Who commissioned Paul as an apostle?
Paul’s apostleship was not commissioned by men or by any human church. The Antioch church did not commission him, nor did the Jerusalem church. Rather, God commissioned him, specifically by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Christ from the dead. Thus his apostolic authority came directly from God.
Les explains that in the book of Galatians, Paul is defending his apostleship against false teachers who were pushing the Galatian churches back under the Law. Paul states he is an apostle “not of men, neither by man,” meaning the Antioch church did not commission him and the Jerusalem church did not commission him. Instead, God did. His apostleship came “by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.” Les notes this point was crucial because the Galatian congregations were being bombarded by false teaching, and Paul’s direct divine commission gave his gospel authority.
Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
More Questions
Who gave Paul his authority as an apostle?
Paul's apostolic authority had nothing to do with men appointing him, since he was made an apostle by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.
How did Paul become an apostle according to Galatians 1?
Paul's apostleship did not come from men and was not given by any man; he was commissioned by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Christ from the dead.