What did Paul mean when he said he profited in the Jews' religion in Galatians 1:14?
Paul meant he advanced and benefited greatly within Judaism, becoming a religious leader and exceedingly zealous for the traditions of his fathers. That profiting included status, likely wealth, and family, all of which he later put behind and counted as loss for Christ and a higher commission to preach to the Gentiles.
Les explains that Paul's profiting in the Jews' religion meant he was a religious bigwig, more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of his fathers—Judaism and its religion. Les suggests he probably gained tremendous wealth, and he thinks Saul of Tarsus must have been married and had children. But once he was sold out to Christ, he had to put all that behind and lost it all; everything he ever owned, he counted but done, as Les says, likely in Philippians. Les emphasizes that Paul now had a far higher commission in life than gaining wealth or taking care of a family. The 'But' of verse 15 shows God had something else for him: He separated him from his mother's womb and called him by grace, though he did not deserve it. The purpose was to reveal His Son in Paul and to preach Him among the heathen, meaning the Gentiles. Les notes this was a distinct purpose of taking the Gospel of Grace to the Gentiles, with some spillover to Jews, almost a total reverse of the Old Testament.
And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
More Questions
What does it mean that Paul profited in the Jews' religion?
Paul's profiting in verse 14 means he was more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of his fathers, that is, Judaism and its religion.
Why did Paul say he profited in the Jews' religion?
Paul says he was profiting in the Jews' religion because it was a bad, corrupt system.