The word translated love was common in secular Greek and occurs also in Titus 3.15, but is never used by Paul of God or Christ. In John 21.15, 17 it is used alongside the usual Christian word for “love,” with no apparent difference of meaning. Perhaps Paul used it because in verse 20 he had just used the related word for kiss.

The Lord, as usual, refers to Jesus.

Let him be accursed: see 12.3. What is probably implied is exclusion from the Christian fellowship, implying destruction by God when Christ returns.

Our Lord, come! is “Marana tha” in the Greek. It was evidently an ancient prayer used by Aramaic-speaking Christians. Like such words as “Amen,” “Hosanna,” and “Hallelujah,” it was carried over into communities that spoke other languages. Most scholars understand this word to mean Our Lord, come!

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .