THE GOSPEL IS NOT OF HUMAN ORIGIN

Passage: Galatians 1:11-24

Key verse: 1:11

NIV

Paul Called by God

11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters,(A) that the gospel I preached(B) is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man,(C) nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation(D) from Jesus Christ.(E)

13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism,(F) how intensely I persecuted the church of God(G) and tried to destroy it.(H) 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous(I) for the traditions of my fathers.(J) 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb(K) and called me(L) by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles,(M) my immediate response was not to consult any human being.(N) 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.(O)

18 Then after three years,(P) I went up to Jerusalem(Q) to get acquainted with Cephas[a] and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles—only James,(R) the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God(S) that what I am writing you is no lie.(T)

21 Then I went to Syria(U) and Cilicia.(V) 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea(W) that are in Christ.(X) 23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith(Y) he once tried to destroy.”(Z) 24 And they praised God(AA) because of me.

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Footnotes
  1. Galatians 1:18 That is, Peter
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Paul Called by God

11 For (A)I would have you know, brothers, that (B)the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel.[a] 12 (C)For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it (D)through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of (E)my former life in Judaism, how (F)I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely (G)zealous was I for (H)the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he (I)who had set me apart (J)before I was born,[b] and who (K)called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to[c] me, in order (L)that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;[d] 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

18 Then (M)after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James (N)the Lord's brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, (O)before God, I do not lie!) 21 (P)Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to (Q)the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.

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Footnotes
  1. Galatians 1:11 Greek not according to man
  2. Galatians 1:15 Greek set me apart from my mother's womb
  3. Galatians 1:16 Greek in
  4. Galatians 1:16 Greek with flesh and blood
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

First, God revealed Jesus in Paul (11-17). False teachers, who may have claimed to be from the Jerusalem church, planted doubt about Paul's preaching. Paul clearly states that the gospel did not originate in man. Nor did he receive the gospel from another person. Paul received it directly from Jesus. Previously Paul had persecuted Christians in his zeal for Judaism and its traditions. But in God's sovereignty and grace, Jesus Christ was revealed in Paul. God's new mission for Paul was to preach the gospel to Gentiles. Rather than meet the apostles, Paul went to Arabia. The gospel and his new mission were clear; no other confirmation was needed. Second, Paul's changed life (18-24) . After some years passed, Paul went to Jerusalem to meet Cephas (Peter) and James. They recognized his ministry to the Gentiles. Then Paul continued in Syria and Cilicia. His changed life testified to the power of the gospel. Though the churches in Judea did not know him personally, they praised God for changing Paul from a persecutor to a gospel worker.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for revealing Jesus to us. Change us to be so Christ-centered that others may praise God because of us.

One Word: Preach the gospel of God