◄ Galatians 1:12 ►
I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
Study Bible
I did not receive it from any man,

Paul emphasizes the divine origin of his gospel message, distinguishing it from human teachings. This assertion underscores the authority and authenticity of his apostleship, which was often questioned by opponents. In the context of the early church, where oral tradition and teachings from apostles were crucial, Paul’s claim highlights the unique nature of his calling. This phrase connects to Galatians 1:1, where Paul states he is an apostle not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father.

1Co 11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you:…
1Th 2:13 when you received the word of God that you heard from us…
Mat 16:17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah!…

nor was I taught it;

Paul contrasts his experience with the typical rabbinical education of the time, which involved extensive study under a teacher. His background as a Pharisee, educated under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3), would have been well-known. By stating he was not taught the gospel in this traditional manner, Paul emphasizes the supernatural aspect of his knowledge. This distinction is crucial in affirming the divine authority of his message, aligning with the prophetic tradition where God directly reveals His will to His chosen messengers.

Jhn 6:45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they will all be taught……
Jhn 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send…
1Jn 2:27 And as for you, the anointing you received from Him…

rather, I received it by revelation

The term "revelation" indicates a direct and divine disclosure, a concept familiar in Jewish and early Christian contexts. This revelation is akin to the experiences of Old Testament prophets who received God’s word directly. Paul’s use of this term aligns his experience with those of figures like Moses and Isaiah, who were given divine messages to deliver to God’s people. This revelation is foundational to Paul’s authority and the content of his gospel, as it bypasses human mediation.

Eph 3:3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation…
1Co 2:10 But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit.…
2Co 12:1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain,…

from Jesus Christ.

Paul attributes the source of his revelation directly to Jesus Christ, affirming the risen Lord’s active role in guiding and commissioning His apostles. This personal encounter with Christ is documented in Acts 9:3-6, where Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus is described. The phrase underscores the continuity of Christ’s work post-resurrection, as He continues to reveal Himself and His will to His followers. This direct revelation from Christ serves as a type of theophany, similar to God’s appearances in the Old Testament, and reinforces the divine authority of Paul’s message.

Act 26:16-18 But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared…
Act 22:14-15 Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you…
1Co 15:8 And last of all He appeared to me also…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of the letter to the Galatians, Paul emphasizes his authority and the divine origin of his gospel message.

2. Jesus Christ
The source of Paul's revelation, underscoring the divine nature of the gospel.

3. Galatia
The region to which Paul is writing, addressing issues of false teachings and affirming the true gospel.

4. Revelation
The divine act through which Paul received the gospel, highlighting its supernatural origin.

5. False Teachers
Those who were distorting the gospel in Galatia, prompting Paul to defend the authenticity of his message.
Teaching Points
Divine Authority of the Gospel
The gospel Paul preached was not a human invention but a divine revelation, affirming its authority and truth.

The Role of Revelation
Revelation is a key means by which God communicates His truth, and believers should be open to understanding God's will through His Word.

Guarding Against False Teachings
Just as Paul defended the true gospel, Christians today must be vigilant against distortions of biblical truth.

Personal Relationship with Christ
Paul's experience underscores the importance of a personal encounter with Jesus, which transforms and guides a believer's life.

The Importance of Apostolic Teaching
The teachings of the apostles, grounded in divine revelation, are foundational for Christian doctrine and practice.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Paul's claim of receiving the gospel through revelation impact our understanding of the authority of Scripture?

2. In what ways can we discern between true and false teachings in our own spiritual journey?

3. How does Paul's personal encounter with Jesus Christ inspire us to seek a deeper relationship with Him?

4. What role does divine revelation play in your understanding of God's will for your life?

5. How can we apply the principles of apostolic teaching to address contemporary issues in the church today?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Acts 9
Describes Paul's conversion and the initial revelation of Jesus Christ to him, providing context for his claim in Galatians 1:12.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8
Paul outlines the gospel he received, emphasizing its divine origin and consistency with the teachings of other apostles.

2 Corinthians 12:1-7
Paul speaks of visions and revelations from the Lord, reinforcing the idea of direct divine communication.

Ephesians 3:3-5
Paul discusses the mystery of Christ revealed to him, aligning with the theme of divine revelation.

1 Thessalonians 2:13
Paul commends the Thessalonians for accepting the word of God as it truly is, not as the word of men.
Sermons
A Solemn Avowal Concerning the GospelRichard Nicholls.Galatians 1:11-12
Certification of Divine RevelationR. A. Redford.Galatians 1:11-12
Divine Revelation from AboveS. Pearson, M. A.Galatians 1:11-12
I Certify YouW. Perkins.Galatians 1:11-12
It is an Historical Fact that Human Nature is Always Below RevelationJ. B. Walker, M. A.Galatians 1:11-12
Preaching the GospelT. T. Lynch.Galatians 1:11-12
Revelation by ChristDean Goulburn.Galatians 1:11-12
The Gospel no Work of ManJ. P. Lange, D. D.Galatians 1:11-12
The Inspiration of St. PaulPrebendary Griffith.Galatians 1:11-12
The Inspiration of St. PaulM. Laurie, D. D.Galatians 1:11-12
The Nature of RevelationB. Jowett, M. A.Galatians 1:11-12
Paul's Personal Grasp of the GospelR.M. Edgar Galatians 1:11-24
PositionR. Finlayson Galatians 1:11-24
People
Cephas, Galatians, James, Paul, Peter
Places
Cilicia, Damascus, Galatia, Jerusalem, Judea, Syria
Topics
Christ, Fact, Learnt, Rather, Receive, Received, Revelation, Taught, Teaching
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Galatians 1:12

