Hypertext Webster Gateway: "anathema"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Anathema
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 (Num. 18:14; Lev.
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 (Lev. 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 (Num.
21:2, 3; Josh. 6:17); and hence generally it meant a thing
accursed. In Deut. 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 Cor. 12:3) is to pronounce him
execrated or accursed. If any one preached another gospel, the
apostle says, "let him be accursed" (Gal. 1:8, 9); i.e., let his
conduct in so doing be accounted accursed.
In Rom. 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 Cor. 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."
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Anathema \A*nath"e*ma\, n.; pl. {Anathemas}. [L. anath?ma, fr.
Gr. ? anything devoted, esp. to evil, a curse; also L.
anath?ma, fr. Gr. ? a votive offering; all fr. ? to set up as
a votive gift, dedicate; ? up + ? to set. See {Thesis}.]
1. A ban or curse pronounced with religious solemnity by
ecclesiastical authority, and accompanied by
excommunication. Hence: Denunciation of anything as
accursed.
[They] denounce anathemas against unbelievers.
--Priestley.
2. An imprecation; a curse; a malediction.
Finally she fled to London followed by the anathemas
of both [families]. --Thackeray.
3. Any person or thing anathematized, or cursed by
ecclesiastical authority.
The Jewish nation were an anathema destined to
destruction. St. Paul . . . says he could wish, to
save them from it, to become an anathema, and be
destroyed himself. --Locke.
{Anathema Maranatha}(see --1 Cor. xvi. 22), an expression
commonly considered as a highly intensified form of
anathema. Maran atha is now considered as a separate
sentence, meaning, ``Our Lord cometh.''
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
anathema
n 1: a detested person; "he is an anathema to me" [syn: {bete
noire}]
2: a formal ecclesiastical curse accompanied by excommunication
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