Paul received the Gospel directly from the ascended, glorified Lord Jesus Christ, not from men.
Paul did not learn the Gospel from the earthly ministry of Jesus or from the Twelve. He received it through a private revelation from the ascended Lord in glory, and the message he delivered was that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day.
Galatians 1:12 — Paul explicitly says he received the gospel by revelation of Jesus Christ, not from man.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 — Paul defines the gospel he received and delivered: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.
Paul himself explains how he received the Gospel. In Galatians 1:12 he writes, "For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 he tells the Corinthians what that message was: "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." These two passages show both the origin and the content of the Gospel Paul preached.
Les Feldick repeatedly stresses that Paul did not receive his Gospel from the earthly ministry of Christ or from the Twelve in Jerusalem. Instead, Paul had his own private seminary training with the ascended, glorified Lord from heaven out on the desert. Les points out that everything Paul writes for our doctrine comes from the ascended Lord after His death, burial, and resurrection, because that is where Christ was during Paul's revelations.
Les emphasizes that Paul is adamant that he did not receive his Gospel from the earthly ministry of Christ and did not check in with the Twelve. Instead, he had his own private seminary training with the ascended Lord from heaven out on the desert. Paul's own words in Galatians 1:12 confirm that he neither received it of man nor was taught it by man, but by revelation of Jesus Christ.
Les repeatedly defines the Gospel Paul received as the message he delivered to others: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Les calls this the purest form of the Gospel and says nothing can be added to it or taken from it.
According to Les, this Gospel cannot be found in the four Gospels because Christ had not yet died when those accounts took place. Paul received it from the ascended Lord in glory after the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.
Les says that when Paul wrote 'according to the Scriptures,' he was referring to the Old Testament. The prophetic program promised Christ's death, the Psalms depict His burial and resurrection, and Psalm 110:1 foretells His ascension to the Father's right hand.
How Can You Know You're Saved? The Plan of Salvation in Scripture
between wages and gift? Wages you work for, thatís what you deserve, but a gift is something you do not deserve, and thatís what salvation is all about. Itís a gift. Itís not something that you can do one iota of work to earn. It has to be a gift.
Paul's Private Seminary with the Ascended Lord
Paul did not receive his Gospel from Christ's earthly ministry or from the Twelve; he was taught privately by the ascended Lord from heaven out on the desert.
Revelation from the Ascended Lord
Everything Paul writes about our doctrine comes from the ascended Lord after His death, burial, and resurrection, not from the earthly ministry of Christ.
Believing the Gospel
Paul delivered what he received from the ascended, glorified Lord, and salvation is by believing that Gospel — not by the Law, works, or repentance and baptism.
The Pure Gospel Defined
The Gospel Paul received is that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day — the purest form of the Gospel.
The Gospel Cannot Be Changed
The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is the Gospel; Paul shows it cannot be added to or taken from.
Not Found in the Four Gospels
The Gospel Paul received from the ascended Lord cannot be found in the four Gospels because Christ had not yet died when those events took place.
Promised in the Old Testament
When Paul says 'according to the Scriptures,' he is pointing to the Old Testament; Psalms depicts Christ's burial and resurrection, and Psalm 110:1 speaks of His ascension.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Paul directly states that what he delivered to the Corinthians is what he himself received, defining the content of the Gospel.
Galatians 1:12: For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul explicitly tells how he received the Gospel — by revelation of Jesus Christ, not from human sources.
No. Les says Paul is adamant that he did not receive his Gospel from the earthly ministry of Christ. Instead, he received it from the ascended, glorified Lord after His death, burial, and resurrection.
Paul received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He arose again the third day according to the Scriptures. This is the Gospel in its purest form.
Les says Paul did not go back down to Jerusalem and check in with the Twelve. Instead, he had private seminary training from the ascended Lord from heaven out on the desert.
Watch the Teaching: How Can You Know You're Saved? The Plan of Salvation in Scripture