Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Etymology:The term "Maranatha" is an Aramaic expression that appears in the New Testament, specifically in
1 Corinthians 16:22. It is a compound word derived from "maran" (our Lord) and "atha" (come or has come). The phrase can be translated as "Our Lord, come" or "Our Lord has come." The exact meaning can vary slightly depending on the context and interpretation, but it is generally understood as a prayer or declaration concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.
Biblical References:The primary biblical reference to "Maranatha" is found in
1 Corinthians 16:22, where the Apostle Paul writes, "If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be under a curse. Maranatha!" . This usage suggests an eschatological hope and expectation for the return of Jesus Christ. The invocation of "Maranatha" serves as both a warning and a reminder of the imminent return of the Lord, emphasizing the importance of loving and following Christ.
Theological Significance:"Maranatha" holds significant theological weight as it encapsulates the early Christian anticipation of Christ's second coming. It reflects the urgency and hope that characterized the early Church's eschatological outlook. The term serves as a reminder of the transient nature of the present world and the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises through the return of Jesus.
In the context of
1 Corinthians 16:22, "Maranatha" is used as a solemn declaration that underscores the seriousness of loving the Lord. The phrase implies that those who do not love Christ are subject to divine judgment, highlighting the necessity of a genuine relationship with Him.
Liturgical and Devotional Use:Throughout Christian history, "Maranatha" has been used in liturgical settings and personal devotions as a prayerful expression of longing for Christ's return. It is often invoked in Advent, the season leading up to Christmas, as believers reflect on both the first coming of Christ and anticipate His second coming.
The use of "Maranatha" in prayer and worship serves to align the hearts of believers with the hope and expectation of Christ's return, fostering a spirit of readiness and watchfulness. It is a call to live in a manner that reflects the imminent return of the Lord, encouraging believers to remain steadfast in faith and love.
Cultural and Historical Context:In the early Christian community, the use of Aramaic expressions like "Maranatha" indicates the Jewish roots of the faith and the linguistic diversity of the early Church. Aramaic was a common language in the region during the time of Jesus and the apostles, and its use in the New Testament reflects the cultural and historical context of the early Christian movement.
The expression "Maranatha" also serves as a testament to the unity and shared hope of the early believers, transcending linguistic and cultural barriers. It is a powerful reminder of the centrality of Christ's return in Christian doctrine and the shared anticipation that unites believers across time and space.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Maranathathe Lord is coming
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Maranathaan Aramaic or Syriac expression used by St. Paul at the conclusion of his first Epistle to the Corinthians, ch. (1 Corinthians 16:22) signifying "our Lord cometh."
ATS Bible Dictionary
MaranathaComposed of two Syriac words, signifying "the Lord cometh." SeeANATHEMA.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(
1 Corinthians 16:22) consists of two Aramean words, Maran'athah, meaning, "our Lord comes," or is "coming." If the latter interpretation is adopted, the meaning of the phrase is, "Our Lord is coming, and he will judge those who have set him at nought." (Comp.
Philippians 4:5;
James 5:8, 9.)
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) Our Lord cometh; -- an expression used by St. Paul at the conclusion of his first Epistle to the Corinthians (xvi. 22). This word has been used in anathematizing persons for great crimes; as much as to say, May the Lord come quickly to take vengeance of thy crimes. See Anathema.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MARANATHAmar-a-nath'-a, mar-an-a'-tha (from Aramaic words, marana' 'athah, "Our Lord cometh, or will come"; according to some, "has come"; to others, "Come!" an invitation for his speedy reappearance (compareRevelation 22:20); maranatha, or maran atha): Used in connection with anathema, "accursed" (1 Corinthians 16:22), but has no necessary connection therewith. It was used by early Christians to add solemn emphasis to previous statement, injunction or adjuration, and seems to have become a sort of watchword; possibly forming part of an early liturgy.
Greek
3134. marana tha -- (our) Lord, come!... Word Origin transliterated Aramaic phrase Definition (our) Lord, come! NASB
Word Usage
Maranatha (1).
Maranatha. Of Chaldee origin
...Library
The Song of the Redeemed
... when authenticating an epistle with his own hand, he subjoined this emphatic close,
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be ^* AnathemaMaranatha...
The Same Subject Continued.
... of the Lord." With such a final clause (as the following), wound up with a malediction,
"If any loveth not the Lord Jesus, be he anathemamaranatha," he is, of...
Of the Persons by Whom, and the Uses for Which, Ecclesiastical...
... and lest they should come under the punishment and death of Ananias and Sapphira,
and lest (which is yet worse) they should become anathemamaranatha, and lest...
None of Your Party, O Manes, Will You Make a Galatian...
... The Codex Casinensis gives "anathema esse ana," which may be an error, either for
"anathema es, Satana," or for "anathema es etmaranatha." ["O Satan" is less...
The Communion of Goods.
... And altho there was in their expectation something overstrained, which the succeeding
ages have corrected, yet there is in this "Maranatha" of the apostolic...
The Work of the Holy Spirit
... to convert, power to regenerate, let him be accursed, for he hath denied the truth
and Paul himself would have declared him anathema,maranatha, for having...
The Impossibility of Failure.
... for a better fatherland. He never heard the midnight cry ofMaranatha, but
longed to be gathered to his fathers. If any similitude...
Watching for the King
... The first generations were all aflame with the glad hope 'Maranatha'"'The Lord is
at hand.' Their successors gradually lost that keenness of expectation, and...
Of Love to God
... Let them read their doom: "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be
anathemamaranatha" (1 Corinthians 16:22), that is, let him be accursed from...
Subject Index.
... significance of, 465. sinless, destined for Christ, 243. Manes, 254. Manich??ism,
253, 254, 364.Maranatha, 558. Marriage, 600. spiritual, 631. Martyrs, 569....
Thesaurus
Maranatha (1 Occurrence)... Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
MARANATHA.
...Maranatha (1 Occurrence). 1 Corinthians
16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema
Maranatha.
...Maran (1 Occurrence)
... Maran (1 Occurrence). 1 Corinthians 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ,
let him be AnathemaMaranatha. (Root in KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS)....
Anathema (6 Occurrences)
...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...
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 9...
Maran-atha (1 Occurrence)
Maran-atha.Maranatha, Maran-atha. Maranathamaranatha . Multi-Version Concordance...
(WBS).Maranatha, Maran-atha. Maranathamaranatha . Reference Bible.
Atha (1 Occurrence)
... Atha (1 Occurrence). 1 Corinthians 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ,
let him be AnathemaMaranatha. (Root in KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS)....
Premillennial
... The Theocratic Kingdom; West, The Thousand Years in Both Testaments; Trotter, Plain
Papers on Prophetic Subjects; Brookes,Maranatha; Andrews, Christianity and...
Millennium
... The Theocratic Kingdom; West, The Thousand Years in Both Testaments; Trotter, Plain
Papers on Prophetic Subjects; Brookes,Maranatha; Andrews, Christianity and...
View (86 Occurrences)
... The Theocratic Kingdom; West, The Thousand Years in Both Testaments; Trotter, Plain
Papers on Prophetic Subjects; Brookes,Maranatha; Andrews, Christianity and...
Resources
What does “maranatha” mean? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the definition of anathema? | GotQuestions.orgMiscellaneous Bible Questions (All) | GotQuestions.orgMaranatha: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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