GALATIANS 1:13-16 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,
NSB* Judaism means the Jewish way of life, which was partly based in the Old Testament and partly on additional traditions of the fathers, or leaders of the people (see Matt 15:2). Paul's conduct before his conversion had greatly distinguished him in Judaism in two ways: (1) He painstakingly kept the law and traditions, certainly more than the Judaizers in Galatia (6:13). (2) He persecuted the church of God in order to destroy it (see Phil 3:6) doing so under the authority of Jewish religious leaders (see Acts 8:3, 9:1,2).
Persecute; is "to pursue," whence the meaning "to persecute,". The Greek word here is διώκω dioko. Vine's (def A-1b), Strong's G1377.
Beyond Measure; For the phrases in the AV, "beyond measure," Galatians 1:13; "out of measure, Dobson: Has the idea of "surpassing excellence, exceedingly excess, surpassing excellence, preeminence; adv: exceedingly. The Greek word is ὑπερβολή hyperbole. Vine's (def A-4) under the word "abundance". Strong's G5236.
My Notes: This idea is used in both positive and negative ways. Here Paul is stating the depraved nature of his former self, but the word ὑπερβολή is used elsewhere in a positive light depending on the surrounding text. One example is 2 Corinthians 4:17 where the word is rendered "exceeding" in the KJV, highlighting the idea that our light suffering is momentary but leads to an exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
Acts 22:4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, 5 as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.
Moving to Verse 14.
Galatians 14:14** And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Contemporaries; a co-aged person, i.e. alike in years Derivation: from G4862 and a derivative of G2244; The KJV uses the word "equals". The Greek word for equals here is συνηλικιώτης sunēlikiōtēs.
Zealous; is used adjectivally, of being zealous", "for (AV, 'of') the traditions of my fathers," Galatians 1:14, of Paul's loyalty to Judaism before his conversion; Vine's (def A-1d), Strong's G2207.
More notes from Vine's: The word is, lit., "a zealot," i.e., "an uncompromising partisan." The "Zealots" was a name applied to an extreme section of the Pharisees, bitterly antagonistic to the Romans. Josephus (Antiq. xviii. 1. 1, 6; B.J. ii. 8. 1) refers to them as the "fourth sect of Jewish philosophy" (i.e., in addition to the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes), founded by Judas of Galilee (cp. Acts 5:37). After his rebellion in A.D. 6, the Zealots nursed the fires of revolt, which, bursting out afresh in A.D. 66, led to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70. To this sect Simon, one of the Apostles, had belonged, Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13. The equivalent Hebrew and Aramaic term was "Cananean" (Matthew 10:4); this is not connected with Canaan, as the AV "Canaanite" would suggest, but is derived from Heb. quanna, "jealous."
Biblical Notes references:
Acts 5:37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed.
Luke 6:15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot;
Acts 1:13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James.
Matthew 10:4 Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
Traditions; "the teachings of the rabbis," interpretations of the Law, which was thereby made void in practice. The Greek word for "tradition" is παράδοσις paradosis. Vine's (def 1a), Strong's G3862.
Jeremiah 9:14 but they have walked according to the dictates of their own hearts and after the Baals, which their fathers taught them,”
Moving to Verse 15
Galatians 14:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace,
NSB* In words echoing the calling of the messianic Servant (see Is. 49:1) and Jeremiah the prophet (see Jer 1:5), Paul relates that God had chosen him to be an apostle (v.1) before his birth. Paul like the Judiazers in Galatia, had previously tried to earn his salvation by works. However, his apostolic call and conversion both came through God's grace, His undeserved favor.
Isaiah 49:5 “And now the Lord says, Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, So that Israel is gathered to Him (For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, And My God shall be My strength),
Pleased; to think well of, i.e. approve (an act); specially, to approbate (a person or thing). The Greek word used here is eudokeō εὐδοκέω. Stong's G2106. Vine's expands below], not merely an understanding of what is right and good as in dokeo, but stressing the willingness and freedom of an intention or resolve regarding what is good, e.g.. Vine's (def A-3a1).
Called; to "call" (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise). Dobson brings up the idea of "invite" or "summon". The Greek word used here is καλέω kaleō. Strong's G2564.
Moving to Verse 16.
Galatians 14:16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,
NSB* If Paul's gospel message was made by men, he would have to confer with other people to receive or validate it. To do this, Paul would have had to travel to Jerusalem, where the other apostles were, for such a conference. Instead, when he left Damascus, where he had stayed immediately after his conversion to Christianity (see Acts 9:1-22), he went to Arabia (which is in verse 17).
Reveal; signifies to uncover, unveil" (apo, "from," kalupto, "to cover"); both verbs are used in Matthew 10:26; in Luke 12:2, apokalupto is set in contrast to sunkalupto, "to cover up, cover completely." "The NT occurrences of this word fall under two heads, subjective and objective. The subjective use is that in which something is presented to the mind directly, as, the Person of Christ to Paul on the way to Damascus. The Greek word is ἀποκαλύπτω apokaluptō. Vine's (def 1g), Strong's G601.
Definition Verse References:
Matthew 10:26 Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.
Luke 12:2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.
Preach; Here Paul is referring to the correct gospel, not a false one. Stong's defines the word used here as follows - to announce good news ("evangelize") especially the gospel. The Greek word is εὐαγγελίζω euaggelizō. Strong's G2097.
Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
Matthew 16:17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
Confer; The King James reads "I conferred not". lit., to put before" (pros, "towards," ana, "up," and tithemi, "to put"), i.e., "to lay a matter before others so as to obtain counsel or instruction," is used of Paul's refraining from consulting human beings. The Greek word is προσανατίθημι prosanatithemi. Vine's (def 1), Strong's G4323.
Flesh And Blood; My notes, this just means that Paul didn't go ask anyone if his preaching the gospel was okay or any of that because he was instructed to directly from God. The authority on any matter doesn't get any higher than that. See "confer" above.
Takeaways: Paul gets into his call to apostleship here to not only make it clear who his authority came from but likely also because of "who" he was talking to. Lord willing I will get into "who" the Galatians were in my next study.
Secondly - this also kind of puts the proverbial stamp on Paul's claim that he is the chief of sinners. You can pretty easily see why he would say that. This wasn't just online bullying of Christians, he was doing all kinds of horrible things to them before God reached out in His grace and converted Paul for a purpose that would reverberate for eternity.
*Nelson Study Bible
**Moving forward I will be adding the verses I am going to next so that readers won't have to go back to the beginning of the study to see the next verse I am about to get into.
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