What does the word 'revelation' mean in this passage about Paul's gospel?
In this passage, 'revelation' means a direct, supernatural revealing from God to Paul, not human instruction. Paul did not receive the gospel from man or from the Twelve, nor was he taught it by chief priests or rabbis. He received the doctrines of grace from the ascended Lord in glory by revelation.
Les explains that the word revelation in Scripture means just exactly what it says. God revealed directly to Paul the doctrines of grace. Paul did not go back to Jerusalem to check with the Twelve, even though that would have been the logical place, since they had spent three years with the Lord. Paul was not taught the gospel by the Twelve, nor by the chief priests or rabbis. He got it from the Ascended Lord in glory by revelation—a supernatural revealing.
For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.