January 6 Click on verses for Full Scripture

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Today's Pathway: Galatians 1:11-14 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.

Yesterday we saw that Paul made it very clear that he was not interested in seeking the approval of men, for if he was interested in what men thought he would not be able to be a faithful servant of God. He now declares that his Gospel message was not "after men". The Judaizers were undoubtedly accusing him of perverting the gospel by omitting a responsibility to conform to the law of Moses. Paul is stating emphatically that his preaching did not originate from any human source. He did not invent it, nor attempt to modify it in any way. No other man taught it to him. Instead, it was revealed to him directly by Jesus Christ. It should be noted here that Paul is also using this to counter the argument that he is not really an apostle because he is not one of the original twelve. He is stating that, just as the twelve disciples received their doctrine directly from Jesus during His earthly ministry, he also received his teachings directly from Jesus. His doctrine was exclusively of divine origin. John MacArthur wrote,

"The gospel Paul preached was not human in origin or it would have been like all other human religion, permeated with works-based righteousness, born of man’s pride and Satan’s deception...Man’s sinful pride is offended by the idea that only God’s mercy and grace can save him from sin, and he therefore insists on having a part in his own salvation. The very fact that Paul preached a message of salvation in which works play absolutely no part was itself evidence that his message was from God and not man."

Paul now begins to share some of his personal testimony. In verses 13-14 he reminds his readers that before his salvation he was actively involved in Judaism. He wants them to realize that, because of his Jewish heritage, he had a full understanding of the Law. His credentials were impeccable. His testimony in Philippians 3:5-6 was this,

"Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless."

"In using the expression, 'the traditions of my fathers', the apostle had reference, not to the Mosaic law as found in the Pentateuch, but to the hedge of more than six hundred human commandments which the old rabbis had built around the law for purposes, as they thought, of protection."

Paul's commitment to Judaism was so complete that he zealously persecuted Christianity. He writes in verse 13 that he "wasted" it, which means to destroy, as when a city is ravaged by an army. Acts 8:3 says that Paul had been "entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison." Acts 9:1 adds that he had been "breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord". Acts 26:11 says that he was so committed to destroying Christianity that he "punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them... persecuted them even unto strange cities." For a Jew with his pedigree and zeal to convert to the Christianity that he hated could have only come about by the grace and mercy of God. We will talk about that more tomorrow.