Galatians 1:13 - Exposition

For ye have heard ( ἠκούσατε γάρ ) . This "for" introduces the whole statement which follows down to the end of the chapter; for the entire section is written with the view of substantiating the assertion in Galatians 1:12 , that he had not received the gospel which he preached from man, but solely through illumination imparted immediately from heaven. "Ye have heard," i.e. have been told; as Acts 11:1 ; John 4:1 , and often. "I am only stating what ye have already been apprised of, when I tell you of," etc. That the aorist tense of the Greek word does not limit the expression to any one communication, such e.g. as one made by the apostle himself, is shown by the use of this very aorist in blurt, John 5:21 , John 5:33 , etc.; Luke 4:23 ; John 12:34 ; Ephesians 3:2 ; Ephesians 4:21 ; 2 Timothy 1:13 ; James 5:11 . The apostle appears to have been himself in the habit of frequently telling the wondrous story of what he once had been and of the change wrought upon him. We have instances of his doing this in fill detail in his speech from the stairs, and in his defence before Agrippa ( Acts 22:1-16 ; Acts 26:1-32 .), and with less fulness in Philippians 3:4-8 ; 1 Corinthians 15:8 , 1 Corinthians 15:9 . It is therefore quite supposable that he had himself said as much also in Galatia. We observe, however, that the apostle does not say, "heard from me," as he might have done if he had himself been their informant: and, further, that the effect of the words, "ye have heard," does not, in point of construction at least, of necessity extend beyond the fourteenth verse. We are therefore at liberty to surmise that what he here refers to as having been told them relates simply to his life before his conversion; and that tile accounts which they had received of it bad come through unfriendly informants. These may have been either unbelieving Jews or Judaizing Christians, who wished by these statements to disparage the apostle's character as one who, if he really was not dishonest, was at all events capable of passing from one extreme of sentiments to their direct opposite with the utmost suddenness and levity, and therefore was not a man entitled to be regarded with confidence. Of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion ( τὴν ἐμὴν ἀναστροφήν ποτε ἐν τῷ ἰουδαΐσμῷ ); of my manner of life formerly in Judaism. "The manner in which I once behaved myself as devoted to Judaism." The ποτε belongs to the action denoted in the verbal noun ἀναστροφήν , like ἡ τῆς τροίας ἅλωσις τὸ δεύτερον , cited by Meyer from Plato ('Legg.,' 3:685, D). ἀναστροφή , conversatio , which occurs repeatedly in the New Testament, is generally rendered "conversation" in Authorized Version ( Ephesians 4:22 ; 1 Peter 1:18 ; 1 Peter 4:12 ; Hebrews 13:7 ). "Judaism" means "the religious life of a Jew," which distinctively was Mosaism. It occurs in 2 Macc. 2:21; 14:38; 4 Macc. 4:16. Ignatius ('Ad Magn.,' 8) speaks of "not living according to Judaism," as in ibid., 10, he uses the word "Christianism." St. Paul has the verb "Judaize" below, Galatians 2:14 . On the objective accusative ἀναστροφὴν as defined by the following clause, "how that," etc., see note on εὐαγγέλιον in Galatians 2:11 . How that beyond measure I persecuted the Church of God ( ὅτι καθ ὑπερβολὴν ἐδίωκον τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ θεοῦ ); how that beyond measure I was persecuting the Church of God. The imperfect "was persecuting," as well as the following, "was making havoc and was advancing," points to what he was doing when God interposed in the manner described in Galatians 2:15 , Galatians 2:16 . Compare the use of the aorist ἐδίωξα in 1 Corinthians 15:9 , Where no such simultaneity required to be indicated. "Beyond measure" or "superlatively" ( καθ ̓ ὑπερβολὴν ) was, at least about this time, a favorite phrase with St. Paul. A less eager pen might have written "exceedingly" ( σφόδρα ) . Cf. Romans 7:13 ; 1 Corinthians 12:31 ; 2 Corinthians 1:8 ; 2 Corinthians 4:7 , 2 Corinthians 4:17 ; 2 Corinthians 12:7 . "Of God." This is added to " the Chinch" with pathos of strong self-condemnation, as it is also in 1 Corinthians 15:9 . The apostle feels now that his violence against the Church was a kind of sacrilege. The sentiment is an echo of Christ's words to him," Why persecutest thou me?" And wasted it ( καὶ ἐπόρθουν αὐτήν ); and making havoc of it. The Greek verb ( πορθεῖν ) used again in this relation below, 1 Corinthians 15:23 , is similarly employed also in Acts 9:21 , "made havoc of those who called upon this Name." The verb properly denotes "devastate," "harry;" and in classical Greek is used with reference to towns, countries, and the like, being applied to persons only in the poetical style (Liddell and Scott). In the New Testament it is used only in relation to Soul's persecution, apparently marking its deadly effectiveness as well as Saul's determination if possible to extirpate the faith and its adherents. The expugnabam of the Vulgate would seem a fair equivalent.