Here Paul vindicates his special apostolic authority.

Galatians 1:11 "But I make known to you, brethren, ..."

Here is the equivalent of saying "I would not have you ignorant. " (1 Corinthians 12:1 KJV). Possibly putting "brethren" at the end is not as warm as placing it at the beginning. Including the term here after censure may be an indication of his hope to win them back to the truth.

Galatians 1:11 "... that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man."

It is not some ideas of human wisdom. The gospel is the wisdom of God - it is divine truth. Unlike the ever changing systems and speculations of man, the gospel of God is unchanging in its permanent character, as "the faith."

Galatians 1:12 "For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, ..."

Here is given the solid back-up of the claim already made. A teacher's claims need factual support. No man taught Paul the gospel, not even one of the twelve apostles of Christ. The fact that what he taught was in full agreement with their teaching was proof he had been trained of God.

Galatians 1:12 "... but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Christ Jesus is both the revelation and the revelator. Unlike the twelve, Paul was not privileged to have those three years of tutoring by Jesus, but he was supernaturally taught by the risen, living Lord Jesus, with the fullness of the gospel. The detail nor the method of the revelation of the divine communications are given to us. We know that his conversion took place with vision revelation (Acts 9:3-8 ), and that he experienced "visions and revelations" (2 Corinthians 12:1 KJV). It is clear he got his teaching by direct revelation, and that Jesus Christ was the source and the subject, and that his epistles show divine communications (Ephesians 3:2-6 ), and unmistakable inspiration. His authentic message was received from the highest authority, the Lord Himself.

Galatians 1:13 "For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, ..."

Paul had been delivered from Judaism to which he had been one of its most devoted zealots.

	He went beyond measure in persecuting the church, with the aim of destroying it (Galatians 1:13 ).
	He was one of the most advanced in Judaism among his contemporaries (Galatians 1:14 ).
	He was exceedingly zealous for the traditions of his fathers (Galatians 1:14 ).
	His zeal was that which was not according to knowledge, as he charged his countrymen (Romans 10:2 ).

He learned that zeal can never make the wrong way to God right, nor justify any in the persecution of truth.

Galatians 1:16 "to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, ..."

Paul knew that he was set apart from birth by God, to be God's sent one to the Gentiles (Galatians 1:15 ). Paul was mindful of the sin, inconsistencies, and the ideas of his own that worked against what it pleased God to do. He came to see abounding grace that set him apart to be God's chosen vessel. He was favoured with an endowed special intellect. Favoured with the best and most fitting education, and a temperament that did nothing by halves. He was an all or nothing character, of suitable pioneer ability. He was prepared from birth by God which became evident when the fire from heaven came. Here is a great encouragement for parents that the call of God can be upon their wayward children and that God is working in their lives. Ultimately the called will be able to trace the lovingkindness of God in His careful preparation of them. Paul never ceased to marvel at the grace of God that called and put him in the ministry.

Galatians 1:15 "... and called me by his grace,"

To the Romans he said,

Romans 1:5 "By whom we have received grace and apostleship, ..."

The grace that saves, is also grace that gifts, and grace that places in the gifting. To the Ephesians he said he,

Ephesians 3:7 "... I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power."

Paul received the revelation of God's Son in himself.

Galatians 1:16 "to reveal His Son in me, ..."

First in Paul, and then through Paul's preaching. That is how it works with the apostolic gospel. Paul experienced personally the Son of God as the wisdom of God removing his fixed ideas, and as God's righteousness imputed by faith - as sanctification in Christ, a saint with power to live in holiness, the possession of the Lord by the indwelling Spirit, for the Lord's purposes. God's Son in Him in his redemption - restoring all that sin and Satan had robbed him of. (1 Corinthians 1:30 ). Christ in him the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27 ), and it was the Son revealed in him that he preached, not law, circumcision, not holy days, not righteousness by works - but the righteousness of faith. God's will was perfectly clear - he had no need to consult man.

Galatians 1:16 "... I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,"

There was no need to modify what he had received from God, and what was revealed in him. God's apostle of the Gentiles followed a path that was free from the influence of Jerusalem apostles or Judaistic teachers.

Galatians 1:17 "Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, ..."

This action demonstrated that he received his call and revelation the same way as the other apostles, from Christ. But in reference to the other apostles he set himself strictly by their side, except in the priority of calling. Far from seeking input from men, he rather sought seclusion with God in Arabia.

"Arabia. This may mean anywhere in the kingdom of Nabtaeans, from near Damascus, down to the Sinaitic peninsula. Paul's point is not to pinpoint the location, but to emphasize that it was a place in contrast to Jerusalem where there was no apostle to instruct him. In Arabia, he was alone with God, thinking through the implications of his encounter with the risen Christ on the Damascus road:. Ryrie

After seclusion in Arabia he returned to Damascus (Galatians 1:17 ).

"Though not mentioned in the Acts, this period in Paul's life would probably fit between Acts 9:21 and 9:22". Ryrie

Paul's brief, first contact with the apostles at Jerusalem confirm he did not receive teaching from man.

Galatians 1:17,18 "... into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. ¹⁸ Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days."

(Acts 9:23 ). How much of the three years belong to Arabia and how much to Damascus we cannot tell. The time interval is given to fortify Paul's defence that he received the gospel by revelation, not from man. During the fifteen days visit he saw no other apostle except James, the Lord's brother (Galatians 1:19 ). Paul was ready to go on oath that he was telling the truth (Galatians 1:20 ). It is of significance to mark that at that time Peter was not even clear about a commission to the Gentiles and James would hardly at that time be able to enlighten Paul about Gentile liberty. But the visit did confirm that Paul was in the mainstream of apostolic tradition represented by Peter and James. Again, Paul's steps take him far from Jerusalem and its influence.

Galatians 1:21 "Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;"

There were churches founded in these regions at a subsequent period. It could have been that Paul pioneered them at this very time (Acts 15:23, 41 ). He was unknown to the Judean churches, except by his fame as a converted persecutor.

Galatians 1:23 "But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed."

(Galatians 1:22-24 ). The grateful joy of the Judean churches was a rebuke to Judaists who sought to destroy his ministry and undermine his call and message. This strong defence of Paul's authority shows he was up against unscrupulous enemies of the divine gospel he fearlessly proclaimed.

Let us glorify God for Paul's witness and conduct. May we be faithful in defence of the proven gospel of true revelation.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. What special meaning does the statement have that Christ Jesus was both the revelation and the revelator to Paul? (Galatians 1:11-12 ).
2. How is God revealing His Son in you? (Galatians 1:16 ).