Taught By The Lord

What this episode covers

In his very first letter, the one to the churches of Galatia, Paul makes a big deal about being taught by the Lord Jesus personally, not taught by the original apostles: For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:11-12) He goes on from here to lay additional emphasis on not being taught by the apostles. It makes we wonder: What would have been so bad about being taught by the apostles? Is this pride on Paul’s part? Is he involved in a “who’s the greatest” contest? (We know that the original twelve did have such arguments, but not after the resurrection.) In Jesus’s prayer at the last supper, he prayed for his followers, and very importantly prayed: I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:20-21) It was expected by Jesus that people would believe through the preaching and teaching of the apostles. And of course that includes us, because we are taught by the writings of those same apostles. There’s no second-class status for those who hear indirectly. Jesus prays for all of us to be one. No distinction. So why is Paul so adamant about having learned from Jesus himself?

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