Paul did not consult the Jerusalem apostles because God had separated him from the Twelve and revealed the gospel to him directly.
Paul's own testimony in Galatians says that immediately after his conversion he conferred not with flesh and blood and went into Arabia instead of going up to Jerusalem to the apostles before him. Les Feldick teaches that God's sovereign purpose kept Paul's message distinct, so the human instinct to seek instruction from Peter and the Eleven was set aside in favor of direct revelation.
Galatians 1:16-17 — Paul explicitly says he did not immediately confer with human beings or go to the apostles in Jerusalem, but went into Arabia.
Galatians 1:11-12 — Paul declares his gospel did not come from man but by revelation from Jesus Christ.
In Galatians 1:11-12, Paul writes that the gospel he preached 'is not after man' and that he 'neither received it of man, neither was he taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.' In Galatians 1:16-17, he says that immediately after God revealed His Son in him he 'conferred not with flesh and blood' and 'went not up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me,' but instead 'went into Arabia.' The Bible records Paul's commission in Acts 9:15 when the Lord said of him, 'he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.'
Les teaches that Paul's refusal to consult the Jerusalem apostles was the result of divine and sovereign purpose. He emphasizes that the natural, logical human thing would have been for Paul to go to Jerusalem and ask Peter and the Eleven to fill him in, since they had spent three years with Jesus. Instead, God separated Paul from the Twelve, did not send him to check into their ministry, and took him into Arabia — identified as Mount Sinai — where He revealed the doctrines of grace directly to him over about three years.
Paul states plainly that he did not go to Jerusalem to learn from the apostles. In Galatians 1:16-17 he writes that immediately after God revealed His Son in him, he 'conferred not with flesh and blood' and 'neither went up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but went into Arabia.' In Galatians 2:1-2, he notes that fourteen years later he went up to Jerusalem 'by revelation' to communicate his gospel to the leaders there. The Bible itself records no initial consultation with Peter, James, or John on Paul's part.
Les says there was a divine and sovereign purpose in Paul's not going to Jerusalem. God did not send Paul to check in with the Twelve or become part of their ministry; He separated him from them completely. Les explains that God revealed something to Paul that no one else had heard before, and the Twelve could not comprehend it, so Paul disassociated himself from them so far as their doctrines and gospel were concerned.
Instead of Jerusalem, Paul went into Arabia. Les identifies this Arabia as Mount Sinai in Arabia and says God revealed the doctrines of grace at the same mountain where He had revealed the law to Moses. Les estimates from the account in Acts that Paul was there about three years before he was ready to take the message of grace to the Gentile world.
Les notes that later Paul did go through Jerusalem for fourteen days and visited with Peter, but he never saw the other apostles. Fourteen years later, Paul went up again to Jerusalem by revelation, and Les says the Lord Jesus Himself instructed Paul to go to that meeting with the Twelve and the Jerusalem leaders.
Paul's Calling to Preach to the Gentiles
Les explains that Paul was commissioned in Acts 9 to preach Christ among the heathen or Gentiles, showing that Paul's apostleship had a distinct purpose from the beginning.
The Human Option Paul Did Not Take
Les observes that the natural human thing after Damascus would have been to go to Jerusalem and ask Peter and the Eleven to fill him in, but Paul instead conferred not with flesh and blood.
Divine Purpose and Arabia
Les teaches that Paul's refusal to consult the Twelve was rooted in divine, sovereign purpose, and that God took him to Mount Sinai in Arabia, where he likely spent about three years before taking grace to the Gentiles.
Separated from the Twelve
Les states that God did not send Paul to Jerusalem to become part of the Twelve's ministry; He separated him from them and revealed the doctrines of grace to him in the desert. Les also notes Paul later visited Peter for fourteen days but never saw the other apostles.
Sinai and the Doctrines of Grace
Les connects Paul's Arabia to Mount Sinai and says God revealed the doctrines of grace at the same mountain where the law was given; he also shows that 14 years later Paul went to Jerusalem by revelation.
Doctrinal Separation from the Twelve
Les teaches that Paul disassociated himself from the Twelve doctrinally because God revealed something to him that no one else had heard, and the Twelve could not comprehend it.
Immediate Non-Consultation
Les emphasizes the immediacy of Paul's non-consultation: he did not go back to Jerusalem to check in with the Twelve or ask Peter to fill him in.
Direct Revelation from the Lord
Les explains that while Jerusalem would have been the logical place for instruction, Paul received his gospel directly from the ascended Lord by revelation and was not taught by the Twelve or any human teacher.
Galatians 1:11: But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Paul opens his argument that his gospel did not originate from any human source.
Galatians 1:12: For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul clarifies that his gospel came directly from Christ, not from the apostles or any other man.
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 connects his Gentile calling with the immediate decision not to consult human advisers.
Galatians 1:17: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Paul explicitly says he did not go to the Jerusalem apostles, but went into Arabia instead.
Galatians 2:1: Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
Paul records his later visit to Jerusalem, showing he did eventually go, but only after many years.
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.
Even Paul's later trip to Jerusalem was made by revelation, not by human arrangement.
Acts 9:15: But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
The Lord's commission for Paul was to bear His name before the Gentiles, which fits his distinct calling.
The Twelve had spent three years with the Lord and could have taught Paul everything they knew. Les says the natural, human, logical thing would have been for Paul to go to Jerusalem and tell Peter and the Eleven, 'Fill me in.'
Paul meant he did not seek instruction from human beings. Les says the Twelve are the ones in view: Paul did not go back to Jerusalem and confer with them.
Paul received it by direct revelation from the ascended Lord in glory. Les says Paul was not taught by the Twelve, the chief priests, or the rabbis; God revealed the doctrines of grace to him supernaturally.
Yes. Les notes that Paul later went through Jerusalem for fourteen days and visited Peter, though he never saw the other apostles. Fourteen years later he went up again to Jerusalem by revelation and met with the Twelve and the Jerusalem leaders.
Les identifies Arabia as Mount Sinai in Arabia and says this is where God revealed the doctrines of grace to Paul, at the same mountain where the Law was given. He estimates Paul was there about three years.
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