God’s Word Translation
Galatians 1:13
13You heard about the way I once lived when I followed the Jewish religion. You heard how I violently persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it.
Galatians 1:13 in other versions
- King James Version (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:
- New International Version (NIV)For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
Context of Galatians 1:13
11I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the Good News I have spread is not a human message. 12I didn’t receive it from any person. I wasn’t taught it, but Jesus Christ revealed it to me. You heard about the way I once lived when I followed the Jewish religion. You heard how I violently persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it. 14You also heard how I was far ahead of other Jews in my age group in following the Jewish religion. I had become that fanatical for the traditions of my ancestors. 15But God, who appointed me before I was born and who called me by his kindness, was pleased
Read all of Galatians 1Galatians 1:13 word by word
ἠκούσατε γὰρ τὴν ἐμὴν ἀναστροφήν ποτε ἐν τῷ Ἰουδαϊσμῷ ὅτι καθ᾽ ὑπερβολὴν ἐδίωκον τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἐπόρθουν αὐτήν·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- ye have heard ofἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- myἐμόςemos · mineG1699
- conversationἀναστροφήanastrophē · behaviourG391
- in time pastποτέpote · once/whenG4218
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the Jews’ religionὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the Jews’ religionἸουδαϊσμόςIoudaismos · JudaismG2454
- how thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- ·κατάkata · according toG2596
- beyond measureὑπερβολήhuperbolē · surpassingG5236
- I persecutedδιώκωdiōkō · to pursueG1377
- the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- wastedπορθέωportheō · to lay wasteG4199
- itαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
Cross-references for Galatians 1:13
- Acts 22:3“I’m a Jew. I was born and raised in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia and received my education from Gamaliel here in Jerusalem. My education was in the strict laws handed down by our ancestors. I was as devoted to God as all of you are today.
- Acts 26:4“All the Jews know how I lived the earliest days of my youth with my own people and in Jerusalem.
- Acts 8:1Saul approved of putting Stephen to death. On that day widespread persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem. Most believers, except the apostles, were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
- Acts 9:1Saul kept threatening to murder the Lord’s disciples. He went to the chief priest
- Acts 22:4I persecuted people who followed the way ⌞of Christ⌟: I tied up men and women and put them into prison until they were executed.
- Acts 26:9“I used to think that I had to do a lot of things to oppose the one named Jesus of Nazareth.
- 1 Corinthians 15:9I’m the least of the apostles. I’m not even fit to be called an apostle because I persecuted God’s church.
- Philippians 3:6When it comes to being enthusiastic, I was a persecutor of the church. When it comes to winning God’s approval by obeying Jewish laws, I was perfect.
- 1 Timothy 1:13In the past I cursed him, persecuted him, and acted arrogantly toward him. However, I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in my unbelief.
Commentaries on Galatians 1:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Ye have heard of my conversation - · My manner of life; the mode in which I conducted myself. Beyond measure I persecuted the Church - For proofs of this the reader is referred to Acts 9:1-2; (note); Acts 22:4; (note), and the notes there. The apostle tells them that they had heard this, because, being Jews, they were acquainted with what had taken place in Judea, relative to these important transactions.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13For ye have heard of my conversation - My conduct, my mode of life, my deportment; see the note at 2 Corinthians 1:12. Probably Paul had himself made them acquainted with the events of his early years. The reason why he refers to this is, to show them that he had not derived his knowledge of the Christian religion from any instruction which he had received in his early years, or any acquaintance which he had formed with the apostles. At first, Paul had…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. 13-14To show that his message was not from human reasoning (devised by man, 1:11), Paul explains his life before meeting Jesus. He was a very successful Jew (see Acts 8:1–3; 22:1–5; 26:4–5; Philippians 3:4–7). His opposition to God's church and strict following of Judaism showed his belief in the law before Christ confronted him (Galatians 1:15–16).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. heard--even before I came among you. conversation--"my former way of life." Jews' religion--The term, "Hebrew," expresses the language; "Jew," the nationality, as distinguished from the Gentiles; "Israelite," the highest title, the religious privileges, as a member of the theocracy. the church--Here singular, marking its unity, though constituted of many particular churches, under the one Head, Christ. of God--added to mark the greatness of his sinful…Read the comment
Topics related to Galatians 1:13
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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