Paul did not consult the other apostles because his message came directly from the ascended Lord by revelation, not from any human teacher.
Paul himself says that immediately after God revealed His Son in him, he did not confer with flesh and blood or go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before him (Galatians 1:16-17). Instead, he went into Arabia and was alone with the Lord. Les teaches that God deliberately separated Paul from the Twelve so the new revelations of grace would not be mixed with their earlier understanding (Clip 7).
Galatians 1:11-12 — Paul says plainly that his gospel was not after man but by revelation, answering why he would not need to consult the apostles.
Galatians 1:16-17 — Immediately after his conversion he did not confer with flesh and blood nor go up to the Jerusalem apostles; he went to Arabia.
Galatians 1:18 — It records that only after three years did Paul see Peter, confirming he did not begin with instruction from the Twelve.
Paul's own explanation in Galatians 1 is that the gospel he preached was not after man. He neither received it from man nor was taught it; it came by the revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12). In the following verses, Paul tells what happened immediately after God revealed His Son in him: he did not confer with flesh and blood and did not go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before him, but went into Arabia (Galatians 1:16-17). Scripture records that it was only after three years that Paul went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and he stayed with him fifteen days (Galatians 1:18).
Les emphasizes that Paul did not go to Jerusalem to check in with the Twelve after his Damascus road conversion. Instead, God took Paul into the desert, where for three years the ascended Lord was his sole instructor. Les calls this Paul's own private seminary training from heaven. God deliberately separated Paul from the Twelve so that the new doctrines of grace, which had been kept secret and were being revealed only to Paul, would not be mixed with the earlier understanding of the Twelve. Paul came out of that experience prepared to go to the Gentiles with grace rather than Judaism or the Law, and with the Gospel of Grace rather than merely the Gospel of the Kingdom.
Galatians 1:17 says Paul went into Arabia and returned to Damascus. Les describes this as Paul's own private seminary training with the ascended Lord out in the desert (Clip 5). He explains that God took Paul there and for three years revealed to him the doctrines of grace that appear nowhere else in Scripture (Clip 3).
Galatians 1:18 records that after three years Paul went up to Jerusalem to see Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. Les points out that Paul did not go there to check in with the Twelve, and specifically notes that he did not see the other apostles at that time (Clip 1).
Les explains that God wanted Paul as far from the Twelve as possible because He did not want the revelations He was going to give Paul mixed up with what the Twelve already understood (Clip 7). Paul was being prepared for a new ministry to the Gentiles with grace, not Judaism or Law (Clip 2). God had kept these truths secret until revealing them to Paul (Clip 4).
Paul's own testimony is that the gospel he preached was not after man and came by the revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12). Les says Paul had his own private seminary training with the ascended Lord from heaven, and that Paul's writings are primary because they reveal truth given after Christ's crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension (Clip 5).
The Gospel Not After Man
Les points to Paul's own statement that the gospel he preached was not after man and was received by revelation or unveiling from the Lord, foundational evidence for why Paul bypassed human teachers.
Separated From the Twelve
Les explains that when God saved Paul on the Damascus road, He did not send him to Jerusalem to join the Twelve; God separated him and revealed the new doctrines to him, with only a brief later visit to Peter.
Three Years With the Ascended Lord
Les says that from three years alone with the ascended Lord, Paul emerged prepared to go to the Gentiles with grace rather than Judaism or the Law, and with the Gospel of Grace rather than just the Gospel of the Kingdom.
Desert Revelations of Grace
Les says Paul did not go back and pick up the apostles' notes or do research; God instead took him to the desert and for three years revealed to him the doctrines of grace found nowhere else.
Paul Disassociates From the Twelve
Les shows how Paul, in Galatians, deliberately disassociated himself from the twelve apostles and their doctrine because God had revealed something no one else had heard before.
Private Seminary With the Ascended Lord
Les says Paul received his own private seminary training from the ascended Lord in heaven out on the desert, and that Paul's writings, not the earlier apostles, are the primary source for our gospel.
Immediate Non-Consultation
Les highlights Paul's own words: immediately after the revelation of Christ in him, Paul conferred not with flesh and blood and did not go to the apostles before him in Jerusalem.
God's Reason for Separation
Les explains the divine purpose: God kept Paul as far from the Twelve as possible so the brand-new revelations given to Paul would not be mixed up with what the Twelve already understood.
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 verse explicitly says Paul was not taught by men but by revelation, which is the direct answer to why he did not consult the apostles.
Galatians 1:16-17: 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 verse records Paul's immediate response after his conversion: he did not confer with anyone or go to the Jerusalem apostles, but went to Arabia.
Galatians 1:18: Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
This verse shows the later timeline, confirming that Paul's instruction did not begin with the Twelve; he only visited Peter after three years.
Paul says immediately after God revealed His Son in him, he did not confer with flesh and blood and did not go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before him (Galatians 1:16-17). Les teaches that God kept him separate from the Twelve so the new revelations of grace would not be mixed with their prior understanding.
According to Galatians 1:17, he went into Arabia. Les describes this as a three-year private seminary training with the ascended Lord, where the doctrines of grace were revealed to Paul directly.
Only after three years, Paul went up to Jerusalem to see Peter and stayed with him fifteen days (Galatians 1:18). Les emphasizes that he did not go there to check in with the Twelve for instruction.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul's Letters Are the Most Neglected in the Bible