Paul's teaching is unique because God appointed him as THE apostle to the Gentiles and gave him direct revelation from the ascended Christ.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul is not one of many but the one to whom believers must go for basic doctrine in this age of grace. Paul received his message by revelation from the risen Lord, not from men, and his letters are the only New Testament letters written to the Church. The foundation of that teaching is Christ, but Paul was the master builder who laid it out.
Romans 11:13 — Paul plainly calls himself 'the apostle of the Gentiles,' showing his unique appointment.
Galatians 1:12 — Paul says he did not receive the gospel from man but by revelation from Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:10-11 — Paul describes himself as a wise masterbuilder who laid the only foundation, Jesus Christ.
In Romans 11:13, Paul explicitly identifies his role as the apostle of the Gentiles. In Galatians 1:12, he insists that he neither received the gospel from man nor was taught it, but received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, he portrays himself as a wise masterbuilder who laid the foundation, while making clear that the only foundation any man can lay is Jesus Christ. Paul also instructed believers to follow him as he follows Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Les Feldick repeatedly stresses that Paul is not just one teacher among many. God designated Paul to take salvation to the Gentiles, so Paul is THE apostle to the Gentiles, not one of many. Everything Paul writes for the Church comes from direct revelations given by the ascended, glorified Christ after His death, burial, and resurrection, not from human instruction. That is why Les says Paul's letters, and Paul's letters alone, are written to the Church and are where believers must go for basic doctrine concerning salvation, the Christian walk, and local church order. At the same time, Les is careful to say that Paul is not the basis of salvation; the only foundation is Jesus Christ. Paul, as a wise masterbuilder, laid that foundation for the Church Age, and other apostles and Old Testament prophets built upon it. Even though Paul had to defend his apostleship to those who questioned him, Les insists that for the present age of grace Paul is the authority through whom God speaks to the whole human race.
Les teaches that Paul did not receive his gospel from men. After his conversion, Paul spent three years alone with the ascended Lord, and out of that came the apostle prepared to go to the Gentiles with grace rather than law. Everything Paul writes about doctrine today comes from the risen, glorified Christ after His death, burial, and resurrection. Paul himself wrote that he neither received it of man nor was taught it by man, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul is not the foundation of our salvation; Jesus Christ is. Les emphasizes that no other foundation can be laid than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. But Paul is the one who laid that foundation for the Church Age, and other apostles and Old Testament prophets built upon it. In this sense, Paul is the wise masterbuilder who set out the doctrines and practices of the Church, making his letters essential.
Even in his day, believers questioned Paul. Some in Corinth said they followed Paul, others Peter, and others said they would do what Jesus said. Jewish people thought Paul was a renegade who had turned on his background. For this reason, Les says, Paul constantly defended the authority connected to his apostleship, establishing that in this age of grace he is the one through whom God speaks to the whole human race.
No. Les teaches that saying the Pauline letters are where we find fundamental truths for salvation, the Christian walk, and the local church does not imply the rest of the Bible is inappropriate. Paul himself wrote that all Scripture is inspired of God and profitable for reproof and instruction in righteousness. The whole Book fits together, but Paul's letters are the specific place where Church doctrine is gathered.
Paul's God-Given Role as Apostle to the Gentiles
Les stresses that God designated Paul to take salvation to the Gentiles, so he makes no apology for making much of Paul; believers are to follow Paul as he follows the resurrected, ascended Christ.
Paul Is THE Apostle of the Gentiles
Les shows from Romans that Paul was uniquely called, not one of many, and that Paul is the one to whom we must go for basic doctrines.
Paul's Authority in the Age of Grace
Les explains that Paul had to establish the authority of his apostleship because of divisions in Corinth and because Jewish people saw him as a renegade; for believers in this age of grace, Paul is the one through whom God speaks.
The Foundation Is Christ, Laid by Paul
Les clarifies that Paul is not the basis of salvation; Christ is the foundation, but Paul laid that doctrinal foundation for the Church Age, with others building on it.
Prepared Alone With the Ascended Lord
Les describes Paul's three years alone with the ascended Lord, preparing him to go to the Gentiles with grace, not law, and with the gospel of grace: Christ's death, shed blood, burial, and resurrection.
Direct Revelation From Christ in Glory
Les emphasizes that Paul did not receive his message from man but by revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ while Christ was in glory after the cross, making Paul's doctrine unique.
The Only Apostle of the Gentiles
Les points to Romans 11:13 to show Paul is the apostle of the Gentiles, and while other apostles followed, only Paul's letters are written to the Church.
Pauline Letters as Source of Church Doctrine
Les teaches that the fundamental truths for salvation, the Christian walk, and the local church come from Paul's letters, even though all Scripture remains profitable.
Romans 11:13: For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Paul's own statement of his unique appointment to the Gentiles.
Galatians 1:12: For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul explains the divine origin of his gospel message.
1 Corinthians 3:10: According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
Paul describes his role in laying the doctrinal foundation of the Church.
1 Corinthians 3:11: For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
The foundation of the Church is Christ, not Paul.
1 Corinthians 11:1: Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Paul instructs believers to follow his teaching as he follows Christ.
2 Timothy 3:16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Shows that Paul's emphasis on his letters does not diminish the value of the rest of Scripture.
No. Les teaches that Paul did not receive his message from man. He spent three years alone with the ascended Lord and received the gospel by direct revelation from Jesus Christ in glory. Paul himself wrote that he neither received it of man nor was taught it by man but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
No. The foundation is Jesus Christ. Les explains that Paul is not the basis of our salvation; Christ is the only foundation. But Paul is the one who laid that foundation for Church Age doctrine, and other apostles built upon it.
Les says Paul's letters contain the fundamental truths for salvation, the Christian walk, and the local church, but this never implies the rest of the Bible is inappropriate. Paul himself wrote that all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for reproof and instruction in righteousness.
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