Free Bible Commentary
“Galatians 1:11-17”
Categories: Galatians“For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.”
---End of Scripture verses---
The Gospel that Paul preached, and the entire Bible for that matter, is not “according” to man (verse 11), and not “from” man (verse 12). Paul did not receive the Gospel that he preached “from” another human being. He was not taught the truth by Peter or John or any of the other inspired apostles. Paul was not with the original “Twelve” when they received “power from on high” (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4), and were miraculously inspired by the Holy Spirit to know and speak “all the truth” (John 16:13). But, he received his complete, inspired knowledge of “all the truth” miraculously “through a revelation of Jesus Christ” himself (verse 12). On the idea that the Gospel is not “according” to man, Mike Willis wrote the following in his commentary:
“The idea is that the gospel is not according to the will or after the manner or thought of a man. The gospel runs contrary to everything which man could ever imagine. Who would have thought of devising a plan whereby man would receive eternal life through a dying Savior? The gospel is contrary to things which characterize human style; it is divine in its content, form, and quality. Elsewhere Paul stated the same truth by saying, ‘Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him’ (1 Cor. 2:9). Man could never have devised or invented the gospel because it is so contrary to man’s manner of thinking. Hence, the gospel which Paul preached could not have been a mere human invention because it is not according to man.” (page 23 of Gospel of Truth Foundation commentary on Galatians)
Paul, defending the legitimacy of his apostleship and inspiration, gave evidence that the Gospel he preached was of divine and not human origin. He reminded them of what the Galatians had already heard and known to be true about him. How that his life’s goal and mission was to obliterate the church of Jesus Christ prior to the time that Lord blinded him on the road to Damascus and turned his life around (Acts 9:1-19). He said that he used to persecute Christ’s church “beyond measure and tried to destroy it” (verse 13). But, when God called Paul and subsequently revealed His will to him (verses 15-16), he did not go to Jerusalem to consult with and learn from the “original” Apostles (verse 17). There were other reasons for this, but the main point Paul is making in these verses is that he didn’t NEED to. Paul went straight into Arabia and back to Damascus with the Gospel that Jesus had revealed directly to him and preached it “among the Gentiles” (verse 16).
I am so thankful for the wonderful Christians who played such an important part in teaching me the truth and turning me in the direction of the Lord. I would hate to think how my life would have turned out without their help. But, it is comforting to know that the Bible is readily accessible and understandable to mankind today. As with Paul, God’s revelation is available to us, and we don’t have to (and we shouldn’t) wait around for other people to show us the truth. While no one today will receive a “direct revelation” like Paul did; “all the truth” that we need to know to be saved and stay saved, has been recorded and preserved for us, in the pages of the Bible. On Judgment Day, no one will be able to make the excuse that they didn’t and couldn’t know the truth!
Please read Galatians 1:18-24 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
-Louie Taylor
