Was Paul's revelation from the twelve apostles or from Jesus' earthly ministry?
Paul's revelation did not come from the twelve apostles or from Jesus' earthly ministry. It came directly from the ascended Lord in glory. The Holy Spirit prompted Paul to write that he had no contact with those twelve men at Jerusalem, and his gospel was revealed from Christ's heavenly position.
Les explains that Paul did not go up to Jerusalem initially, showing he had no contact with the twelve apostles. When Paul speaks of revelation, he always refers to what Christ revealed from His position in the heavenlies. Later, in chapter 2, Paul went up to Jerusalem by revelation to convince the twelve that his gospel to the Gentiles was not connected with Judaism. Les emphasizes that everything Paul received to pass on to the Roman world was revealed from the ascended Lord in glory—not from the twelve, not from the earthly ministry of Christ, but from the ascended Lord. This same word is used again in 1 Corinthians 11:23.