Galatians 1:13

For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God, and ravaged it.

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Other translations

WEBBE

For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God and ravaged it.

BSB

For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.

KJV

For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

ASV

For ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it:

BBE

For news has come to you of my way of life in the past in the Jews' religion, how I was cruel without measure to the church of God, and did great damage to it:

Original Greek

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ἠκούσατε ēkousate You have heard of G191 γὰρ gar for G1063 τὴν tēn (the) G3588 ἐμὴν emēn my G1473 ἀναστροφήν anastrophēn way of life G391 ποτε pote former G4218 ἐν en in G1722 τῷ tō (the) G3588 Ἰουδαϊσμῷ Ioudaismō Judaism G2454 ὅτι hoti that G3754 καθ kath᾽ beyond G2596 ὑπερβολὴν huperbolēn exceeding measure G5236 ἐδίωκον ediōkon I was persecuting G1377 τὴν tēn the G3588 ἐκκλησίαν ekklēsian church G1577 τοῦ tou (the) G3588 θεοῦ theou of God G2316 καὶ kai and G2532 ἐπόρθουν eporthoun was destroying G4199 αὐτήν autēn it G846

The early church

"For ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the Church of God, and made havoc of it." Observe how he shrinks not from aggravating each point; not saying simply that he "persecuted" but "beyond measure," and not only "persecuted" but "made havoc of it," which signifies an attempt to extinguish, to pull down, to destroy, to annihilate, the Church.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Galatians

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 10–14

In preaching the gospel, the apostle sought to bring persons to the obedience, not of men, but of God. But Paul would not attempt to alter the doctrine of Christ, either to gain their favour, or to avoid their fury. In so important a matter we must not fear the frowns of men, nor seek their favour, by using words of men's wisdom. Concerning the manner wherein he received the gospel, he had it by revelation from Heaven. He was not led to Christianity, as many are, merely by education.

Read Matthew Henry on Galatians 1 →

Cross-references

12

Topics

ChurchZeal, ReligiousPersecutionPaulIgnoranceBigotry

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.