Let him be anathema (1:8–9)

Says Galatians 1:8 is a supposition with ἐάν and the subjunctive: ἐὰν ἡμεῖς ἢ ἄγγελος ἐξ οὐρανοῦ εὐαγγελίζηται (ean hēmeis ē angelos ex ouranou euangelizētai, “if we or an angel from heaven should preach”). Galatians 1:9 restates it with εἰ and the present indicative, εἴ τις ὑμᾶς εὐαγγελίζεται (ei tis hymas euangelizetai, “if anyone is preaching to you”). In both, the measure is παρ’ ὃ (παρά with the accusative), “contrary to what” was preached or received, and both end ἀνάθεμα ἔστω (anathema estō, “let him be anathema”), a third-person present imperative. Abbott-Smith lists both verses where the word is used of the object on which the curse is laid, “accursed”. The BSB has “let him be under a curse!”. ὡς προειρήκαμεν (hōs proeirēkamen, “as we have said before”) is perfect, and καὶ ἄρτι πάλιν λέγω repeats the sentence now.

Implies By naming “we” and “an angel from heaven,” the condition makes the content of the gospel, not the standing of the messenger, the test.

Uncertain On the force of the anathema, Lightfoot (p. 78), Luther (p. 38), Burton (p. 28) and Wesley (p. 492) read it as God’s curse on such a preacher: Luther speaks of “a thing accursed, execrable, and detestable”, Burton of “one under the curse of God”, and Wesley of one “cut off from Christ and God”. No lean is taken here.