     8135   knowing God, nature of

Galatians 1:11-12

     1175   God, will of

Library
Our Manifesto
TO ME it is a pitiful sight to see Paul defending himself as an apostle; and doing this, not against the gainsaying world, but against cold-hearted members of the church. They said that he was not truly an apostle, for he had not seen the Lord; and they uttered a great many other things derogatory to him. To maintain his claim to the apostleship, he was driven to commence his epistles with "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ," though his work was a self-evident proof of his call. If, after God has …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

Answer to Mr. W's Fifth Objection.
5. The consideration that none of these raised persons did or could, after the return to their bodies, tell any tales of their separate existence; otherwise the Evangelists had not been silent in this main point, &c. p. 32. None of these persons, Mr. W. says, told any tales of their separate existence. So I suppose with him. As for the two first: How should they? being only, as Mr. W. says, an insignificant boy and girl, of twelve years of age, or thereabouts. Or if they did, the Evangelists were …
Nathaniel Lardner—A Vindication of Three of Our Blessed Saviour's Miracles

The Epistles of St. Paul
WHEN we pass from primitive Christian preaching to the epistles of St. Paul, we are embarrassed not by the scantiness but by the abundance of our materials. It is not possible to argue that the death of Christ has less than a central, or rather than the central and fundamental place, in the apostle's gospel. But before proceeding to investigate more closely the significance he assigns to it, there are some preliminary considerations to which it is necessary to attend. Attempts have often been made, …
James Denney—The Death of Christ

Institutions of Jesus.
That Jesus was never entirely absorbed in his apocalyptic ideas is proved, moreover, by the fact that at the very time he was most preoccupied with them, he laid with rare forethought the foundation of a church destined to endure. It is scarcely possible to doubt that he himself chose from among his disciples those who were pre-eminently called the "apostles," or the "twelve," since on the day after his death we find them forming a distinct body, and filling up by election the vacancies that had …
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus

Fourth Conversation
The manner of going to God. * Hearty renunciation. * Prayer and praise prevent discouragement. * Sanctification in common business. * Prayer and the presence of God. * The whole substance of religion. * Self-estimation * Further personal experience. He discoursed with me very frequently, and with great openness of heart, concerning his manner of going to GOD, whereof some part is related already. He told me, that all consists in one hearty renunciation of everything which we are sensible does not …
Brother Lawrence—The Practice of the Presence of God

Exposition of St. Paul's Words, Gal. I. 8.
Exposition of St. Paul's Words, Gal. i. 8. [21.] When therefore certain of this sort wandering about provinces and cities, and carrying with them their venal errors, had found their way to Galatia, and when the Galatians, on hearing them, nauseating the truth, and vomiting up the manna of Apostolic and Catholic doctrine, were delighted with the garbage of heretical novelty, the apostle putting in exercise the authority of his office, delivered his sentence with the utmost severity, "Though we," he …
Vincent of Lérins—The COMMONITORY OF Vincent of Lérins

A Reasonable Service
TEXT: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."--Romans 12:1. There is perhaps no chapter in the New Testament, certainly none in this epistle, with which we are more familiar than this one which is introduced by the text; and yet, however familiar we may be with the statements, if we read them carefully and study them honestly they must always come to us not only in the …
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas Iscariot

The Praise of Men.
"They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."--John xii. 43. This is spoken of the chief rulers of the Jews, who, though they believed in Christ's Divine mission, were afraid to confess Him, lest they should incur temporal loss and shame from the Pharisees. The censure passed by St. John on these persons is too often applicable to Christians at the present day; perhaps, indeed, there is no one among us who has not at some time or other fallen under it. We love the good opinion …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

Sudden Conversions.
"By the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain."--1 Cor. xv. 10. We can hardly conceive that grace, such as that given to the great Apostle who speaks in the text, would have been given in vain; that is, we should not expect that it would have been given, had it been foreseen and designed by the Almighty Giver that it would have been in vain. By which I do not mean, of course, to deny that God's gifts are oftentimes abused and wasted by man, which …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

So Great Blindness, Moreover, Hath Occupied Men's Minds...
43. So great blindness, moreover, hath occupied men's minds, that to them it is too little if we pronounce some lies not to be sins; but they must needs pronounce it to be sin in some things if we refuse to lie: and to such a pass have they been brought by defending lying, that even that first kind which is of all the most abominably wicked they pronounce to have been used by the Apostle Paul. For in the Epistle to the Galatians, written as it was, like the rest, for doctrine of religion and piety, …
St. Augustine—On Lying

