Maran-atha
Maran Atha
See Anathema.
Fuente: Dictionary of the Apostolic Church
Maran-atha
( , from the Arameaan , maran’athah’, our Lord comes, i.e. to judgment, Buxtorf, Lex. Chald. col. 1248, and so found in the Peshito version), a phrase added to the sentence of excommunication by way of appeal to the divine Head of the Church for ratification (1Co 16:22). SEE ANATHEMA. In the A. V. it is combined with the preceding anathema,’ but this is unnecessary; at all events it can only be regarded as adding emphasis to the previous adjuration. It rather appears to be added as a weighty watchword’ to impress upon the disciples the important truth that the Lord was at hand, and that they should be ready to meet him (Alford, Gr. Test. ad loc.). If, on the other hand, the phrase be taken to mean, as it may, our Lord has come,’ then the connection is, the curse will remain, for the Lord has come who will take vengeance on those who reject him.’ Thus the name Maronite’ is explained by a tradition that the Jews, in expectation of a Messiah, were constantly saying Maran, i.e. Lord; to which the Christians answered Maranatha, the Lord is come, why do you still expect him? (Stanley, Corinthians, ad loc.).
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Maran-atha
an expression used in 1Co 16:22, is the Greek spelling for two Aramaic words, formerly supposed by some to be an imprecatory utterance or “a curse reinforced by a prayer,” an idea contrary to the intimations coveyed by its use in early Christian documents, e.g., “The Teaching of the Apostles,” a document of the beginning of the 2nd cent., and in the “Apostolic Constitutions” (vii. 26), where it is used as follows: “Gather us all together into Thy Kingdom which Thou hast prepared. Maranatha, Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is He that cometh, etc.”
The first part, ending in ‘n,’ signifies “Lord;” as to the second part, the Fathers regarded it as a past tense, “has come.” Modern expositors take it as equivalent to a present, “cometh,” or future, “will come.” Certain Aramaic scholars regard the last part as consisting of ‘tha,’ and regard the phrase as an ejaculation, “Our Lord, come,” or “O Lord, come.” The character of the context, however, indicates that the Apostle is making a statement rather than expressing a desire or uttering a prayer.
As to the reason why it was used, most probably it was a current ejaculation among early Christians, as embodying the consummation of their desires.
“At first the title Marana or Maran, used in speaking to and of Christ was no more than the respectful designation of the Teacher on the part of the disciples.” After His resurrection they used the title of or to Him as applied to God, “but it must here be remembered that the Aramaic-speaking Jews did not, save exceptionally, designate God as ‘Lord’; so that in the ‘Hebraist’ section of the Jewish Christians the expression ‘our Lord’ (Marana) was used in reference to Christ only” (Dalman, The Words of Jesus).