Paul notes in Galatians that he outstripped his 'contemporaries' in zeal for Jewish traditions—not all Jews, but specifically his generational cohort. The term denotes age-peers, often with shared upbringing or training. Classical usage includes foster-brothers and comrades of equal age; Paul's usage narrows to rival students in the Pharisaic schools. Spanish 'coetáneos' and German 'Altersgenosse' emphasize temporal equality, highlighting Paul's competitive pre-conversion context.