Paul meant he profited financially and rose to a place of power and prominence in the Jewish religious system.
Les Feldick points out that "profited" is a monetary word: Paul was in the hierarchy, on a large salary, and made big money in the top echelons of Judaism. He also held official authority as a member of the Sanhedrin, yet this was the same system in which he persecuted the church. After seeing Christ, Paul counted all of that gain as loss.
Galatians 1:14 — This verse contains Paul's exact statement that he profited in the Jews' religion above many of his equals in his own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of his fathers.
Galatians 1:13 — The preceding verse sets the context: Paul's profiting is described immediately after he says he persecuted the church of God and wasted it.
Paul writes in Galatians 1:13 that the Galatians had heard of his manner of living "in the Jews' religion" — that he "beyond measure persecuted the church of God, and wasted it." In the next verse he says he "profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation" while being "more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers." These verses show that Paul's advancement within Judaism was real, measurable, and connected to his zeal for Jewish tradition. The text does not define that profiting specifically as spiritual gain; it places it in the context of his former life before he received the revelation of Jesus Christ. In Romans 3:1-2, Paul uses the related word "profit" about the Jewish people's corporate advantage, and his answer is that their chief advantage was that "unto them were committed the oracles of God." So the Bible presents Jewish privilege as centered on the Word of God, while Paul's personal profiting is placed alongside his persecution of the church and his zeal for the traditions of his fathers.
Les Feldick teaches that the word "profited" in Galatians 1:14 means Paul made money and rose high in the Jewish system. He says Paul was in the hierarchy, probably on a big salary, and "made big bucks" in the top echelons. In one clip he states plainly: "there's only one way you profit, and how is that? Monetarily." Paul was a religious bigwig and probably gained tremendous wealth from his position. Les also connects that profit to Paul's standing as a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin. Paul had authority from the chief priests and took responsibility for Jewish believers being put to death. Les adds that Saul of Tarsus was likely married with children, and that being sold out to Christ meant he had to put all that behind and lost it all. Finally, Les contrasts this with Paul's apostolic ministry: Paul did not want anyone to accuse him of getting rich by his ministry, though the religious leaders of his day capitalized on their positions.
Paul says he profited "above many my equals in mine own nation" (Galatians 1:14). Les Feldick interprets "profit" in financial and positional terms: Paul was in the hierarchy, probably on a big salary, made big money in the top echelons, and was a religious bigwig who likely gained tremendous wealth. This is the direct answer to the question.
Paul's profiting is recorded right after he says he persecuted the church of God and wasted it. Les describes Paul as a member of the Sanhedrin who had authority from the chief priests; when Jewish believers were put to death, Paul took responsibility. His standing in the Jews' religion was the environment in which he opposed Christ's followers.
Les thinks Saul of Tarsus must have been married and had children, and that these were among the things he had to put behind when he was sold out to Christ. He lost it all and counted it as dung in light of his higher commission in life. Les also notes that as an apostle Paul deliberately refused to profit financially from ministry.
Paul says he was "more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers" (Galatians 1:14). Les points out that Scripture hates the word "tradition," and that tradition, along with pride, dooms more people than almost anything else. Paul's profiting was connected to zeal for a religious system that had accumulated many rules and regulations.
Why Paul Went to Arabia: The Revelation of Grace
scene, and then I've had a couple by phone and as well as by letter, which reminds me also—I want to remind our television viewers how we do appreciate your letters. Just a sentence or two is all we need just to know that you're listening and that you're enjoying it. It is of great help.
Paul's Profit and Salary
Les says Paul was in the hierarchy and probably on a big salary, making big bucks in the top echelons, and was more exceedingly zealous of the traditions.
Zeal for Traditions
Les shows that Paul was steeped in the Jews' religion and persecuted the church; his profiting came with being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions, not the Word.
Wealth, Family, and Loss
Les says Paul was a religious bigwig with tremendous wealth, likely had a wife and children, and had to put all that behind when he became committed to Christ.
Monetary Profit and Ministry Contrast
Les says the Jewish clergy capitalized on their religious positions and Paul did too, but as an apostle Paul refused to let anyone accuse him of getting rich by ministry.
Why Paul Called Himself the "Chief of Sinners" — 1 Timothy 1:15 Explained
Instead of Probus, it's Probosci, or something like that, and I'm not a Greek scholar. But it's an adverb instead of an adjective, and so it's a little different Greek word, but it's the same root. All right, now the question in chapter 3, verse 1 that Paul writes is, What advantage then hath the Jew? What profit is there in circumcision? In other words, being a bona fide Jew.
Monetary Meaning of Profited
Les explicitly defines Paul's profiting as monetary: "there's only one way you profit, and how is that? Monetarily." He places Paul as a member of the Sanhedrin.
Authority to Persecute
Les describes Paul's responsibility for putting Jewish believers to death and his authority from the chief priests, showing how his Jewish standing was used against Christ's followers.
Galatians 1:13: 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:
Paul first describes his former manner of life before explaining his profiting.
Galatians 1:14: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
This is the verse that answers the question; Paul uses "profited" as advancement above his equals.
Romans 3:1-2: What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
Paul uses "profit" in a corporate sense for Israel's advantage, showing the word could refer to spiritual or covenantal benefit.
Yes. Les Feldick says "profited" is monetary: Paul was in the hierarchy, probably on a big salary, and made big money. He was a religious bigwig who likely gained tremendous wealth from his position.
Les Feldick states that Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin and that he had authority from the chief priests. This explains the official power behind his persecution of Jewish believers.
Les thinks Saul of Tarsus must have been married and had children. He believes Paul had to put all that behind and lost it all when he was sold out to Christ.
Paul said, "Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God" (Romans 3:2). The greatest advantage was possessing the Word of God.
Les says Scripture hates the word "tradition" and that tradition, besides pride, dooms more people than almost anything else. Paul's profiting was tied to being exceedingly zealous of the traditions of his fathers.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul Went to Arabia: The Revelation of Grace