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 Living Translation (NLT)I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors.

Context of Galatians 1:14

12For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. 13For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,

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 29:13Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
• Isaiah 57:12I will declare your righteousness And your works, For they will not profit you.
• Acts 22:3“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.
• Acts 26:5They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
• Philippians 3:4though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:
• Jeremiah 15:2And it shall be, if they say to you, ‘Where should we go?’ then you shall tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Such as are for death, to death; And such as are for the sword, to the sword; And such as are for the famine, to the famine; And such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.” ’
• Matthew 15:2“Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
• Mark 7:3For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.
• Colossians 2:8Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
• 1 Peter 1:8whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

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