| Geneva Study Bible And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the {k} traditions of my fathers. (k) He calls them the traditions of his fathers, because he was not only a Pharisee himself, but also had a Pharisee for his father. People's New Testament 1:14 Profited in the Jews' religion. Made progress in it. He was a Pharisee, was well educated, exceedingly zealous, and reached a high degree. Traditions of my fathers. Not only the law of Moses, but the traditions handed down which were taught so assiduously. See Mt 15:2 Mr 7:3,13. Our Lord condemned these Jewish traditions. Wesley's Notes 1:14 Being zealous of the unwritten traditions - Over and above those written in the law. King James Translators' Notes equals: Gr. equals in years Scofield Reference Notes [2] religion In verses 13 and 14 the Greek word for "the Jews' religion" is Ioudaismos (Judaism). In Acts 26:5 Jas 1:26,27 threskeia -religious service--is translated "religion," and in Col 2:18, "worshipping." Excepting Jas 1:27, "religion" has always a bad sense, and nowhere is it synonymous with salvation or spirituality. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 14. 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. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 1:10-14 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 Christianity, as many are, merely by education. | 
