Galatians 1:8

But though we or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel, other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.

Paul's indignation here stood upon the very highest ground. "It is not on account of antagonism to himself, but antagonism to the truth. Though he himself should fall away from it, the truth must still be supreme."[27] In fact, supposing that he himself should defect from the truth, Paul invoked upon his own head the curse of God.

An angel from heaven... McGarvey pointed out that the word of Christ was superior to that of angels who had ministered the old covenant, and "The sayings of Jesus were weightier than the words of angels in this very respect."[28] This probably accounts for Paul injecting the thought of angels into this passage. Also, as Cole said, "Paul may be using this word to show them the possibility of Satan himself appearing as an angel of light to deceive them."[29] It will be remembered that when Peter proposed to Christ the elimination of the cross, our Lord said, "Get thee behind me, Satan" (Mark 8:33).

Anathema... Some have sought to soften the meaning of this word, but there can be no doubt that it is the strongest curse that can be uttered, having the meaning of "yielded up to the wrath of God, surrendered to the curse of God."[30]

The gospel which we preached... It is a gross error to suppose that Paul's gospel was different from that proclaimed by all the Twelve, although it is true that Paul had a more accurate understanding of its being for Gentiles and not restricted to Jews only. Paul wrote, "According to my gospel" (Romans 2:16); but he meant it was his in the sense of "my God" (Philippians 4:9) and "my Lord" (Philippians 3:8). Of the same gospel, he wrote that it is "our gospel"; (2 Thessalonians 2:14). In Galatians 1:23, Paul's gospel was exactly the same gospel that was being preached by others while he was yet a persecutor. Thus, "Paul was referring to his gospel in opposition to all counterfeits,"[31] especially persistent Judaism. Even here, Paul did not say, "the gospel I preach," but "the gospel we preach." Dummelow affirmed that the "we," both here and in the following verse, is epistolary;[32] but it seems mandatory to read it as Paul's conscious intention of including the other apostles as also being preachers of the true gospel.

In later historical times, "anathema" came to refer to excommunication by ecclesiastical authority; but "this curse may not be thought of as anything like that; after all, an angel too is hypothetically involved."[33] No angel was ever subject to ecclesiastical discipline.

[27] John Wesley, op. cit., in loco.

[28] J. W. McGarvey, op. cit., p. 251.

[29] R. A. Cole, op. cit., p. 42.

[30] Herman N. Ridderbos, op. cit., p. 50.

[31] Arthur W. Pink, Gleanings from Paul (Chicago: Moody Press, 1967), p. 49.

[32] J. R. Dummelow, op. cit., p. 947.

[33] Herman N. Ridderbos, op. cit., p. 50.