Paul received his gospel message directly by revelation from Jesus Christ, not from any human being.
In Galatians 1:11-12 Paul says the gospel he preached was not after man, and that he did not receive it or learn it from any person, but by revelation from Jesus Christ. Les Feldick explains that this revelation came from the risen, ascended Lord after the cross, not from Christ's earthly ministry or the apostles in Jerusalem.
Galatians 1:11-12 — Paul explicitly states that the gospel he preached did not come from man but by revelation of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2:2 — Paul says he went up to Jerusalem by revelation and communicated to the leaders the gospel he preached among the Gentiles.
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul gives his own account of the origin of his gospel. He 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" (Galatians 1:11-12). Paul also says, "To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood" (Galatians 1:16). Later he explains, "And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles" (Galatians 2:2). Scripture's direct testimony is that the gospel Paul preached came from Jesus Christ by revelation, not from human instruction.
Les Feldick stresses that Paul's gospel was not taken from Christ's earthly ministry, nor was it learned from the Twelve. Paul deliberately identifies the message as "the gospel which was preached of me" and says it was "not after man" (Galatians 1:11). Les points out that Paul did not go back to Jerusalem to be instructed by the apostles, but had his own "private seminary training" from the ascended Lord in glory. Everything Paul writes, Les says, comes from the risen, glorified Christ after His death, burial, and resurrection, not from the pre-cross teaching of Jesus to the Twelve. Paul received his message by supernatural revelation, not from the chief priests, rabbis, or the apostles. Even years later, when Paul went to Jerusalem, he communicated to Peter, James, John, and other leaders the same gospel he had been preaching among the Gentiles, showing it was a distinct message they had not preached.
Paul deliberately uses the phrase "the gospel which was preached of me" and insists it is "not after man" (Galatians 1:11). Les explains that if Paul were simply preaching the same gospel Jesus and Peter preached, there would be no reason for those extra words. Paul goes on to say he did not receive it from man, neither was he taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:12). In Les's words, Paul did not go back to Jerusalem and say, "Teach me everything you know about this Jesus."
Les explains that during Paul's revelations, Jesus Christ was in glory. Everything Paul writes concerning doctrine for today comes from the ascended Lord after His death, burial, and resurrection. Paul did not receive his gospel from the earthly ministry of Christ. Instead, Les says, Paul had his own "private seminary training" with the ascended Lord out in the desert, and from that experience he began teaching the doctrines of grace.
Paul went up to Jerusalem by revelation and communicated to Peter, James, John, and the other church leaders "that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles" (Galatians 2:2). Les says this shows the gospel was unique. Peter and the others had not preached Paul's gospel, and they certainly had not carried out a ministry among the Gentiles, except for the one-time case of Cornelius. Paul's message was new in that it came from the glorified Lord after the cross.
Paul's Gospel Identified as Not After Man
Les shows Paul's extra wording in Galatians 1:11 identifies a gospel that did not come from men, and that Paul later communicated that same gospel to the Jerusalem leaders.
Revelation From the Ascended Lord
Les explains that Paul received his gospel by revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ while Christ was in glory, after His death, burial, and resurrection.
Revelation Versus Instruction
Les clarifies that Paul did not ask the apostles to teach him about Jesus; instead, he received what he knew by revelation, showing the difference between revelation and instruction.
No Check-In With the Twelve
Les emphasizes Paul did not go to Jerusalem to check with the Twelve, but received his doctrines directly from God by supernatural revelation.
Private Seminary Training in the Desert
Les says Paul had private seminary training with the ascended Lord in the desert, and that Paul's writings reveal truth given after the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.
Not From Man, Not From the Twelve
Les points to Galatians 1:11-12 and 1:16, noting Paul did not receive his gospel from man and immediately conferred not with flesh and blood—meaning the Twelve.
A Totally New Revelation
Les explains Paul was not passing on someone else's material; he was starting with something totally new revealed by Jesus Christ, who was already in glory.
Communication to Jerusalem Leaders
Les shows Paul communicated to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem the gospel he preached among the Gentiles, emphasizing it was a unique gospel Peter and others had not preached.
Galatians 1:11: But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Paul's own statement that the gospel he preached was not of human origin.
Galatians 1:12: For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul explicitly says his gospel came by divine revelation, not by human instruction.
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:
Paul says he did not consult other people after the revelation, reinforcing that it came directly from God.
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.
Paul communicated to the Jerusalem leaders the distinct gospel he preached among the Gentiles.
No. Paul says he did not receive the gospel from man, neither was he taught it (Galatians 1:12). Les points out that Paul did not go to Jerusalem to check with the Twelve; instead, the risen Lord revealed it to him directly.
Paul means the gospel he preached did not come from human thinking or human instruction. Les says the gospel Paul preached was not the same message Jesus and Peter preached during Christ's earthly ministry; it was revealed directly by the ascended Lord.
In glory. Les explains that everything Paul writes comes from the ascended Lord after His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, so Christ was in glory while revealing these truths to Paul.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul's Gospel Was Different — Galatians 1:11 Explained