Travelling in Palestine --Roads, Inns, Hospitality, Custom-House Officers, Taxation, Publicans
It was the very busiest road in Palestine, on which the publican Levi Matthew sat at the receipt of "custom," when our Lord called him to the fellowship of the Gospel, and he then made that great feast to which he invited his fellow-publicans, that they also might see and hear Him in Whom he had found life and peace (Luke 5:29). For, it was the only truly international road of all those which passed through Palestine; indeed, it formed one of the great highways of the world's commerce. At the time …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Early History of Particular Churches.
A.D. 67-A.D. 500 Section 1. The Church of England. [Sidenote: St. Paul's visit to England.] The CHURCH OF ENGLAND is believed, with good reason, to owe its foundation to the Apostle St. Paul, who probably came to this country after his first imprisonment at Rome. The writings of Tertullian, and others in the second and third centuries speak of Christianity as having spread as far as the islands of Britain, and a British king named Lucius is known to have embraced the Faith about the middle of …
John Henry Blunt—A Key to the Knowledge of Church History

It is Also Written, "But I Say unto You...
28. It is also written, "But I say unto you, Swear not at all." But the Apostle himself has used oaths in his Epistles. [2342] And so he shows how that is to be taken which is said, "I say unto you, Swear not at all:" that is, lest by swearing one come to a facility in swearing, from facility to a custom, and so from a custom there be a downfall into perjury. And therefore he is not found to have sworn except in writing, where there is more wary forethought, and no precipitate tongue withal. And …
St. Augustine—On Lying

Easter Monday
Text: Acts 10, 34-43. 34 And Peter opened his mouth, and said: Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him. 36 The word which he sent unto the children of Israel, preaching good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all)--37 that saying ye yourselves know, which was published throughout all Judaea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 even Jesus of Nazareth, …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
Text: Colossians 3, 12-17. 12 Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; 13 forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye: 14 and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the Word …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Extracts No. vii.
[In this number the objector gives the whole ground of his objections, and the reasons for his doubts: which he states as follows, viz. "1. Mankind, in all ages of the world, have been, and still are prone to superstition. "2. It cannot be denied, but that a part of mankind at least, have believed, and still are believing in miracles and revelation, which are spurious. "3. The facts on which religion is predicated are unlike every thing of which we have any positive knowledge." Under the first …
Hosea Ballou—A Series of Letters In Defence of Divine Revelation

Chrysostom Evades Election to a Bishopric, and Writes his Work on the Priesthood.
About this time several bishoprics were vacant in Syria, and frequent depositions took place with the changing fortunes of orthodoxy and Arianism, and the interference of the court. The attention of the clergy and the people turned to Chrysostom and his friend Basil as suitable candidates for the episcopal office, although they had not the canonical age of thirty. Chrysostom shrunk from the responsibilities and avoided an election by a pious fraud. He apparently assented to an agreement with Basil …
St. Chrysostom—On the Priesthood

The Apostle's Position and Circumstances
PHILIPPIANS i. 12-20 Disloyal "brethren"--Interest of the paragraph--The victory of patience--The Praetorian sentinel--Separatism, and how it was met--St Paul's secret--His "earnest expectation"--"Christ magnified"--"In my body" St Paul has spoken his affectionate greeting to the Philippians, and has opened to them the warm depths of his friendship with them in the Lord. What he feels towards them "in the heart of Christ Jesus," what he prays for them in regard of the growth and fruit of their …
Handley C. G. Moule—Philippian Studies

Epistle Xlv. To Theoctista, Patrician .
To Theoctista, Patrician [153] . Gregory to Theoctista, &c. We ought to give great thanks to Almighty God, that our most pious and most benignant Emperors have near them kinsfolk of their race, whose life and conversation is such as to give us all great joy. Hence too we should continually pray for these our lords, that their life, with that of all who belong to them, may by the protection of heavenly grace be preserved through long and tranquil times. I have to inform you, however, that I have …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Jesus' First Residence at Capernaum.
^D John II. 12. ^d 12 After this he went down to Capernaum [The site of Capernaum is generally conceded to be marked by the ruins now called Tel-Hum. Jesus is said to have gone "down" because Cana is among the hills, and Capernaum was by the Lake of Galilee, about six hundred feet below sea level], he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples [There is much dispute as to what the New Testament writers mean by the phrase the "brethren of the Lord." This phrase, found in any other than a …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Indeed in all Spiritual Delights, which Unmarried Women Enjoy...
27. Indeed in all spiritual delights, which unmarried women enjoy, their holy conversation ought also to be with caution; lest haply, though their life be not evil through haughtiness, their report be evil through negligence. Nor are they to be listened to, whether they be holy men or women, when (upon occasion of their neglect in some matter being blamed, through which it comes to pass that they fall into evil suspicion, from which they know that their life is far removed) they say that it is enough …
St. Augustine—On the Good of Widowhood.

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