The portion of the New Testament Epistle to the Galatians we’re currently studying involves a biographical section (really, “autobiographical”) describing (in some detail) the Apostle Paul.
Today we hear him depict his “past.” What he did … prior to his salvation!
“For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it.” Galatians 1:13
The Apostle seems pretty sure that by the time he penned Galatians, everyone there already knew (“Ye have heard …”) his “testimony.” After all, Dr. Luke has already told it three times in the book of Acts! (Smile here, please!) In Acts 9 and 22 and 26, really! With Acts 9 being in the third person. While the other two are recorded as being in the first person, no doubt approximating Paul’s very words! (Luke being an eye-witness, an onlooker, the secretary.)
But still, here in Galatians there is a personal touch that’s missing anywhere else I think. Maybe just because now Paul is holding the pen!
The noun “conversation” (in Greek “anastrophe”) means one’s lifestyle, one’s behavior, one’s daily conduct. Literally the “turns” of life, its “ups and downs” and its “ins and outs!”)
Some so-called progressives nowadays say Paul never left his former “religion.” Well, here he calls “Judaism” simply this: “the Jews’ religion!” It is now “theirs,” not “Paul’s!” Yes, he has left it behind! (But he certainly never lost his burden to see the Israelites saved! To see them “converted” to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the long-awaited Messiah!)
The phrase “beyond measure” is “hyperbole!” In Greek, meaning “way beyond” anyone’s imagination! Out of sight! To the utmost degree!
The verb “persecuted” means “chased and pursued diligently, in order to hurt” someone! And surprisingly, Paul frames the verb as an imperfect active! He (in his mind) still feels he vehemently “wronged” the little infant Church of those bygone days! (It seems almost as if he can’t get over those wicked deeds! Can’t forget them! That’s part of why he still refers to himself as “the chief of sinners!”)
“The Church of God!” That’s genitive, mind you. God “owns” that little Church, it is “HIS!” Paul “touched” God’s Property! And he is very sorry.
But he also tells us here that he “wasted” the Church! An unusual translation! “Portheo” is the verb. It’s from a root word meaning “to sack,” a wartime, battlefront term. Sack? Yes … chiefly in historical contexts, the verb means “to plunder and demolish.” Wow, a pretty strong term. When “portheo” is used by Luke in Acts 9, it is there literally rendered/translated as “destroyed!”
It must have “hurt” Paul to write these words! But he wanted the Galatians (I think) to know why he so loved the Gospel! How he had been saved (by the Grace of God) from that kind of hateful lifestyle, born-again into a life of loving Jesus!
Wow!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:17!
Hallelujah!