Galatians 1:12
Verse
Context
Sermons
Anton Bosch
Keith KeyserAnton BoschSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
I neither received it of man - By means of any apostle, as was remarked Gal 1:1. No man taught me what I have preached to you. But by the revelation of Jesus Christ - Being commissioned by himself alone; receiving the knowledge of it from Christ crucified.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Translate, "For not even did I myself (any more than the other apostles) receive it from man, nor was I taught it (by man)." "Received it," implies the absence of labor in acquiring it. "Taught it," implies the labor of learning. by the revelation of Jesus Christ--Translate, "by revelation of [that is, from] Jesus Christ." By His revealing it to me. Probably this took place during the three years, in part of which he sojourned in Arabia (Gal 1:17-18), in the vicinity of the scene of the giving of the law; a fit place for such a revelation of the Gospel of grace, which supersedes the ceremonial law (Gal 4:25). He, like other Pharisees who embraced Christianity, did not at first recognize its independence of the Mosaic law, but combined both together. Ananias, his first instructor, was universally esteemed for his legal piety and so was not likely to have taught him to sever Christianity from the law. This severance was partially recognized after the martyrdom of Stephen. But Paul received it by special revelation (Co1 11:23; Co1 15:3; Th1 4:15). A vision of the Lord Jesus is mentioned (Act 22:18), at his first visit to Jerusalem (Gal 1:18); but this seems to have been subsequent to the revelation here meant (compare Gal 1:15-18), and to have been confined to giving a particular command. The vision "fourteen years before" (Co2 12:1) was in A.D. 43, still later, six years after his conversion. Thus Paul is an independent witness to the Gospel. Though he had received no instruction from the apostles, but from the Holy Ghost, yet when he met them his Gospel exactly agreed with theirs.
John Gill Bible Commentary
For I neither received it of man,.... Not from Gamaliel, at whose feet he was brought up; he received the law from him, and knowledge in the Jews' religion, and in the traditions of the elders, but not a whit of the Gospel; on the contrary, he received prejudices against it from him, or was strengthened in them by him; no, nor from the apostles of Christ neither, whom he saw not, had no conversation with for some years, after he was a preacher of the Gospel, and therefore did not receive it at their hands; no, nor from Ananias, nor any other man: neither was I taught it: that is, by man; he did not learn it of men, as men learn law, physics, logic, rhetoric, natural philosophy, and other things at school: but by the revelation of Jesus Christ; meaning, not through Christ being revealed to him by the Father, as in Gal 1:16 though it is a sense not to be overlooked; but by Christ, the revealer of it to him; and regards either the time of his rapture into the third heaven, when he heard words not to be uttered; or rather since that is not so certain when it was, the time of his conversion, when Christ personally appeared unto him, and made him a minister of his Gospel; and immediately from himself, without the interposition, or use of any man, or means, gave him such light into it, and such a furniture of mind for the preaching of it, that he directly, as soon as ever he was baptized, set about the ministration of it, to the admiration of the saints, and confusion of the enemies of Christ. These words furnish out another proof of the deity of Christ; for if the Gospel is not after man, nor received of, or taught by man, but by Christ, then Christ cannot be a mere man, or else being by him, it would be by man; and which also confirms the authority and validity of the Gospel, and carries in it a strong reason for the apostle's anathematizing all such as preach any other.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
1:12 no human source . . . no one taught me: Jewish scholars primarily depended on teachers. The Judaizers argued that Paul had received his commission and message from the other apostles, but then had unfaithfully changed the message. • I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ: See 1:17; Acts 9:3-15; 26:12-18. Paul’s unique experience gave him distinctive authority and insight. But he learned other matters, such as the life of Christ, from others (e.g., Gal 1:18; 1 Cor 11:23-26; 15:3-11).
Galatians 1:12
Paul Preaches the Gospel
11For I certify to you, brothers, that the gospel I preached was not devised by man.12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Orthodoxy (How to Discern 3)
By Anton Bosch0EXO 20:16JOB 8:8JER 6:16JHN 5:312CO 13:1GAL 1:122TI 2:2Anton Bosch addresses the issue of individual interpretation of the Bible, emphasizing the importance of aligning our understanding with orthodox doctrine that has been established over centuries. He warns against the dangers of personal interpretation leading to false teachings and heresies, highlighting the need to rely on credible witnesses and reputable sources for doctrinal confirmation. Bosch stresses the significance of learning from the wisdom and mistakes of past generations to ensure our teachings are in line with the foundational truths of the faith.
