What role does revelation play in understanding God's will, according to Galatians 1:12? The Verse in Focus “For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:12) Key Observations • Paul’s gospel message was not second-hand information. • “Received” (Greek : παρέλαβον) emphasizes direct transfer, stressing divine initiative. • “By revelation” points to an unveiling that only God can accomplish—no human source, no human editing. Revelation Versus Human Tradition • Human tradition can inform, but only divine revelation can authoritatively define God’s will. • Paul intentionally contrasts his experience with the Judaizers’ reliance on ancestral customs (Galatians 1:14). • The certainty of God’s will rests on what God reveals, not on what people reason or pass down. Revelation Shapes Our Understanding of God’s Will 1. Establishes Authority – Because the message came “from Jesus Christ,” it carries the weight of the Lord’s own authority (cf. Matthew 28:18). 2. Provides Clarity – Revelation removes guesswork; God’s will is made plain rather than inferred (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:10-12). 3. Ensures Accuracy – Divine revelation is without error, guarding the gospel from distortion (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17). 4. Demands Obedience – Once revealed, the message calls for submission; to reject it is to resist God Himself (cf. Acts 26:19). How This Applies Today • We know God’s will most reliably through Scripture, the written record of His revelation. • Personal impressions must be tested against the revealed Word (1 John 4:1). • Teaching and preaching remain valid only insofar as they align with the apostolic revelation preserved in the Bible. Related Scriptures • 2 Peter 1:20-21 — “No prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation… but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” • Ephesians 3:3-5 — The mystery “was made known to me by revelation… now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets.” • Acts 9:3-6 ; 26:15-18 — Paul’s Damascus-road encounter illustrates revelation initiating ministry. • 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 — Paul delivers what he “received,” again underscoring revealed, not invented, truth. Takeaway Revelation is the divine unveiling that anchors, clarifies, and authenticates our understanding of God’s will. Like Paul, believers discover not a humanly crafted message but God’s own disclosed truth, preserved in Scripture and empowered by the Spirit for faithful living and confident proclamation. |
    |