Who was the God-ordained apostle of the Gentiles?
Paul was the God-ordained apostle of the Gentiles. He continually reminded the Corinthians and all believers of this calling, defending it against accusations that he lacked authority compared to Peter, James, and John. Though not one of the twelve who walked with Christ in Palestine, Paul had direct contact with Christ, and the Lord appeared to him over and over.
Les teaches that Paul had to constantly remind not only the Corinthians but also believers today that he was the God-ordained apostle of the Gentiles. He had to defend this calling because the Corinthians, a mixture of some Jews but mostly Gentiles, were bombarding him with accusations that he did not have the authority Peter, James, and John had, since they had been with Christ for three years. Paul shows that he too had direct contact with Christ. He did not walk with the twelve up and down the dusty roads of Palestine, but the Lord appeared to him over and over, especially to encourage him amid sufferings and disappointments. In II Corinthians 11:22, Paul further argues that the twelve had nothing over him: are they Hebrews, so is he; Israelites, so is he; the seed of Abraham, so is he. Genealogically, they had no advantage over Paul.