Paul received his gospel directly by revelation from the ascended Lord Jesus Christ, not from any human source.
Paul writes that the gospel he preached was not after man, and that he neither received it of man nor was taught it, but received it by the revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12). Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul did not consult the Twelve or any other human instructors. Instead, his message came directly from the risen, ascended Lord in glory.
Galatians 1:11-12 — Paul directly states that the gospel he preached was not after man and that he received it by revelation of Jesus Christ.
In Galatians 1:11-12 Paul certifies: "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." He goes on in Galatians 1:15-16 to explain that God separated him from his mother's womb, called him by His grace, and revealed His Son in him so that he might preach Christ among the heathen; and he says that immediately he "conferred not with flesh and blood." Galatians 1:1 also states that Paul was an apostle "not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead." These verses plainly show that Paul's apostleship and gospel message did not come from human origin.
Les emphasizes that Paul did not receive his gospel from the earthly ministry of Christ, from the Twelve, or from any human teacher. He points out that Paul did not go back down to Jerusalem after his conversion to check in with the Twelve, but instead had his own private seminary training with the ascended Lord from heaven out in the desert. Les also highlights the difference between revelation and instruction: Paul was not taught his message by men—not by the chief priests, the rabbis, the Twelve, or any great scholar—but everything he preached and wrote came by direct supernatural revelation from the Lord. Les repeatedly notes that these revelations came after Christ's crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, while Jesus was in glory at the Father's right hand.
Les points to Galatians 1 and says Paul did not go up to Jerusalem after his conversion to check with the Twelve, even though that would have been the logical thing to do since they had spent three years with Jesus. Les notes that Paul said he did not confer with flesh and blood, which Les identifies as the Twelve. For Les, this is a definite indication that Paul received his message directly from the Lord rather than from the apostles in Jerusalem.
Les consistently stresses that at the time of Paul's revelations, Jesus Christ was already in heaven—in glory, after His resurrection and ascension. This underscores that the gospel revealed to Paul came after the work of the cross, not from Jesus' earthly ministry before His crucifixion.
Les uses Galatians 1 to show the difference between revelation and instruction. Apollos was a mighty man who had been instructed—someone had taught him—but Paul says everything he had he received by revelation. Les explains that Paul was not simply taking up someone else's material and passing it on; he was starting with something totally new that God revealed directly to him.
Because Paul received his unique message from the ascended Lord after the resurrection, Les teaches that our gospel must come primarily from the writings of this apostle. Paul is revealing things that were given to him from the Lord after His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension—truths that were not part of Christ's earthly ministry before the cross.
Paul received the Gospel directly from God rather than by joining the ministry of the Twelve. After God struck him down from his horse on the road to Damascus and saved him, he was not sent back to Jerusalem to check in with the Twelve. Instead, he was completely set apart from them, sent into the desert, and taught these doctrines by revelation. He later spent fourteen days in Jerusalem visiting Peter, but he did not see any of the other apostles. After that, he immediately began his ministry among the Gentiles. His ministry continued westward through Asia Minor, identified as present-day Turkey, and then across the Aegean Sea into Greece, including Corinth. Thus, when Paul stated that he delivered what he had received, he meant that the message came to him from God. That Gospel was that Christ died for sins—not only for Israel’s sins, but also for pagan Corinthians and people in America, Europe, and the Orient. Christ’s death was presented as the fulfillment of God’s plan from the beginning: He would take humanity’s sin upon Himself. Christ was also buried, which demonstrated beyond doubt that He had truly died.
Most People Miss This About the Lord's Supper — 1 Cor 11
drink in? Now that's obvious. He wasn't talking about the elements of the Lord's table for goodness sakes. He was talking about their potluck dinners. He said, If you can't do it right, then eat at home. Don't try to bring that into the church environment.
Certified Not After Man
Paul certifies the gospel he preached was not after man. Les points out that Paul did not go back to Jerusalem to check with the Twelve, but received the message by revelation from the ascended Lord.
Private Seminary with the Ascended Lord
Les says Paul had his own private seminary training with the ascended Lord from heaven in the desert, and that Paul's gospel comes from the Lord after His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.
Revelation of Jesus Christ
Les highlights Galatians 1:11-12 where Paul says he neither received the gospel of man nor was taught it, and then notes that Jesus Christ was already in glory when these revelations came.
Conferred Not with Flesh and Blood
Paul declares he was not taught his gospel but received it by revelation, and immediately conferred not with flesh and blood. Les identifies 'flesh and blood' as the Twelve.
Revelation vs. Instruction
Les contrasts revelation with instruction: Paul did not ask the Twelve to teach him what they knew about Jesus, but instead received his information directly by revelation.
Christ in Glory at Revelation
Les stresses that the Christ who revealed the gospel to Paul was in heaven in glory after His resurrection—not teaching from His pre-cross earthly ministry.
Everything Received by Revelation
Paul separates himself from the Twelve because he was not taught by anyone, but received all he preached by revelation. Les also notes that Paul says he saw Christ face to face.
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;)
This verse establishes that Paul's apostleship itself came directly from Jesus Christ and God the Father, not from human appointment.
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 did not originate from human sources.
Galatians 1:12: For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
This is the key verse answering the question: Paul received the gospel by direct revelation, not through human instruction.
Galatians 1:15: But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
Paul shows that his calling was entirely by God's grace and divine purpose, not by any human decision.
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:
After God revealed His Son to Paul, he did not consult human authorities, showing his gospel was not received from men.
No. Paul states that he did not confer with flesh and blood (Galatians 1:16), and Les points out he did not go up to Jerusalem to learn from the Twelve. He received his gospel by revelation of Jesus Christ.
It means God directly revealed these doctrines to Paul in a supernatural way. Les emphasizes that Paul was not taught by men, but received a direct revealing from the Lord Jesus Christ.
After Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension. Les points out that Jesus was already in glory, seated at the Father's right hand, when He revealed these truths to Paul.
Because it shows that Paul's gospel is a post-cross revelation from the ascended Lord and not merely a continuation of Jesus' earthly ministry before the cross. Les teaches that this makes Paul's writings the source of our gospel of grace.
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