Lesson 2072

(Lesson 2072)(08-05-17)  Galatians 1:10-24
    For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me.”

    In the first part of today’s quote, Paul clearly stated that he had neither ever answered to, nor was he obligated to any man except Jesus Christ. He made it clear that the original apostles had had NO influence upon the message he preached because he had learned the doctrine of Christ straight from Jesus Himself.
   As was established in the Acts of the apostles, Paul had no direct communication with the original apostles in Judea until he returned to Jerusalem three years after his conversion to Christ and after his journey into Arabia. Also, as has been previously determined, when Paul did finally return to Jerusalem to meet with Peter and James, quite an argument arose between them because Paul refused to impose portions of the old Law onto the converts who were Gentiles. ~