Albert Barnes Commentary Galatians 1:14

"and I advanced in the Jews` religion beyond many of mine own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers." — Galatians 1:14 (ASV)

And profited. This means he made advances and attainments. He made advances not only in the knowledge of the Jewish religion, but he also surpassed others in his zeal in defending its interests. He had better advantages than most of his countrymen; and by his great zeal and characteristic ardor, he had been able to make higher attainments than most others had done.

Above many my equals. The marginal note explains this as equals in years. This is the true sense of the original. It means that he surpassed those of the same age as himself. Possibly there may be a reference here to those of the same age who attended with him on the instructions of Gamaliel.

Being more exceedingly zealous. That is, more studious of them; more ardently attached to them; more anxious to distinguish himself in attainments in the religion in which he was brought up (Acts 22:3; Philippians 3:6). All this is fully sustained by what we know of the character of Paul, as at all times a man of singular and eminent zeal in all that he undertook.

Of the traditions of my fathers. This refers to the traditions of the Jews (Mark 7:5–13). See the commentary on Matthew 15:2.

A large part of the doctrines of the Pharisees depended on mere tradition, and Paul doubtless made this a special matter of study and was particularly tenacious in regard to it. It was to be learned, from its very nature, only by oral teaching, as there is no evidence that it was then recorded.

Subsequently, these traditions were recorded in the Mishna and are found in the Jewish writings. But in the time of Paul, they were to be learned as they were handed down from one to another; therefore, the utmost diligence was required to obtain a knowledge of them.

Paul does not say here that he was zealous then for the practice of the new religion, nor for the study of the Bible. His object in going to Jerusalem and studying at the feet of Gamaliel was doubtless to obtain a knowledge of the traditions of the sect of the Pharisees.

Had he been studying the Bible all that time, he would have avoided the fiery zeal he showed in persecuting the church and, if he had studied it correctly, would have been saved from much trouble of conscience later.