Yes, Paul emphasizes his experience to validate his apostleship and to show that the Gospel of Grace was revealed directly by the resurrected Christ, separate from the Judaic system.
Paul's encounter with the resurrected Lord on the road to Damascus was the source of his Gospel revelation, as he received it not from men but from the ascended Christ. This experience sets him apart from those who knew Christ only in the flesh and underscores that the Gospel of Grace is a new revelation from the ascended Lord, not an extension of the legalistic Judaic system.
1 Corinthians 15:8 — Paul explicitly states he saw the resurrected Christ last of all, grounding his apostleship and message in that encounter.
The Bible records that Paul saw the resurrected Christ. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul lists the appearances of the risen Lord and then adds, "And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time" (1 Corinthians 15:8). This appearance was not during Christ's earthly ministry but after His ascension, as Paul himself notes he was not among those who walked with Jesus (cf. Acts 9). In Galatians, Paul insists that the gospel he preached was not received from men, but "by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:12). Thus, Scripture presents Paul's encounter as a direct, divine revelation.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul's emphasis on seeing the resurrected, ascended Lord—not Jesus of Nazareth in His earthly ministry—is crucial because it establishes the source of Paul's Gospel. Paul received his revelations from the ascended Lord in glory after the work of the cross, which differentiates the Gospel of Grace from the former Judaic system. Les explains that Paul never saw Christ during His earthly ministry or in the 40 days after the resurrection, but he did see the ascended Lord on the road to Damascus and later, which gave him apostolic authority and the content of the Gospel: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.
Les Feldick notes that the Twelve had three years of personal experience with Jesus in His earthly ministry, whereas Paul never saw Him until the Damascus road encounter. This difference led some to question Paul's apostleship, but Paul defended it by pointing to his direct revelation from the ascended Lord. Les emphasizes that the ascended Lord, not the Jesus of the flesh, revealed the Gospel of Grace to Paul.
Les Feldick explains that Paul's revelation from the ascended Lord included the core of the Gospel: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day. This was revealed to Paul after his conversion on the road to Damascus, not during Christ's earthly ministry.
Les teaches that Paul's unique experience underscores that the Gospel of Grace is a new revelation from the ascended Lord, distinct from the legal system of Judaism that came before. The resurrected Christ is the source of salvation and power, and without the resurrection, there is no salvation.
Revelation Not From Man
Les explains that Paul's gospel was received by revelation of Jesus Christ, not from men, citing Galatians and 1 Corinthians 15.
Resurrection Power Essential
Les teaches that the resurrection is the heart of the Gospel and the source of power and salvation.
Revelations From Ascended Lord
Les says Paul's revelations from the ascended Lord become our primary role of believing, not Christ's earthly ministry.
Paul's Apostleship Defended
Les explains that Paul, lacking the Three Years with Jesus, still proved his apostleship through his own encounter and use by the Lord.
Saw the Ascended Lord
Les states Paul saw the resurrected, ascended Lord face to face after his conversion, not during Christ's earthly life.
Ascended Lord's Revelations
Les explains the Twelve had no comprehension of Paul's revelations from the Ascended Lord, which is why they added nothing to him.
Post-Cross Communication
Les says Jesus communicated to Paul from ascended glory after the cross, a unique direct communication after His ascension.
Revelation of the Gospel
Les explains Paul received the Gospel content—Christ died, buried, rose—from the ascended Lord on the road to Damascus.
1 Corinthians 15:8: And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
Paul cites his own resurrection encounter to validate his apostleship and message.
Galatians 1:12: For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul insists his gospel came by direct revelation from the resurrected Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Paul states the core gospel content he received, which he attributes to the revelation of the risen Christ.
Acts 9:3-6: And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
The account of Paul's encounter with the resurrected Christ on the road to Damascus.
No, Paul never saw Christ during His earthly ministry. Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul saw the resurrected, ascended Lord only after his conversion on the road to Damascus, about eight years after Pentecost (Clip 4).
Paul emphasized his encounter to validate his apostleship and to show that the Gospel of Grace came by direct revelation from the ascended Lord, not from men (Clips 0, 4).
The heart of the Gospel is the resurrection: that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, as Paul received by revelation (Clips 1, 7).
Watch the Teaching: Why Preaching Another Gospel Brings a Curse — Galatians 1 Explained