Galatians 1:14

I advanced (proekopton). Imperfect active again of prokoptw, old verb, to cut forward (as in a forest), to blaze a way, to go ahead. In N.T. only here, Romans 13:12 ; 2 Timothy 2:16 ; 2 Timothy 3:9 2 Timothy 3:13 . Paul was a brilliant pupil under Gamaliel. See Philippians 3:4-6 . He was in the lead of the persecution also. Beyond many of mine own age (uper pollou sunhlikiwta). Later compound form for the Attic hlikiwth which occurs in Dion Hal. and inscriptions (from sun, with, and hlikia, age). Paul modestly claims that he went "beyond" (uper) his fellow-students in his progress in Judaism. More exceedingly zealous (perissoterw zhloth). Literally, "more exceedingly a zealot." See on Acts 1:13 ; Acts 21:20 ; 1 Corinthians 14:12 . Like Simon Zelotes. For the traditions of my fathers (twn patrikwn mou paradosewn). Objective genitive after zhloth. Patrikwn only here in N.T., though old word from pathr (father), paternal, descending from one's father. For patrwio see Acts 22:3 Acts 22:14 . Tradition (paradosi) played a large part in the teaching and life of the Pharisees ( Mark 7:1-23 ). Paul now taught the Christian tradition ( 2 Thessalonians 2:15 ).