Paul claims his gospel was received by direct revelation from Jesus Christ, not from any man.
In Galatians 1:11-12, Paul insists that his gospel is not of human origin; he did not receive it from any man, nor was he taught it, but through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul did not go to the Twelve in Jerusalem but instead received private instruction from the risen Lord in glory. This unique reception set Paul apart and established the distinctiveness of the gospel of grace.
Galatians 1:11-12 — This passage is Paul's direct statement about how he received his gospel message, making it the central scripture for this question.
In Galatians 1:11-12, the Apostle Paul writes: "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 declaration is unequivocal: Paul's gospel did not originate from human sources or traditions. He emphasizes that he did not receive it from man, nor was he taught it by man, but it came directly through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, in Galatians 1:16, Paul says that God "revealed his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen." This indicates that the revelation was specifically for the purpose of preaching to the Gentiles. Paul confirms that after this revelation, he "conferred not with flesh and blood" (Galatians 1:16), meaning he did not consult with the other apostles or human authorities. Paul's account in Galatians 2:2 also notes that he went up to Jerusalem "by revelation" and communicated to the leaders the gospel he preached among the Gentiles, showing that his message was not derived from their teaching but was independently confirmed.
Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul's gospel was uniquely and directly revealed to him by the ascended Lord Jesus Christ. In several teachings, Les highlights that Paul did not receive his message from the twelve apostles or from any human teacher. Instead, after his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul was led into the desert for a private "seminary training" with the Lord. Les explains that this revelation came after Christ's resurrection and ascension, making Paul the apostle of the new dispensation of grace. Les points out that Paul did not go to Jerusalem to check in with the Twelve, as would have been logical, but instead received direct supernatural revelation from the risen Christ. This is why Paul's gospel is distinct from that of the Twelve and is central to understanding the church age. Les also notes that Paul later went to Jerusalem not to receive instruction but to communicate his gospel to the leaders, confirming that his message was independent of their authority.
Les Feldick explains that Paul did not receive his gospel from the Twelve because his revelation came directly from the ascended Lord, not from those who had walked with Jesus during His earthly ministry. In [Clip 5], Les notes that after his conversion, Paul did not go to Jerusalem to check with the Twelve, which would have been the logical step, but instead received his doctrine by supernatural revelation from the risen Christ. Similarly, in [Clip 2], Les emphasizes that Paul never received his Gospel from the earthly ministry of Christ and that his training came from the ascended Lord in the desert.
Les teaches that Paul's revelation was a direct, supernatural disclosure from the risen Lord Jesus Christ in glory. In [Clip 3], he says, "Where was Jesus Christ when He revealed these things to the Apostle? Well He's already in glory." In [Clip 4], Les adds that this revelation was not a human teaching but a direct communication of the doctrines of grace. In [Clip 5], he defines revelation as "God revealed directly to this man these doctrines of grace," not through human agency.
Paul's unique reception of the gospel validated his apostleship even though he was not one of the original Twelve. In [Clip 0], Les discusses how Paul was compelled to defend his apostleship because he lacked human commendation and could not say he had ministered with Christ for three years like Peter. However, Paul asserts he is not behind the very chiefest apostles. Les explains that Paul's authority came from his direct revelation, not from human endorsement.
Paul's Apostleship Defended
Les explains that Paul's apostleship was questioned but he was not behind the chiefest apostles because of his direct revelation and the power of his gospel.
Gospel Not from Men
Les reads Galatians 1:11-12 and emphasizes that Paul's gospel was not received from man but by revelation of Jesus Christ in glory.
Private Seminary Training
Les teaches that Paul did not get his gospel from the earthly ministry of Christ nor from the Twelve, but had his own private seminary training with the ascended Lord in the desert.
Paul's Own Account
Les highlights Paul's account that his gospel is not from man but by revelation of Jesus Christ, who was already in glory when revealing it.
Revealed in Him
Les points out that Paul's gospel was not after man, and he did not confer with flesh and blood, referring to the Twelve.
Revelation Defined
Les explains the word 'revelation' as a supernatural revealing from God directly to Paul, not from the Twelve or other human teachers.
Communicated to Jerusalem Leaders
Les shows that Paul went to Jerusalem by revelation to communicate his gospel to the leaders, showing it was not received from them but shared with them.
Separated from the Twelve
Les recounts that after his conversion, Paul was separated from the Twelve and sent to the desert to receive doctrine directly from the Lord.
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.
This is Paul's explicit statement on the divine origin of his gospel.
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:
This shows that Paul did not consult with human authorities after receiving the revelation.
Galatians 2:2: And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
This demonstrates that Paul's gospel was given by revelation and was communicated to the Jerusalem leaders, not learned from them.
No, Paul did not receive his gospel from the twelve apostles. He explicitly states in Galatians 1:12 that he did not receive it from man, neither was he taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul did not go to Jerusalem to check with the Twelve but received direct instruction from the ascended Lord.
It means that the risen and glorified Jesus Christ directly revealed the gospel message and doctrines of grace to Paul. This was a supernatural revelation, not a human teaching or tradition. Les describes it as a 'private seminary training' with the Lord in the desert.
Paul's gospel is centered on the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and the dispensation of grace, revealed specifically to Paul for the Gentiles. The Twelve, including Peter, preached mainly to Jews and had a gospel rooted in the earthly ministry of Jesus. Les notes that Peter never had a ministry among Gentiles except for Cornelius, and Paul's gospel was distinct.
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