The apostles added nothing to Paul's message because they did not comprehend the revelations Paul received from the ascended Lord, and they had no role in his commissioning.
Paul's gospel came directly from the ascended Christ, not from the Twelve (clip 6). The apostles did not understand the unique revelations given to Paul (summary), and they had not established any Gentile ministries for him to build upon (clip 4). Thus, they had nothing to add.
Galatians 1:12 — Paul states his gospel came by revelation of Jesus Christ, not from men, establishing his independence from the apostles.
The Bible shows that the apostles were leaders of the early Jewish church in Jerusalem, holding authority over the communal funds (Acts 4:34-36). However, their ministry was primarily to Israel, not to the Gentiles. Paul, in his letters, defends his apostleship as being directly from the ascended Christ, not from the Twelve, and he is specifically called the apostle of the Gentiles. He alone received the revelations of the mystery, and his message centered on the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, not on His earthly ministry.
Les emphasizes that the Twelve apostles were focused on Israel and the earthly kingdom, not on the Gentile mission. They had no ministry outside of Israel, leaving Paul to go into 'virgin territory' among the Gentiles. Paul's authority came directly from the ascended Christ, not from Peter or the other apostles. They didn't send Paul; Christ did. Therefore, they had no doctrinal input to give Paul, whose gospel was uniquely revealed to him.
Les points out that the Twelve were leaders of the Jewish believing community in Jerusalem, managing the common treasury (clip 0). Their ministry was confined to the nation of Israel (clip 4).
Paul's apostleship came directly from the ascended Christ, not from the Twelve. Les stresses that Peter and the eleven did not send Paul out; the ascended Christ did (clip 6). Paul emphasized that he alone received the revelations of grace (clip 3).
Paul's message was exclusively the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, not His earthly ministry (clip 7). The Twelve's teachings were more focused on the earthly kingdom, as seen in their early ministry in Jerusalem (clip 0).
The Twelve's Role in Jerusalem
Les describes the Twelve as leaders of the Jewish believers, managing funds and awaiting the King.
The Righteousness of God Without the Law Explained
Only once did they depart from the four Gospels and they went to 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter, and anybody can preach a sermon out of that. But other than that, it was all from Matthew, Mark, or Luke. Not once did they get into these parts of doctrine.
Why God's Strength Is Made Perfect in Weakness — 2 Corinthians 12:9
Well I think it wasn�t that they pitched Christianity overboard, but I think they turned their back on the apostles teachings of pure grace, and went back under so much of the legalistic teachings and influence of Peter, James, and John, and the Jewish community, as we�re going to see when we get into the book of Galatians.
Why Israel's Fall Opened Heaven's Door for the Gentiles
When I first saw that my hair stood on end, because that is a complete violation of the text and it changes Paul's whole position. If he is just another apostle, then he is a liar, because he claims in all of his letters as he defends his apostleship, that it was to him and him alone that God revealed these great doctrines of grace.
The Twelve Had No Gentile Ministry
Les explains that the Twelve had no ministry outside Israel, so Paul's Gentile fields were virgin territory, and they had nothing to add.
Why Christians Are Divided — 1 Corinthians 3 Explained Verse by Verse
But now of course he had to be in agreement with Paul's Gospel, and so there wasn't any doctrinal differences, but it was personalities. Now we've shown before that Paul was not the kind of a man that just simply drew people to him from his appearance, and from his speech, and so forth. It was quite the opposite. Paul gained his converts strictly through the working of the Holy Spirit.
Paul's Commission from Christ
The apostles didn't send Paul; the ascended Christ did, indicating they had no authority over his message.
The 3 Requirements for Redemption: Person, Blood, and Power
Have you ever realized that Paul never mentions Bethlehem? He never mentions the birth of Christ. He never makes any reference, so to speak, of his earthly ministry, of his miracles, all those things. Why? Because Paul only has one message, and what is it? The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, the shed blood. That's the very core of his whole message in all of his epistles.
Acts 4:34: Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
Shows the apostles' oversight of the early Jewish community's resources.
Acts 4:35: And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
Illustrates the apostles' leadership position among the Jewish believers.
Galatians 1:12: For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul's gospel came directly from Christ, not from the apostles.
Paul's apostleship was independent of the Twelve; he was commissioned by the ascended Christ. The apostles didn't send him, and he was the apostle to the Gentiles. There is no indication they added to his message.
Watch the Teaching: Why Gentiles Don't Need the Law of Moses — Acts Chapter 15 Explained