Paul received his gospel message directly by revelation from the risen Lord Jesus Christ—not from any human source.
In Galatians 1:11-12, Paul certifies that the gospel he preached was not after man, and that he neither received it nor was taught it by man, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul did not go to Jerusalem to learn from the Twelve; rather, he received his gospel and doctrine from the ascended Lord in glory.
Galatians 1:11-12 — This is Paul's direct statement that the gospel he preached came by revelation of Jesus Christ and not from man.
Galatians 1:1 — Paul identifies his apostleship as not of men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, establishing the divine source.
Galatians 1:15-16 — Paul says God revealed His Son in him and that he immediately did not confer with flesh and blood, confirming the revelation was direct.
The Bible's answer is found in Paul's own testimony in Galatians 1. Paul opens his letter by identifying himself as an apostle 'not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father.' He then certifies to the Galatian believers that 'the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ' (Galatians 1:11-12). In other words, Paul's gospel was not an idea passed on by human teachers; it came directly to him from Jesus Christ. Paul makes the same point in Galatians 1:15-16, when he explains that God, who separated him from his mother's womb and called him by His grace, revealed His Son in him so that he might preach Him among the Gentiles—and that immediately he 'conferred not with flesh and blood.' The repeated testimony of Scripture is clear: Paul's gospel came by revelation from the risen Christ, not from any human source.
Les Feldick repeatedly teaches that Paul's gospel message came entirely by direct revelation from the ascended Lord Jesus Christ. He draws on Galatians 1:11-12, where Paul says he did not receive the gospel from man and was not taught it, but received it 'by the revelation of Jesus Christ.' Les emphasizes that Paul never went back to Jerusalem to sit under the Twelve; instead, he had his own private seminary training with Christ in glory on the desert. Les highlights the timing of this revelation: Jesus Christ was already in heaven, in glory, after His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension when He revealed the gospel to Paul. For that reason, Les says, everything Paul writes for our doctrine comes from the ascended Lord—not from the earthly ministry of Christ. This is what makes Paul's gospel a totally new revelation rather than instruction from those who had followed Jesus for three years. Les also notes Paul's testimony in Galatians 1:16 that he 'conferred not with flesh and blood,' referring specifically to the Twelve.
It would have been the logical thing to do, since the Twelve had spent three years with the Lord. But Paul's own testimony in Galatians 1:11-12 shows that he did not receive the gospel from man or learn it from human teachers. Les Feldick explains that Paul did not go back to Jerusalem to check in with the Twelve; instead, he received the gospel by direct revelation from the ascended Lord. As Paul later wrote, after God revealed His Son in him, he immediately did not confer with flesh and blood (Galatians 1:16).
Les emphasizes that Christ was already in glory—ascended and seated at the Father's right hand—after His death, burial, and resurrection. Everything Paul writes concerning our doctrine, Les says, comes from the ascended Lord. This is why Paul's gospel is different from the earthly ministry teaching: it was given after the work of the cross was finished and after Christ was glorified.
Instruction would mean receiving information from human teachers who had known Jesus during His earthly ministry. Revelation, as Les explains, is God directly revealing truth to an individual. Paul did not go to the Twelve and ask them to teach him everything they knew; he received his gospel by a supernatural revelation of Jesus Christ.
Did the Disciples Understand the Cross? Luke 18 Explained
In other words, you can't be both. You cannot be a servant of Christ and yet please men. I've found it out, and I think most believers find it out. I've come up with a little cliché that I'm sure is original with myself, at least I've never heard it or seen it in print, and that is this, that when it comes to the things of the Spirit, the majority is always wrong. Remember that.
Revelation from the Ascended Lord
Les points out that Paul received the gospel neither from man nor by human teaching, but by revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ, who was already in glory after His death, burial, and resurrection.
Private Seminary Training with Christ
Les emphasizes that Paul did not receive his gospel from Christ's earthly ministry and did not check in with the Twelve; instead, he had private seminary training with the ascended Lord on the desert.
Not After Man
Using Galatians 1:11-12, Les explains that Paul's gospel was totally new, not carried on from other teachers, and that Christ was already in glory when the revelation came.
A Supernatural Revealing
Les stresses that Paul did not go to Jerusalem to be instructed by the Twelve; he received the doctrines of grace by a supernatural, direct revelation from the ascended Lord.
Revelation vs. Instruction
Les contrasts revelation with instruction: Paul did not ask those who had been with Jesus for three years to teach him; he received what he knew by revelation of Jesus Christ.
Post-Resurrection Revelation
Les emphasizes that Paul received the gospel by revelation from the risen, glorified Lord after the work of the cross, which is why Paul's gospel is post-resurrection truth.
Conferred Not with Flesh and Blood
Les ties Galatians 1:16's statement that Paul did not confer with flesh and blood to the Twelve, showing Paul's gospel came straight from God rather than from human consultation.
Galatians 1:1: Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
Paul identifies himself as an apostle not of men nor by man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father—setting up the divine origin of his message.
Galatians 1:11: But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Paul certifies that the gospel he preached was not after man—it did not originate with human thinking or tradition.
Galatians 1:12: For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul explicitly states he did not receive or learn the gospel from man, but by revelation of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:15: But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
Paul points to God's sovereign call and separation of him from birth to reveal His Son.
Galatians 1:16: To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Paul says God revealed His Son in him for Gentile preaching, and he immediately did not consult human authorities.
No. Paul certifies that the gospel he preached was not after man, and that he neither received it of man nor was taught it by man, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12). Les Feldick notes that Paul did not go to Jerusalem to check in with the Twelve after his conversion.
In glory. Les Feldick repeatedly points out that all of Paul's revelations came from the ascended Lord, who is seated at the Father's right hand after His death, burial, and resurrection. Paul's gospel is therefore post-resurrection, post-ascension truth.
In Galatians 1:16 Paul says that when God revealed His Son in him and called him to preach among the Gentiles, he immediately did not confer with flesh and blood. Les Feldick says that refers specifically to the Twelve—Paul did not need their instruction because he had received direct revelation from Christ.
According to Les Feldick, yes in terms of chronological source. Les says Paul did not receive his gospel from the earthly ministry of Christ, but from the ascended Lord after the work of the cross was finished. This is why Paul's writings reveal doctrines of grace given after the resurrection and ascension.
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