Galatians 1:14

I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

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Other translations

WEBBE

I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of my own age amongst my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

BSB

I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

KJV

And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

ASV

and I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of mine own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

BBE

And I went farther in the Jews' religion than a number of my generation among my countrymen, having a more burning interest in the beliefs handed down from my fathers.

Original Greek

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καὶ kai And G2532 προέκοπτον proekopton I was advancing G4298 ἐν en in G1722 τῷ tō (the) G3588 Ἰουδαϊσμῷ Ioudaismō Judaism G2454 ὑπὲρ huper beyond G5228 πολλοὺς pollous many G4183 συνηλικιώτας sunēlikiōtas contemporaries G4915 ἐν en in G1722 τῷ tō the G3588 γένει genei countrymen G1085 μου mou of mine G3165 περισσοτέρως perissoterōs more abundantly G4056 ζηλωτὴς zēlōtēs zealous G2207 ὑπάρχων huparchōn being G5225 τῶν tōn of the G3588 πατρικῶν patrikōn fathers G3967 μου mou of mine G3165 παραδόσεων paradoseōn traditions G3862

The early church

"And I advanced in the Jews' religion beyond many of mine own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers." To obviate the notion that his persecution arose from passion, vain-glory, or enmity, he shows that he was actuated by zeal, not indeed "according to knowledge," still by a zealous admiration of the traditions of his fathers. This is his argument;-if my efforts against the Church sprung not from human motives, but from religious though mistaken zeal, why should I be actuated by vain-glory, now that I am contending for the Church, and have embraced the truth? If it was not this motive, but a godly zeal, which possessed me when I was in error, much more now that I have come to know the truth, ought I to be free from such a suspicion. As soon as I passed over to the doctrines of the Church I shook off my Jewish prejudices, manifesting on that side a zeal still more ardent; and this is a proof that my conversion is sincere, and that the zeal which possesses me is from above. What other inducement could I have to make such a change, and to barter honor for contempt, repose for peril, security for distress? none surely but the love of truth.
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

14

Topics

Zeal, ReligiousPaulBigotry

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