What does “maranatha” mean?
The word “maranatha” appears only once in the Bible, in 1 Corinthians 16:22, where Paul states, “If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!” The phrase “Our Lord, come!” is the translation of the Aramaic word “maranatha.”
The word maranatha is made up of three Aramaic words: mar, which means “Lord”, ana, which means “our”, and tha, which means “come.” So maranatha literally means “Our Lord, come!” It’s an expression of eager anticipation, as Christians eagerly await the return of Jesus Christ.
There are a few key things to understand about the meaning and significance of maranatha:
1. It’s an Aramaic phrase
Aramaic was the common language of the Eastern Mediterranean region in the first century AD. Even though most of the New Testament was originally written in Greek, there are a few Aramaic phrases that were used by the early church and recorded in the New Testament, like “maranatha” in 1 Corinthians 16:22 and “Abba Father” in Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6.
The use of Aramaic seems to underscore that this was a phrase used by the very early church. Aramaic was spoken by Jesus and his disciples, so this language connects back to the origins of Christianity.
2. It’s an eager cry for Jesus to return
The key element of maranatha is the call “Come, Lord!” This ardent plea for Christ’s return demonstrates the hope and expectancy of the early church. They urgently yearned for Jesus to come back quickly.
The same kind of eager anticipation is often seen today as Christians pray “Come quickly Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20). Maranatha expresses the deeply felt desire for Christ to return and set all things right.
3. It’s a prayer for deliverance and vindication
The early church faced much persecution, so maranatha reveals their cry for deliverance from harm and suffering. They wanted Jesus to come back and bring justice. Maranatha is a prayer that Christ would return and vindicate His people.
Similarly, the book of Revelation promises that when Christ returns, there will be a day of reckoning and judgment for those who persecuted His followers (Revelation 19:1-2). Maranatha voices the plea for God to make all things right through His righteous judgment.
4. It celebrates Christ’s sovereignty and lordship
Maranatha exalts Christ as sovereign Lord. He is “mar” – Lord, Master, Ruler. This acclaims the lordship of Jesus. When believers pray maranatha, they are declaring Christ’s authority and kingship.
Maranatha is also a statement of allegiance. Those who call on Christ as Lord are aligning themselves with His kingdom and committing themselves to obeying Him.
5. It’s a reminder to stay alert and ready
Jesus taught that no one knows the day or hour when the Son of Man will return (Matthew 24:36). Therefore, maranatha is a reminder to believers to keep watch, stay alert, and be ready for Christ’s return, which will happen unexpectedly.
When Paul used maranatha in 1 Corinthians 16:22, he was concluding his letter by urging the Corinthian church to remain steadfast and prepared for the Lord’s coming. Maranatha cautions against spiritual laziness or complacency.
6. It’s used as a greeting and blessing
In the early church, maranatha was used as a greeting, much like “Hello” or “Good-bye.” When believers gathered or parted ways, someone might say “Maranatha!” as a blessing or benediction. The hearers would respond with their own “Maranatha!”
This use of maranatha reminds Christians to live with a constant expectation of Christ’s return. Every meeting and parting is framed by the hope of His coming again. The blessing of His presence is invoked through the cry of maranatha.
7. It celebrates the Lord’s Supper
There are records that maranatha was used in the early church during the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. As part of their observance of Communion, believers would pray maranatha as a reminder of why they were gathering in Jesus’ name to eat the bread and drink the cup.
It provided hope that their salvation was secured in Christ’s death and resurrection, while also anticipating His promise to return. The Lord’s Supper links Christ’s crucifixion with His future coming.
8. It may have been used as a password
There is also speculation that the early church may have used maranatha as a secret password or code. Believers meeting together in a hostile environment could identify themselves through the common phrase “maranatha.” This would confirm they were authentic followers of Jesus.
In a time when Christians were persecuted, a private password like maranatha helped maintain connections within the underground church. It allowed them to share greetings and identify fellow believers.
9. It still applies today
While maranatha gives us a glimpse into the life of the early church, it remains a relevant expression today. Whenever we pray “Come, Lord Jesus!” or “Maranatha!” we proclaim the lordship of Christ, our dependence on Him, and our hope in His return.
As we eagerly await Christ’s return, we as the church are called to vigilance, godly living, obedience, and making disciples of Jesus from all nations. Maranatha reminds us to make our lives count for His kingdom until He comes again.
Key Bible Passages about Maranatha
Here are some key Bible verses that reveal more about the meaning and context of maranatha:
1 Corinthians 16:22
“If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!”
This is the verse where maranatha is specifically used in Scripture. Paul invokes Christ’s return and lordship as He concludes his letter.
Revelation 22:20
“He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
This shows the same eager cry for Jesus to come back quickly and sets up His return as our hope.
Philippians 4:5
“The Lord is at hand.”
