Paul received his teachings and doctrines directly by revelation from the ascended Lord Jesus Christ, not from man.
Paul explicitly states that the gospel he preached was not after man and that he was not taught it by man, but by revelation of Jesus Christ. Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul did not go to Jerusalem to learn from the Twelve, but instead received his own private seminary training from the ascended Lord on the desert. The doctrines of grace Paul wrote about came from the Lord after His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.
Galatians 1:11-12 — Paul directly states that his gospel was not received from man and was not taught to him by man, but came by revelation of Jesus Christ.
In Galatians 1:11-12, Paul records, '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 continues in Galatians 1:15-16 to say that when God revealed His Son in him, 'immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.' This is Paul's own direct testimony that the source of his gospel was divine revelation, not human instruction. Acts 1:21-22 also records Peter's qualification for the one who would replace Judas: he had to be one of the men who accompanied the Lord Jesus from John's baptism until the day He was taken up, and he had to be a witness of His resurrection. This shows the kind of personal connection required for the Twelve, a connection Saul of Tarsus did not have.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul received everything he preached and wrote by direct revelation from the ascended Lord Jesus Christ. Paul did not go back to Jerusalem to check in with the Twelve and learn from them, even though they had spent three years with Jesus. Instead, God separated Paul from the Twelve and revealed these doctrines to him on the desert. Les calls this Paul's 'private seminary training' with the ascended Lord. Les emphasizes that everything Paul writes concerning doctrine today comes from the Lord after His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. He stresses that Paul was not taught by the Twelve, nor by any great scholar. The contrast is between revelation and instruction: Apollos had been instructed by men, but Paul said everything he had came by revelation. Les also points out that the Twelve were apostles of Israel, while Paul was commissioned as the apostle of the Gentiles on Gentile ground.
Les Feldick explains that the normal thing for Saul of Tarsus after being converted on the road to Damascus would have been to go to Jerusalem and ask the Twelve to fill him in about Jesus, since they had been with Him for three years. But Paul says in Galatians 1 that he conferred not with flesh and blood. God did not send him to Jerusalem to become part of the Twelve's ministry; instead, He sent him out into the back side of the desert and revealed these doctrines to him. Les adds that Paul later went to Jerusalem for fourteen days and visited with Peter, but he never saw the other apostles.
Les Feldick points to Galatians 1:11-12 and Paul's claim that he was not taught the gospel by man, but received it by revelation of Jesus Christ. This is the difference between revelation and instruction. Apollos was a mighty and eloquent man, but he had been instructed by someone. Paul, on the other hand, says that everything he had, in his preaching and teaching and writing, came by revelation. He was not taught it by the Twelve or anyone else, and he made it plain that he saw Christ face to face.
Les Feldick explains that the Twelve were apostles of Israel, chosen within the borders of Israel, while Paul was going to be the apostle of the Gentiles, chosen and commissioned on Gentile ground. Peter laid out the qualifications for Judas's replacement in Acts 1:21-22: the man had to have accompanied them all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among them, beginning from the baptism of John until the day He was taken up, and be a witness of His resurrection. Saul of Tarsus could never fill that requirement, because he had not been with them. Instead, Paul received everything by revelation from the ascended Lord and saw Christ face to face.
Paul Cannot Qualify as One of the Twelve
Les shows from Acts 1:21-22 that a replacement for Judas had to have accompanied Jesus from John's baptism to the ascension, and that Saul of Tarsus could never meet that standard.
Revelation from the Ascended Lord
Les explains that Paul received his gospel by revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ while Christ was in glory, so all Paul's doctrine comes from the ascended Lord after the cross.
Private Seminary Training on the Desert
Les stresses that Paul did not get his gospel from the earthly ministry of Christ or from the Twelve, but received his own private seminary training from the ascended Lord on the desert.
Separated from the Twelve After Conversion
Les says that after God saved Paul on the road to Damascus, He did not send him to Jerusalem to join the Twelve, but sent him to the desert to reveal these doctrines; Paul later visited Peter for fourteen days but saw none of the other apostles.
Revelation Versus Instruction
Les reads Galatians 1:11-12 to show that Paul did not go to Jerusalem to be taught by men, but received the gospel by revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul Did Not Confer with Flesh and Blood
Les points to Paul's statement that he did not confer with flesh and blood, explaining that 'flesh and blood' refers to the Twelve.
What Would Have Been Normal?
Les highlights that the normal thing would have been to go to Jerusalem to be filled in by the Twelve, but if Paul had done that he would have had to say the Twelve taught him.
Everything by Revelation
Les teaches that Paul was not taught by the Twelve or any scholar, but received everything by revelation and saw Christ face to face; this distinguishes him from Apollos, who was instructed by men.
Galatians 1:11-12: 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.
Paul's direct statement that his gospel came by revelation of Jesus Christ and not from man.
Galatians 1:15-16: But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Paul says that once God revealed His Son in him, he did not consult with flesh and blood.
Acts 1:21-22: Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
Peter's qualification for Judas's replacement shows why Saul of Tarsus could not be one of the Twelve.
No. Les Feldick teaches that Paul did not go back to Jerusalem to be instructed by the Twelve. Instead, God separated him and revealed the doctrines of grace to him by the ascended Lord out on the desert.
The Lord Jesus Christ revealed the gospel to Paul directly from heaven. Paul says he neither received it of man nor was taught it by man, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Because the doctrines of grace for today come from the ascended Lord after the cross, not from the earthly ministry of Christ. Les continually stresses that everything Paul writes is what Christ revealed to him from heaven.
No. Peter required that the replacement for Judas had to have been with the group from John's baptism until the day Jesus was taken up. Saul of Tarsus was not part of that group.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul Was Never One of the Twelve — Acts 9 Explained