Problem: Jesus taught that we should love our enemies (Mt. 5:44), but Paul prays a curse over his enemies. This word for “accursed” is anathema. Colin Brown writes,
Solution: A number of points can be made.
First, Paul is referring to divine justice, rather than human justice. Paul isn’t taking matters into his own hands. He isn’t saying that he wants to hurt anyone. Instead, he desires God to bring justice to these people (Rom. 12:19-21).[1]
Second, Paul is referring to universal divine justice. Paul is not describing a personal feud with an enemy; he is describing a universal feud with “anyone” opposed to God’s message.
Third, Paul includes himself under the judgment of God. Paul wrote, “Even if we, or an angel from heaven…” taught an alternate message, then they should be accursed (v.8). Therefore, Paul wasn’t just placing his enemies under the judgment of God; he placed himself under God’s judgment, too.
Fourth, elsewhere, Paul writes that he would give his salvation for his Jewish brothers. For instance, Paul writes, “For I could wish that I myself were accursed [ananthema], separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh” (Rom. 9:3). Paul cared deeply for the Jewish people. However, here in Galatians, Paul was specifically calling down divine judgment on false teachers, who knew the truth but were actively deceiving people.
Fifth, Jesus called down judgment on false teachers, too. Jesus said, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea” (Mk. 9:42). Therefore, Jesus taught the same thing as Paul; false teachers deserve God’s judgment.
[1] Stott writes, “That is, he expresses the wish that God’s judgment will fall upon them.” Stott, John R. W. The Message of the Galatians: John R.W. Stott. Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity, 1986. 24.
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (Gal 1:6-9)”
