Not Man's Gospel
[Personal Note: It has been a while since I have published any updates here. I have taken on some new responsibilities and have been busy. I will add posts when I can.]
"Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah). For I want you to know, brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known by me is not man’s gospel [a human invention, according to or patterned after any human standard]. For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but [it came to me] through a [direct] revelation [given] by Jesus Christ (the Messiah)." (Galatians 1:10-12, Amplified Bible)
Verses ten to twelve are a transition leading into Paul’s discussion of his personal history. The false teachers were saying that Paul got his message and his teaching from the Jerusalem Apostles. Of course, they claimed to represent these Apostles and were saying that Paul had either misunderstood or twisted the apostolic doctrines. Paul completely rejects this line of argument.
Paul first asks his readers to consider a basic question related to Paul’s motives. Was Paul trying to make friends with men or was he trying to win the favor of God? The Galatians had seen Paul and his ministry. They knew that he served God not man. He was a slave of Christ, not someone seeking the acceptance of man.
Paul wants the Galatians to clearly understand from where he got his teaching. The Gospel was not invented or thought up by man. Man would not on his own create a system of faith that belittles man like the Gospel does. The Gospel says that man is helpless, hopeless, condemned, wicked and separated from God. The Gospel gives God all the glory and leaves man with nothing in himself of which to be proud.
Paul also did not receive his teaching from man. He taught many including the Galatians about the Gospel, but no man taught him. Jesus by supernatural revelation gave Paul the Gospel message.
The Gospel is divine in its creation. And in Paul’s case, it was divine in its transmission. Paul had not received either his authority or his teaching from the Jerusalem apostles. He received both from Jesus.
Galatians chapter 1 verses 6 to 12 in many ways stress the importance of the true gospel message. To turn from it is to turn from God. To turn from it is to bring spiritual trouble into our lives. To teach another Gospel makes us cursed of God. The Gospel is divine in its origin. God gave the Gospel to the Apostles. May we never move away from the one true Gospel.
"Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah). For I want you to know, brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known by me is not man’s gospel [a human invention, according to or patterned after any human standard]. For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but [it came to me] through a [direct] revelation [given] by Jesus Christ (the Messiah)." (Galatians 1:10-12, Amplified Bible)
Verses ten to twelve are a transition leading into Paul’s discussion of his personal history. The false teachers were saying that Paul got his message and his teaching from the Jerusalem Apostles. Of course, they claimed to represent these Apostles and were saying that Paul had either misunderstood or twisted the apostolic doctrines. Paul completely rejects this line of argument.
Paul first asks his readers to consider a basic question related to Paul’s motives. Was Paul trying to make friends with men or was he trying to win the favor of God? The Galatians had seen Paul and his ministry. They knew that he served God not man. He was a slave of Christ, not someone seeking the acceptance of man.
Paul wants the Galatians to clearly understand from where he got his teaching. The Gospel was not invented or thought up by man. Man would not on his own create a system of faith that belittles man like the Gospel does. The Gospel says that man is helpless, hopeless, condemned, wicked and separated from God. The Gospel gives God all the glory and leaves man with nothing in himself of which to be proud.
Paul also did not receive his teaching from man. He taught many including the Galatians about the Gospel, but no man taught him. Jesus by supernatural revelation gave Paul the Gospel message.
The Gospel is divine in its creation. And in Paul’s case, it was divine in its transmission. Paul had not received either his authority or his teaching from the Jerusalem apostles. He received both from Jesus.
Galatians chapter 1 verses 6 to 12 in many ways stress the importance of the true gospel message. To turn from it is to turn from God. To turn from it is to bring spiritual trouble into our lives. To teach another Gospel makes us cursed of God. The Gospel is divine in its origin. God gave the Gospel to the Apostles. May we never move away from the one true Gospel.
posted by David Frank Wilson | 11:09 AM
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