This reminds us Jesus could return at any moment, so we must rejoice and live rightly.
Matthew 24:36
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”
We must stay alert because we don’t know when Christ will come back.
Matthew 24:42
“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”
Jesus commands us to stay awake and watchful for His return.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”
This describes what will happen when Christ comes back for His people.
1 Corinthians 1:7
“So that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Waiting eagerly for Jesus’ return should inspire us to godly living and using our gifts.
1 John 2:28
“And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.”
Christ’s return means we must live in holiness, not shrink back in shame.
Acts 1:11
“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
The angel promised Jesus would return just as He departed into heaven.
Hebrews 9:28
“So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”
Jesus’ return brings salvation for those who are waiting for Him.
1 Corinthians 11:26
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
This links taking Communion to remembering and anticipating Christ’s return.
Revelation 1:7
“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.”
A prophecy that Christ will return with great power and glory.
2 Timothy 4:1
“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom.”
Paul reminds Timothy that Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead.
Historical Background
Maranatha has its roots in the Aramaic language that was commonly spoken throughout the Middle East during the early days of the church. Jesus and his disciples spoke Aramaic, the language of the Jewish people living in Israel and the surrounding regions at that time.
Even as Christianity began to spread into Greek-speaking areas, Aramaic phrases and terms continued to be used, especially by Jewish believers. Maranatha seems to have been one of these native Aramaic expressions that the early church quickly adopted.
By the time Paul wrote 1 Corinthians around AD 55, the term maranatha was already known and used among believers. The Corinthian church, largely composed of Greek-speaking Gentile Christians, would have been familiar with its meaning.
In the decades after this, maranatha appears in early Christian documents and letters:
- The Didache – AD 50-120
- First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians – AD 96
- The testimony of Eusebius – AD 263-339
These all contain references to the use of maranatha in the liturgy, prayers, and life of the early believers. Clearly by the end of the first century, this distinctly Aramaic term had been wholeheartedly embraced by the early churches.
Located on key trade routes, Corinth had a diverse mix of cultures and backgrounds in its Christian community. The use of maranatha seems to have crossed ethnic lines to become a unifying phrase among believers. Its unique Aramaic form also created a special connection and identity for the early church.
The widespread inclusion of this phrase into the life and prayers of the early church reveals the vibrant hope and expectancy of those first believers. They clung to Jesus’ promise to return, echoing maranatha as a passionate plea for His coming and deliverance.
Theological Significance
The use of maranatha in the early church has some key theological and spiritual implications for Christians today:
Jesus’ Return as a Core Belief
The fact that maranatha was so quickly adopted into the life of the church shows that Christ’s Second Coming was a central belief from the very beginning. It was not a later theological development. That eager expectation of Jesus’ return has continued through church history.
Hope in God’s Faithfulness
By continually praying maranatha, the early church demonstrated their trust that God would keep His promise to send Jesus back. It expressed their hope and confidence in God’s faithfulness. The same hope remains for believers today.
Longing for Righteousness and Justice
Maranatha reveals the deep longing of the early church to see the righteousness of Christ prevail over evil, and justice for those who suffered. It’s a prayer for the ultimate restoration of all things under Christ’s lordship. This shows how our hope in the Second Coming should inspire passion for justice.
Call to Holy Living
Since Jesus could return at any time, the early church saw maranatha as a call to live in holiness and faithfulness, ready to meet their Master. The imminent coming of Christ inspires moral vigilance and obedience to Scripture, as modeled by those first believers.
Union with Christ
By pleading “Come Lord Jesus!”, the church affirmed their trust in Him alone for salvation. Maranatha expresses belonging to Christ and reliance on His grace. It celebrates the union between Christ and His church, which will culminate in His coming.
Commitment to Evangelism
Maranatha fueled the missionary impulse of the early church. They lived with a sense of urgency to preach the gospel, knowing Jesus could return soon. This expectation of Christ’s imminent return should inspire sharing the gospel while there is still time.
Implications for Today
For Christians today, maranatha remains a meaningful and relevant reminder:
- It stirs hope in Christ’s return when He will make all things new.
- It calls us to alert, watchful living until Jesus comes back.
- It inspires passion for evangelism and making disciples.
- It reminds us to regularly celebrate Communion and proclaim Christ’s death and return.
- It builds connection to our spiritual heritage in the early church.
- It fuels our prayers for Jesus to come quickly and set all wrongs right.
Whenever we pray “Come Lord Jesus!” or “Maranatha!” we join the great chorus of saints past and present who eagerly await our Savior. Though He seems long delayed, we have the blessed hope and assurance that Christ will return in glory to take His people home.
Maranatha reminds us to live faithfully in the expectancy of that coming day. As the early church cried out in hope, so the church today still prays with confidence:
“Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!”