Paul's time in Arabia was the period when the ascended Lord directly revealed to him the doctrines of grace that he would take to the Gentile world.
Les Feldick points out that Paul did not go to Jerusalem to learn from the twelve; instead he went into Arabia alone (Galatians 1:16-17). There, for three years, he received revelations from the ascended Lord and was prepared and trained for ministry to the Gentiles. Feldick also identifies Arabia as Sinai, noting that God revealed the doctrines of grace at the same mountain where the law was given to Moses.
Galatians 1:15-17 — The key passage where Paul states that he immediately went into Arabia rather than to Jerusalem to learn from the apostles.
Galatians 4:25 — Identifies Mount Sinai as being in Arabia, which Les Feldick uses to pinpoint the location of Paul's time there.
Paul's own testimony records that after it pleased God to reveal His Son in him, he 'conferred not with flesh and blood' and did not go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before him; instead he went into Arabia (Galatians 1:15-17). The same epistle gives a geographic detail when Paul references 'Mount Sinai in Arabia' (Galatians 4:25). These verses establish the location and the fact that Paul's gospel did not come from the Jerusalem apostles, but the biblical text itself does not narrate the details of what happened during his time in Arabia. Those details are taught by Les Feldick from these verses.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul's time in Arabia was an 'isolated seminary training' period at Mount Sinai. He emphasizes that Paul did not go to Jerusalem to learn from Peter and the twelve; instead, he went into Arabia, where for three years Saul of Tarsus was alone with his ascended Lord. During that time, God poured out on him all the doctrines of grace—'totally new, totally different'—that Paul would proclaim to the Gentile world. Feldick also makes the striking point that God revealed the doctrines of grace at the same mountain where He had revealed the law to Moses.
Les Feldick says the Arabia Paul went to was Mount Sinai. He bases this on Galatians 4:25, where Paul refers to 'Mount Sinai in Arabia.' From Damascus, Paul made his way to Sinai. This matters because it means God revealed the doctrines of grace at the same mountain where He gave the law to Moses.
Les teaches that Paul spent three years in Arabia, alone with his ascended Lord. During this time God poured out on him all the doctrines he would take to the Gentiles. Les calls it 'isolated seminary training at Sinai' and says Paul came back prepared and skilled in what he was proclaiming.
Paul's own words are that he 'conferred not with flesh and blood' and did not go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before him; he went into Arabia. Les emphasizes that this means Paul was not taught by Peter or the twelve; instead, the ascended Lord revealed the message directly to him. Paul then received all of these revelations to take to the Gentile world.
Les teaches that Paul had to be prepared to go out among 'abject heathen idolaters.' He had to be skilled in what he was proclaiming. The three-year training in Arabia was part and parcel of that preparation, so that when he came back he was ready to go out amongst the Gentile world.
Why Paul Didn't Learn From Peter — Galatians Chapter 1 Explained
the Law down to Israel, and only Israel received the ramifications of the Law, although certainly the Law affected the whole human race. But here we are now 1500 years later, and God hasn't changed. God is still the same, and He never changes. So the same God, but now He's dealing with a different individual.
Arabia Identified as Sinai
Les shows from Galatians 4 that Paul's Arabia was Mount Sinai, not just a vague desert region.
Paul's Detour from Jerusalem
Les emphasizes the grammar of Galatians 1: Paul did not confer with flesh and blood or go to Jerusalem; he went into Arabia.
Three Years of Revelation
Les says Paul was three years in Arabia receiving all his revelations from the ascended Lord to take to the Gentile world.
Training for Gentile Ministry
Les teaches that this three-year period of preparation equipped Paul to be skilled in proclaiming this new message to pagans.
Alone with the Ascended Lord
Paul was alone at Mount Sinai for three years as God poured out on him totally new and totally different doctrines of grace.
Isolated Seminary Training
Les calls Paul's time at Sinai 'isolated seminary training' before he went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
Grace from the Same Mountain as Law
Les notes that God revealed the doctrines of grace at the same mountain where He gave the law to Moses.
Galatians 1:15-17: 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: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
This is the direct scriptural record of Paul going into Arabia rather than to Jerusalem to receive instruction.
Galatians 4:25: For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
This verse is used by Les Feldick to show that the Arabia Paul went to was the region of Mount Sinai.
Scripture says Paul did not confer with flesh and blood and did not go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before him; he went into Arabia. Les teaches that God used this time to directly reveal the doctrines of grace to Paul without human teachers.
Les Feldick says Paul was in Arabia for three years, receiving revelations from the ascended Lord. This was a period of isolation and preparation before he began his ministry to the Gentiles.
Yes. Les points to Galatians 4:25, where Paul himself says 'this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia.' Feldick therefore places Paul's three years at Mount Sinai, where he says God revealed the doctrines of grace.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul Didn't Learn From Peter — Galatians Chapter 1 Explained