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Read the Bible

Good News Translation

Galatians 1:14

I was ahead of most other Jews of my age in my practice of the Jewish religion, and was much more devoted to the traditions of our ancestors.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Bigotry;   Ignorance;   Paul;   Zeal, Religious;   Scofield Reference Index - Gospel;   Religion;   Thompson Chain Reference - False;   Legalism;   Religion;   Religion, True-False;   The Topic Concordance - Gentiles/heathen;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Pharisees, the;   Zeal;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Pharisees;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Paul;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Gospel;   Worship;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Zeal;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Tradition;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Barnabas;   Galatians, the Epistle to the;   Paul;   Tradition;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Church;   Flesh;   Galatians, Letter to the;   Jews in the New Testament;   Judaism;   Law, Ten Commandments, Torah;   Paul;   Religion;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Paul the Apostle;   Vision;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Age;   Galatians Epistle to the;   Libertines;   Miracles;   Nation;   Resurrection of Christ (2);   Sin (2);   Temptation, Trial;   Zeal (2);   Zealot ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Tradition,;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Christianity;   Countryman;   Galatians, Epistle to the;   Jew;   Person of Christ;   Religion;   Tradition;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.
King James Version (1611)
And profited in the Iewes Religion, aboue many my equals in mine owne nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
King James Version
And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
English Standard Version
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 American Standard Bible
and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.
New Century Version
I was becoming a leader in the Jewish religion, doing better than most other Jews of my age. I tried harder than anyone else to follow the teachings handed down by our ancestors.
Amplified Bible
And [you have heard how] I surpassed many of my contemporaries among my countrymen in [my advanced study of the laws of] Judaism, as I was extremely loyal to the traditions of my ancestors.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.
Legacy Standard Bible
And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being far more zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Berean Standard Bible
I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Contemporary English Version
I was a much better Jew than anyone else my own age, and I obeyed every law that our ancestors had given us.
Complete Jewish Bible
and how, since I was more of a zealot for the traditions handed down by my forefathers than most Jews my age, I advanced in [traditional] Judaism more rapidly than they did.
Darby Translation
and advanced in Judaism beyond many [my] contemporaries in my nation, being exceedingly zealous of the doctrines of my fathers.
Easy-to-Read Version
I was becoming a leader in the Jewish religion. I did better than most other Jews my own age. I tried harder than anyone else to follow the traditions we got from our ancestors.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And profited in the Iewish religion aboue many of my companions of mine owne nation, and was much more zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
George Lamsa Translation
And how that I was far more advanced in the Jews'' religion than many of my age among the people of my race for above all, I was especially zealous for the doctrines of my forefathers.
Lexham English Bible
and was progressing in Judaism beyond many contemporaries in my nation, because I was a far more zealous adherent of the traditions handed down by my forefathers.
Literal Translation
And I progressed in Judaism beyond many contemporaries in my race, being much more a zealot of the traditions of my ancestors.
American Standard Version
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.
Bible in Basic English
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.
Hebrew Names Version
I advanced in the Yehudim' religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
International Standard Version
I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries, because I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.Jeremiah 9:14; Matthew 15:2; Mark 7:5; Acts 22:3; 26:9; Philippians 3:6;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And I excelled in Judaism more than many of the sons of my years who were of my kindred, and was exceedingly zealous for the doctrine of my fathers.
Murdock Translation
and that I went much farther in Judaism than many of my contemporaries who were of my nation, and was peculiarly zealous for the doctrine of my fathers.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And profited in the Iewes religion, aboue many of my companions in mine owne nation, beyng a very feruent maynteyner of the traditions of my fathers.
English Revised Version
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.
World English Bible
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.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And I profited in the Jewish religion above many of my years among my countrymen, being more abundantly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
Weymouth's New Testament
and how in devotion to Judaism I outstripped many men of my own age among my people, being far more zealous than they on behalf of the traditions of my forefathers.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y profitide in the Jurie aboue many of myn eueneldis in my kynrede, and was more aboundauntli a folewere of my fadris tradiciouns.
Update Bible Version
and 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.
Webster's Bible Translation
And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
New English Translation
I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my nation, and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.
New King James Version
And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
New Living Translation
I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors.
New Life Bible
I had learned more about the Jewish religion than many of the Jews my age. I had a much stronger desire than they to follow the ways of our early fathers.
New Revised Standard
I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And was making advancement, in Judaism, above many contemporaries in my nation, being, surpassingly zealous, of my paternal instructions.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I made progress in the Jew’s religion above many of my equals in my own nation, being more abundantly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Revised Standard Version
and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and prevayled in the Iewes laye above many of my companions which were of myne awne nacio and was a moche more fervet mayntener of the tradicions of the elders.
Young's Literal Translation
and I was advancing in Judaism above many equals in age in mine own race, being more abundantly zealous of my fathers' deliverances,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and preuayled in the Ieweshippe aboue many of my companyons in my nacion, & was a moch more feruent manteyner of the tradicions of the fathers.
Mace New Testament (1729)
and that I made a greater proficiency in Judaism than many my contemporaries of my own nation, being an extraordinary zealot for the traditions of my forefathers.
Simplified Cowboy Version
I was one of the top Jews in the country. Very few could best me in anything religious. I was bought in, entered up, and tied hard and fast to the religion of my ancestors.