The Cult of Intellectualism
By Keith Keyser0PRO 9:10LUK 10:39JHN 16:12ACT 4:13GAL 1:12Keith Keyser challenges the common notion that formal theological education is a prerequisite for Christian service, emphasizing that God has historically used both educated and uneducated individuals to fulfill His purposes. He points out that the early apostles, including Peter and John, were unlearned men who had been with Jesus, highlighting the importance of spending time with the Lord for preparation. Keyser stresses that the Holy Spirit is the ultimate teacher of the Bible, and believers should prioritize prayerful study of God's Word and systematic instruction in the local assembly over academic attainment.
Only Scripture - 1
By Anton Bosch0GAL 1:12HEB 1:12PE 1:211JN 1:1REV 1:1Anton Bosch preaches on the non-negotiable essential of the completeness of Scripture in orthodox Christianity. He highlights how the Bible, with its 66 books, is the final revelation of God to man, and nothing should be added to or placed above it. Various groups, including cults, historic churches, and some Charismatic and Pentecostal churches, have strayed from this principle by elevating their own teachings, prophecies, and traditions to the same level or higher than Scripture. The sermon emphasizes the danger of rejecting the completeness, inerrancy, and sufficiency of the Bible, citing examples like C Peter Wagner and Tom Horn who openly challenge the closed nature of Scripture.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
I neither received it of man - By means of any apostle, as was remarked Gal 1:1. No man taught me what I have preached to you. But by the revelation of Jesus Christ - Being commissioned by himself alone; receiving the knowledge of it from Christ crucified.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Translate, "For not even did I myself (any more than the other apostles) receive it from man, nor was I taught it (by man)." "Received it," implies the absence of labor in acquiring it. "Taught it," implies the labor of learning. by the revelation of Jesus Christ--Translate, "by revelation of [that is, from] Jesus Christ." By His revealing it to me. Probably this took place during the three years, in part of which he sojourned in Arabia (Gal 1:17-18), in the vicinity of the scene of the giving of the law; a fit place for such a revelation of the Gospel of grace, which supersedes the ceremonial law (Gal 4:25). He, like other Pharisees who embraced Christianity, did not at first recognize its independence of the Mosaic law, but combined both together. Ananias, his first instructor, was universally esteemed for his legal piety and so was not likely to have taught him to sever Christianity from the law. This severance was partially recognized after the martyrdom of Stephen. But Paul received it by special revelation (Co1 11:23; Co1 15:3; Th1 4:15). A vision of the Lord Jesus is mentioned (Act 22:18), at his first visit to Jerusalem (Gal 1:18); but this seems to have been subsequent to the revelation here meant (compare Gal 1:15-18), and to have been confined to giving a particular command. The vision "fourteen years before" (Co2 12:1) was in A.D. 43, still later, six years after his conversion. Thus Paul is an independent witness to the Gospel. Though he had received no instruction from the apostles, but from the Holy Ghost, yet when he met them his Gospel exactly agreed with theirs.
John Gill Bible Commentary
For I neither received it of man,.... Not from Gamaliel, at whose feet he was brought up; he received the law from him, and knowledge in the Jews' religion, and in the traditions of the elders, but not a whit of the Gospel; on the contrary, he received prejudices against it from him, or was strengthened in them by him; no, nor from the apostles of Christ neither, whom he saw not, had no conversation with for some years, after he was a preacher of the Gospel, and therefore did not receive it at their hands; no, nor from Ananias, nor any other man: neither was I taught it: that is, by man; he did not learn it of men, as men learn law, physics, logic, rhetoric, natural philosophy, and other things at school: but by the revelation of Jesus Christ; meaning, not through Christ being revealed to him by the Father, as in Gal 1:16 though it is a sense not to be overlooked; but by Christ, the revealer of it to him; and regards either the time of his rapture into the third heaven, when he heard words not to be uttered; or rather since that is not so certain when it was, the time of his conversion, when Christ personally appeared unto him, and made him a minister of his Gospel; and immediately from himself, without the interposition, or use of any man, or means, gave him such light into it, and such a furniture of mind for the preaching of it, that he directly, as soon as ever he was baptized, set about the ministration of it, to the admiration of the saints, and confusion of the enemies of Christ. These words furnish out another proof of the deity of Christ; for if the Gospel is not after man, nor received of, or taught by man, but by Christ, then Christ cannot be a mere man, or else being by him, it would be by man; and which also confirms the authority and validity of the Gospel, and carries in it a strong reason for the apostle's anathematizing all such as preach any other.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
1:12 no human source . . . no one taught me: Jewish scholars primarily depended on teachers. The Judaizers argued that Paul had received his commission and message from the other apostles, but then had unfaithfully changed the message. • I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ: See 1:17; Acts 9:3-15; 26:12-18. Paul’s unique experience gave him distinctive authority and insight. But he learned other matters, such as the life of Christ, from others (e.g., Gal 1:18; 1 Cor 11:23-26; 15:3-11).