Galatians 1:11-12

B. PAUL'S GOSPEL AND APOSTLESHIP DIVINELY DERIVED. 1:11-24
1. The divine source of his gospel. 1:11, 12
TEXT 1:11, 12

(11) For I make known to you, brethren, as touching the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not after man. (12) For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.

PARAPHRASE 1:11, 12

11 Now, because my doctrine hath been disregarded, on pretence that I was taught it by men, I assure you, brethren, concerning justification by faith, which was preached by me, that it is not a doctrine which I was taught by man, and which I was in danger of mistaking.
12 For I neither received it from Ananias, nor from any of the apostles at Jerusalem, nor was I taught it any how, except by a revelation from Jesus Christ.

COMMENT 1:11

not after man

1.

All instruction he received from men was for his own salvation.

a.

Rise and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. Acts 9:6

2.

As God used human instrumentality for a divine message, so Paul had a divine message for men, but not from men.

COMMENT 1:12

nor was I taught it

1.

He didn-'t have any entrance or final examinations from men.

2.

It was not received from the mouths or books of men.

it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ

1.

Just when Paul received this revelation is uncertain.

a.

It could have been on the road to Damascus, for he started preaching at oncestraightway. Acts 9:20

b.

Perhaps it was during his sojourn in Arabia. Galatians 1:17

c.

It might have been each time he needed it, for Jesus had promised revelation to His apostles.

1)

He shall guide you into all truth. John 16:13

2)

The Holy Spirit shall teach you in that very hour. Luke 12:12

3)

For no prophesy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God being moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21

2.

The subject matter of his revelation Paul makes clear to us.

THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST 1:11, 12

The true prophet says humbly, To me, a sinful man, God spoke, The scribes and the Pharisees declare, When we speak, God agrees.

Paul either spoke the truth when he said that this message was from God or he was a liar. It is not possible to believe that a liar could produce most of the New Testament letters.
False teachers undermined Paul's truth that men are justified by faith bytrying to destroy his apostleship. I prefer to believe that justification is a judicial act. It takes place in heaven. It is a pronouncement of the divine mind. It cannot be earned, purchased, or procured by works. It is solely the gift of grace, and having been accorded, it is not subject to reversal by virtue of additional testimony from an outside party. Justification takes into account all the factors, and the case will not be re-opened. In Christ I am free. I am safe. I am made to be guiltless by divine fiat.

STUDY QUESTIONS 1:10-12

65.

Whose favor did Paul seek?

66.

Whose favor does the false teacher seek?

67.

Why do men teach false doctrine according to Titus 1:11?

68.

Give the source for Paul's message.

69.

Why did Paul need to emphasize this?

70.

Do people doubt his inspiration today?

71.

Have you evidence that men denounce the apostles in their writing today?

72.

How did Paul get his message?

73.

When did it come to him?

74.

Did it need to come all at once?

75.

Were the other apostles taught all the truth at one time by Jesus?