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.