anathemas of Cyril in Opposition to Nestorius.
... and therefore that the holy Virgin is Mother of God (theotokos), for she gave birth
after a fleshly manner to the Word of God made flesh; let him be anathema. ...
/.../theodoret/the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/the anathemas of cyril in.htm

A Confession of the Catholic Faith which Pope Damasus Sent to ...
... If any one denies that the Father is eternal and the Son eternal and the
Holy Ghost eternal, let him be anathema. If any one denies ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter xi a confession of the.htm

Creeds Published at Sirmium in Presence of the Emperor Constantius ...
... We therefore again say, if any one affirms that the Father and Son are
two Gods, let him be anathema. And if any one admits that ...
/.../chapter xxx creeds published at sirmium.htm

The Anathematisms of the Emperor Justinian against Origen.
... divine love in them had died out (appsugeisas) and they had therefore become souls
(psuchas) and had been condemned to punishment in bodies, shall be anathema. ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/the anathematisms of the emperor.htm

The Anathemas against Origen.
... I. If anyone asserts the fabulous pre-existence of souls, and shall assert the
monstrous restoration which follows from it: let him be anathema. II. ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/the anathemas against origen.htm

Extracts from the Acts. Session I.
... Anathema to the calumniators of the Christians, that is to the image breakers. ... Anathema
to those who do not salute the holy and venerable images. ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/extracts from the acts session 18.htm

Excursus on the Condemnation of Pope Honorius.
... incarnation of the Son of God, but an altogether accidental interest, arising from
the fact that by this decree a Pope of Rome is stricken with anathema in the ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/excursus on the condemnation of.htm

The Decree of the Holy, Great, Ecumenical Synod, the Second of ...
... Those who do not so hold, let them be anathema. ... We salute the venerable
images. We place under anathema those who do not do this. ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/the decree of the holy.htm

Thesaurus
Anathema (6 Occurrences)
... the form anathema is generally used as the rendering of the Hebrew word herem, derived
from a verb which means (1) to consecrate or devote; and (2) to ...
/a/anathema.htm - 13k

Excommunication
... is for an offense no ecclesiastical tribunal could well investigate: 1 Corinthians
16:22, "If any man loveth not the Lord, let him be anathema"; the second ...
/e/excommunication.htm - 15k

Maranatha (1 Occurrence)
... See Anathema. Int. ... Maranatha (1 Occurrence). 1 Corinthians 16:22 If any man love
not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. (KJV ASV DBY NAS). ...
/m/maranatha.htm - 8k

Anathematize (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To pronounce an anathema against; to curse. Hence:
To condemn publicly as something accursed. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/a/anathematize.htm - 7k

Anath (4 Occurrences)

/a/anath.htm - 8k

Proclaim (172 Occurrences)
... Galatians 1:8 but even if we or a messenger out of heaven may proclaim good news
to you different from what we did proclaim to you -- anathema let him be! ...
/p/proclaim.htm - 36k

Songs (100 Occurrences)
... were sung at certain festivals in the temple at Jerusalem, prior to its destruction
by Titus in 70 AD (Ta`anith 4:8). The Mishna pronounces an anathema on all ...
/s/songs.htm - 62k

Loveth (88 Occurrences)
... known by him. (ASV WBS). 1 Corinthians 16:22 If any man loveth not the Lord,
let him be anathema. Maranatha. (ASV WBS). 2 Corinthians ...
/l/loveth.htm - 30k

Wishing (25 Occurrences)
... Romans 9:3 for I was wishing, I myself, to be anathema from the Christ --
for my brethren, my kindred, according to the flesh, (YLT). ...
/w/wishing.htm - 13k

Maran-atha (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Maran-atha (1 Occurrence). 1 Corinthians 16:22 If any
man loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema, Maran-atha. (WBS). ...
/m/maran-atha.htm - 6k

Resources
What is the definition of anathema? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible mean by binding and loosing? | GotQuestions.org

Miscellaneous Bible Questions (All) | GotQuestions.org

Anathema: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Anathema (6 Occurrences)

Acts 23:14
who having come near to the chief priests and to the elders said, 'With an anathema we did anathematize ourselves -- to taste nothing till we have killed Paul;
(YLT)

Romans 9:3
For I could wish that I myself were anathema from Christ for my brethren's sake, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
(ASV YLT)

1 Corinthians 12:3
Wherefore I make known unto you, that no man speaking in the Spirit of God saith, Jesus is anathema; and no man can say, Jesus is Lord, but in the Holy Spirit.
(ASV YLT)

1 Corinthians 16:22
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Galatians 1:8
But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.
(ASV YLT)

Galatians 1:9
As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema.
(ASV YLT)

Subtopics

Anathema

Anathema Maran-Atha: General Scriptures Concerning

Related Terms

Excommunication

Maranatha (1 Occurrence)

Anathematize (4 Occurrences)

Anath (4 Occurrences)

Proclaim (172 Occurrences)

Songs (100 Occurrences)

Loveth (88 Occurrences)

Wishing (25 Occurrences)

Maran-atha (1 Occurrence)

Maran (1 Occurrence)

Preacheth (7 Occurrences)

Ban (12 Occurrences)

Brethren's (2 Occurrences)

Anybody (12 Occurrences)

Accursed (26 Occurrences)

Anathematise (1 Occurrence)

Atha (1 Occurrence)

Kindred (41 Occurrences)

Song (207 Occurrences)

Gift (148 Occurrences)

Different (87 Occurrences)

Galatians (2 Occurrences)

I-iii

Introduction (3 Occurrences)

Bible

Epistle (13 Occurrences)

Messenger (235 Occurrences)

Anath
Top of Page
Top of Page