10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how 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 zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 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.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Paul makes it clear that he has no desire to please man. If he were trying to please man, then he would not be a servant of Christ. We are faced with the same choice: receive man’s approval for what we do or serve Christ. Which do you choose?
Paul goes on to say that the gospel he preached did not come from man. He did not receive it from man, nor was he taught it, but he received it as a direct revelation from Jesus Christ. He is referring to his experience on the road to Damascus where Jesus appeared to him and called him to believe. Paul points to his past as a zealot for Judaism. He was so passionate about being a Jew that he had violently persecuted the church, even trying to destroy it. He was so dedicated to Judaism that he was pushing it more than any of his peers. Paul knew that he had been set apart before he was born, just like the prophets of the Old Testament. Even though God had set him apart for the task of preaching to the Gentiles, Paul also recognised that God’s timing allowed Paul’s upbringing, rise in Judaism and subsequent persecution of the church before He revealed Himself to him. Then, having been called by Jesus, he didn’t consult with anyone or go to Jerusalem to study under those who were apostles before him. Paul went to Arabia for a time. This time was probably for personal study and even instruction directly from the Lord. Paul’s main point is to emphasise that what he preached was not born out of man’s instruction but was directly from God. Paul was probably refuting direct accusations that his teaching was influenced or corrupted in some way.
For us it is so important that we begin and end in God’s word. God’s word is truth revealed directly from God to us. It is not wrong to sit under the teaching of others (we are not Paul) but it is important not to be swayed by man’s ideas. Every teaching we receive should be tested against God’s word.