Galatians 1:14

Galatians 1:14 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

Context of Galatians 1:14

12For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I intensely persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. 15But when God, who from my mother’s womb set me apart and called me by his grace, was pleased 16to reveal his Son in me, so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.

Galatians 1:14 word by word

καὶ προέκοπτον ἐν τῷ Ἰουδαϊσμῷ ὑπὲρ πολλοὺς συνηλικιώτας ἐν τῷ γένει μου περισσοτέρως ζηλωτὴς ὑπάρχων τῶν πατρικῶν μου παραδόσεων.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• profitedπροκόπτωprokoptō · to advanceG4298
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the Jews’ religionὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the Jews’ religionἸουδαϊσμόςIoudaismos · JudaismG2454
• aboveὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• manyπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• my equalsσυνηλικιώτηςsunēlikiōtēs · contemporaryG4915
• mine ownἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• nationγένοςgenos · family: descendantG1085
• beingὑπάρχωhuparchō · be alreadyG5225
• more exceedinglyπερισσῶςperissōs · excessivelyG4057
• zealousζηλωτήςzēlōtēs · zealotG2207
• of the traditionsπατρικόςpatrikos · paternalG3967
• fathersπαράδοσιςparadosis · traditionG3862

Cross-references for Galatians 1:14

• Isaiah 29:13The Lord said: These people approach me with their speeches to honor me with lip-service, yet their hearts are far from me, and human rules direct their worship of me.
• Isaiah 57:12I will announce your righteousness, and your works — they will not profit you.
• Acts 22:3He continued, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strictness of our ancestral law. I was zealous for God, just as all of you are today.
• Acts 26:5They have known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.
• Philippians 3:4although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
• Jeremiah 15:2If they ask you, ‘Where will we go? ’ tell them: This is what the Lord says: Those destined for death, to death; those destined for the sword, to the sword. Those destined for famine, to famine; those destined for captivity, to captivity.
• Matthew 15:2“Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat.”
• Mark 7:3(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, keeping the tradition of the elders.
• Colossians 2:8Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.
• 1 Peter 1:8Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy,

Commentaries on Galatians 1:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14And profited in the Jews' religion - The apostle does not mean that he became more exemplary in the love and practice of the pure law of God than any of his countrymen, but that he was more profoundly skilled in the traditions of the fathers than most of his fellow students were, or, as the word may mean his contemporaries.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14And profited - Made advances and attainments. Paul made advances not only in the knowledge of the Jewish religion, but he also surpassed others in his zeal in defending its interests. He had had better advantages than most of his countrymen; and by his great zeal and characteristic ardor he had been able to make higher attainments than most others had done. Above many my equals - Margin, Equal in years. This is the true sense of the original. It means…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-14Verses 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14zealous for the traditions of my fathers: Paul was very passionate about following the Jewish religious traditions he learned from his ancestors (see Mark 7:6–13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. profited--Greek, "I was becoming a proficient"; "I made progress." above--beyond. my equals--Greek, "Of mine own age, among my countrymen." traditions of my fathers--namely, those of the Pharisees, Paul being "a Pharisee, and son of a Pharisee" (Ac 23:6; 26:5). "MY fathers," shows that it is not to be understood generally of the traditions of the nation.Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 1:14

• Bigotry
• Ignorance
• Paul
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Equal
• Faith
• Tradition
• Christianity
• Countryman
• Criticism of the Bible
• Discrepancies, Biblical
• Galatians, Epistle to the
• Jew, Jewess, Jewish
• Laodiceans, Epistle to the

Commentaries on Galatians 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings