Paul received his gospel message directly by revelation from the risen, ascended Lord Jesus Christ — not from men.
In Galatians 1:11-12 Paul wrote that the gospel he preached was not after man: he neither received it from a man nor was taught it by man, but received it by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Les Feldick explains that Jesus Christ was already in glory when He revealed these doctrines to Paul, and that God separated Paul from the Twelve and instructed him directly in the desert. Paul's gospel therefore came from the ascended Lord after the cross, not from Christ's earthly ministry.
Galatians 1:11-12 — Paul explicitly states that his gospel was not after man, not received from man, and not taught by man, but came by revelation of Jesus Christ.
In Galatians 1:11-12 Paul gives his own testimony about the origin of his gospel: 'But I certify you, brethren, 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.' This is a direct scriptural statement that his gospel did not originate with any human being. It was not received from a man and was not taught by a man. In 1 Corinthians 15:3 Paul also writes, 'For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received,' indicating that he passed on a message that he himself had received. Scripture alone establishes that Paul's gospel came by revelation of Jesus Christ rather than by human instruction. The Bible does not say that Paul learned his gospel from the twelve apostles.
Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul's gospel did not come from the earthly ministry of Jesus or from the twelve apostles. In the Galatians passage, Paul says the gospel he preached was 'not after man' and that he neither received it from a man nor was taught it — it came by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Les explains that the word 'revelation' means exactly what it says: God directly revealed the doctrines of grace to Paul. Les stresses that Paul did not go back to Jerusalem to check in with the Twelve and learn from their three years with Jesus. Instead, God separated Paul from the Twelve, sent him out into the desert, and gave him his own private 'seminary training' with the ascended Lord. Les repeatedly points out that Jesus Christ was already in glory during all of Paul's revelations, so everything Paul writes for our doctrine comes from the ascended Lord after His death, burial, and resurrection — not from the pre-cross earthly ministry. Paul also claims over and over that he saw the Lord face to face.
Les points out that going to Jerusalem to be instructed by the Twelve would have been the logical thing to do, since those men had spent three years with the Lord. But Paul says he did not receive the gospel from man and was not taught it. Les stresses that Paul did not go back up to Jerusalem after his conversion and ask the apostles to teach him everything they knew about Jesus. Instead, God separated him totally from the Twelve, sent him out into the desert, and revealed these doctrines to him. Paul later did go through Jerusalem for 14 days and visited with Peter, but he never saw any of the other apostles.
Les defines 'revelation' exactly as the word says: God revealed directly to Paul these doctrines of grace. Paul was not taught it from the Twelve, the chief priests, or the rabbis. He got it from the ascended Lord in glory by a supernatural revealing. This is the difference between revelation and instruction — Paul did not sit under the Twelve for three years as the other apostles had; he received new truth directly from the risen Christ.
Les repeatedly reminds his listeners that Jesus Christ was already in glory during all of Paul's revelations. Everything Paul writes concerning our doctrine today comes from the ascended Lord, after His death, burial, and resurrection. Paul claims over and over that he saw the Lord face to face. Because Jesus was in glory, Paul's gospel is not a continuation of the pre-cross earthly ministry.
Les explains that what Jesus said during His earthly ministry was spoken to Jews under the Law. What Jesus said to Paul was from the ascended glory after the work of the cross, and that makes all the difference. Until He went to the cross and died, Christ was not the object of faith for the main run of Gentiles. Once He finished the work of the cross and revealed His plan of salvation to Paul, that became the gospel which Paul preached to the Gentiles.
Paul's Gospel From the Ascended Lord
Les contrasts Jesus' earthly ministry to Israel with what He revealed to Paul from ascended glory after the cross, and notes that Paul repeatedly claimed to have seen the Lord face to face.
Revelation, Not Instruction From the Twelve
Les reads Galatians 1:11-12 and explains that Paul's gospel was not after man; God revealed the doctrines of grace directly to Paul, rather than Paul being taught by the Twelve or the rabbis.
Jesus Already in Glory During Paul's Revelation
Les points to Galatians 1:12 and asks where Jesus was when He revealed these things — already in glory.
Revelation vs. Instruction
Les shows that Paul did not go up to Jerusalem after his conversion to be taught by the men who had spent three years with Jesus; he received what he knew by revelation of Jesus Christ.
Private Seminary Training in the Desert
Les teaches that Paul had his own private seminary training with the ascended Lord out on the desert, so the gospel must come primarily from Paul's writings as post-resurrection revelation.
Every Paul Doctrine From the Ascended Lord
Les stresses that all of Paul's revelations came from Jesus Christ in glory after His death, burial, and resurrection, making Paul's gospel the one preached to the Gentiles.
Separated From the Twelve and Sent to the Desert
Les says God did not send Paul back to Jerusalem to join the Twelve; He separated him, revealed the doctrines in the desert, and Paul later spent only 14 days with Peter and saw none of the other apostles.
Most People Miss This About the Lord's Supper — 1 Cor 11
He didn't get it from the Lord. Now let's see where he always comes back to that. Go back with me to Galatians, because I want you to be able to compare Scripture with Scripture. Galatians chapter 1. We've looked at these verses before, but we'll look at them again, and we'll probably look at them again in the future, because they are tantamount to our understanding of Paul's apostleship.
Galatians 1:11: But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
This is Paul's direct statement that his gospel did not originate with man.
Galatians 1:12: For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul names the true channel of his gospel: direct revelation from Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:3: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
Paul asserts he passed on to the Corinthians a message he himself received.
No. Paul himself wrote that he neither received the gospel from man nor was taught it by man, but received it by the revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:12). Les Feldick teaches that Paul did not go to Jerusalem to be instructed by the Twelve; God separated him and revealed the doctrines of grace to him directly.
Les teaches that Paul received it from the ascended Lord in glory after the work of the cross. Jesus Christ was already in glory during all of Paul's revelations, so Paul's gospel came from after His death, burial, and resurrection, not from Christ's earthly ministry.
Les says no. What Jesus said during His earthly ministry was directed to Jews under the Law, whereas what Jesus revealed to Paul came from ascended glory after the cross. Once Christ finished the work of the cross and revealed His plan of salvation to Paul, it became the gospel preached to the Gentiles.
Les says it means exactly what it says: God revealed these doctrines of grace directly to Paul. Paul was not taught by the Twelve, the chief priests, or the rabbis; he received a supernatural revealing from the ascended Lord.
Watch the Teaching: Why Carnal Believers Are Still Blameless — 1 Corinthians 1:8-9