Contextual Overview

10 Does this sound as if I am trying to win human approval? No indeed! What I want is God's approval! Am I trying to be popular with people? If I were still trying to do so, I would not be a servant of Christ. 11 Let me tell you, my friends, that the gospel I preach is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any human being, nor did anyone teach it to me. It was Jesus Christ himself who revealed it to me. 13 You have been told how I used to live when I was devoted to the Jewish religion, how I persecuted without mercy the church of God and did my best to destroy it. 14 I was ahead of most other Jews of my age in my practice of the Jewish religion, and was much more devoted to the traditions of our ancestors. 15 But God in his grace chose me even before I was born, and called me to serve him. And when he decided 16 to reveal his Son to me, so that I might preach the Good News about him to the Gentiles, I did not go to anyone for advice, 17 nor did I go to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before me. Instead, I went at once to Arabia, and then I returned to Damascus. 18 It was three years later that I went to Jerusalem to obtain information from Peter, and I stayed with him for two weeks. 19 I did not see any other apostle except James, the Lord's brother.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

profited: Isaiah 29:13, Isaiah 57:12

equals: Gr. equals in years

being: Acts 22:3, Acts 26:5, Acts 26:9, Philippians 3:4-6

traditions: Jeremiah 15:2, Matthew 15:2, Matthew 15:3, Matthew 15:6, Mark 7:3-13, Colossians 2:8, 1 Peter 1:8

Reciprocal: Leviticus 13:16 - General Jeremiah 9:14 - which Luke 11:39 - Now Luke 18:12 - fast John 16:2 - the time Acts 21:20 - and they Romans 10:2 - that they Philippians 3:6 - zeal 2 Timothy 1:3 - whom

Cross-References

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning, when God created the universe,
Genesis 1:2
the earth was formless and desolate. The raging ocean that covered everything was engulfed in total darkness, and the Spirit of God was moving over the water.
Genesis 1:3
Then God commanded, "Let there be light"—and light appeared.
Genesis 1:4
God was pleased with what he saw. Then he separated the light from the darkness,
Genesis 1:6
Then God commanded, "Let there be a dome to divide the water and to keep it in two separate places"—and it was done. So God made a dome, and it separated the water under it from the water above it.
Genesis 1:8
He named the dome "Sky." Evening passed and morning came—that was the second day.
Genesis 1:9
Then God commanded, "Let the water below the sky come together in one place, so that the land will appear"—and it was done.
Genesis 1:12
So the earth produced all kinds of plants, and God was pleased with what he saw.
Genesis 1:14
Then God commanded, "Let lights appear in the sky to separate day from night and to show the time when days, years, and religious festivals begin;
Genesis 1:16
So God made the two larger lights, the sun to rule over the day and the moon to rule over the night; he also made the stars.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And profited in the Jews' religion,.... Or "in Judaism"; and the more he did so, or was versed in, and wedded to their principles, the more violent a persecutor he was. He was under a very considerable master, Gamaliel, a Rabbi of great note among the Jews; and he himself a youth of uncommon natural abilities, so that his proficiency in Jewish learning was very great; even, as he says,

above many my equals in mine own nation: not proselytes in other nations, but such as were natives of his own country: or were "in his own kindred", his near relations, who were his contemporaries, of the same age with him; and very modestly he says "many", not "all":

being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers: he had a zeal, but, not according to knowledge; and a greater degree of it than the rest of his countrymen; and that not so much for the written law delivered to his fathers, as for the oral law, the traditions and customs of his ancestors; which had been handed down, as they pretended, from one to another, and were now swelled to an almost infinite bulk; and mean the traditions of the elders, condemned by Christ, as making void the commandments of God: now his close attachment to, and eager zeal for these traditions, put him upon using more violent measures in persecuting the saints, and further off from the Gospel of Christ: and now from this account of himself it is a clear point, that during this period of his life he could never have received the Gospel from men, which is his view in giving it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And 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 that he surpassed those of the same age with himself. Possibly there may be a reference here to those of the same age who attended with him on the instructions of Gamaliel.

Being more exceedingly zealous - More studious of; more ardently attached to them; more anxious to distinguish himself in attainments in the religion in which he was brought up. All this is fully sustained by all that we know of the character of Paul, as at all times a man of singular and eminent zeal in all that he undertook.

Of the traditions of my fathers - Or the traditions of the Jews; see the note at Matthew 15:2. A large part of the doctrines of the Pharisees depended on mere tradition; and Paul doubtless made this a special matter of study, and was particularly tenacious in regard to it. It was to be learned, from the very nature of it, only by oral teaching, since there is no evidence that it was then recorded. Subsequently, these traditions were recorded in the Mishna, and are found in the Jewish writings. But in the time of Paul they were to be learned as they were handed down from one to another; and hence, the utmost diligence was requisite to obtain a knowledge of them. Paul does not here say that he was zealous then for the practice of the new religion, nor for the study of the Bible. His object in going to Jerusalem and studying at the feet of Gamaliel was doubtless to obtain a knowledge of the traditions of the sect of the Pharisees. Had he been studying the Bible all that time, he would have kept from the fiery zeal which he evinced in persecuting the church, and would, if he had studied it right, been saved from much trouble of conscience afterward.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 14. And 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 συνηλικιωτας may mean his contemporaries.


 
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