Paul calls for the false teachers to be accursed because their message is a false one that leads people away from God. It is not good news. It is not consistent with the message that Christ gave Paul (and the other apostles). In this call for condemnation, he seems to follow the example of Christ (Mark 8:33).1 The Greek word he uses can also be translated as anathema
and has its roots in the Old Testament concept of herem where an object or persons was devoted to God for destruction (e.g. Leviticus 27:28–29; Numbers 18:13; Deuteronomy 7:26).2
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.