“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:”
For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. — Paul's self-description as persecutor ('ediōkon') locates his pre-conversion identity within zealous Judaism ('en tō Ioudaismō'), making his transformation all the more radical and his new gospel all the more incompatible with legalism.
Church Fathers on Galatians 1:13
“For you have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the Church of God, and made havoc of it.” Observe how he shrinks not from aggravating each point; not saying simply that he “persecuted” but “beyond measure,” and not only “persecuted” but “made havoc of it,” which signifies an attempt to extinguish, to pull down, to destroy, to annihilate, the Church.
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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