Galatians 1 12

Galatians 1:12 kjv

For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:12 nkjv

For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:12 niv

I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:12 esv

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 1:12 nlt

I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1 verses

Galatians 1 12 Meaning

Galatians 1:12 serves as Paul's definitive declaration regarding the divine source and authenticity of the Gospel he proclaimed. He adamantly denies that his message or his apostolic commission originated from human tradition, instruction, or appointment. Instead, Paul asserts that his reception of the Gospel came directly and solely "through a revelation of Jesus Christ," signifying a direct, supernatural unveiling of truth granted to him by Christ Himself. This pivotal statement underscores the absolute authority and uncompromised purity of Paul's gospel, asserting its foundation in divine initiation rather than human intermediaries.

Galatians 1 12 Context

Galatians chapter 1 immediately plunges into Paul's defense of his apostolic authority and the authenticity of the gospel he preached. Unlike his typical warm greetings, Paul, in verse 1, directly asserts that his apostleship is "not from men nor through men, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father." This foundational claim directly addresses the accusations made by Judaizers, who were likely challenging Paul's legitimacy because he wasn't one of the original Twelve apostles nor taught directly by them. Paul establishes early on that anyone teaching a gospel different from his divinely given one is under a curse (vv. 6-9). Verse 12 is a crucial piece of evidence supporting his argument. By explaining how he received the gospel, Paul dismantles any notion that his message is secondary, learned, or an adapted form of what others taught. His account emphasizes direct divine encounter and commissioning as the irrefutable source of his authority and message, setting the stage for his subsequent historical defense and theological arguments against legalism.

Galatians 1 12 Word analysis

• For (γάρ - gar): This conjunction indicates an explanation or a reason. It links back to Paul's claim in verse 1 (that his apostleship is "not from men nor through man"), now providing the precise manner in which he received the Gospel.
• I (ἐγὼ - egō): The emphatic first-person pronoun. Paul deliberately highlights himself, asserting his unique personal experience and distinguishing his gospel's origin from any other possible source.
• did not receive it (παρέλαβον αὐτό - parelabon auto):
  • Parelabon (παρέλαβον): Aorist tense of paralambanō (παραλαμβάνω), meaning "to receive," often used in the context of receiving by tradition or transmission from others (e.g., a teacher passing on knowledge to a student). Paul uses this very term to emphatically deny he received the Gospel in such a traditional, human-mediated way.
  • Auto (αὐτό): "it," referring to the Gospel message, Paul's understanding of salvation, and his apostolic commission.
• from any man (παρὰ ἀνθρώπου - para anthrōpou):
  • Para (παρά): Indicates origin, source, or derivation "from beside" someone.
  • Anthrōpou (ἀνθρώπου): "man" (singular). The definite article is absent, emphasizing "any" man or "a" man, denying any human being as the source. This is a direct challenge to the authority claimed by Paul's detractors, who asserted their legitimacy from their connection to other apostles or human traditions.
• nor was I taught it (οὔτε ἐδιδάχθην - oute edidachthēn):
  • Oute (οὔτε): "nor," a strong conjunction continuing the absolute negation.
  • Edidachthēn (ἐδιδάχθην): Aorist passive of didaskō (διδάσκω), "to teach." The passive voice ("I was taught") reinforces that he was not an object of human instruction or formal theological education concerning the Gospel, in contrast to common rabbinic training. This denies a human learning process as the basis of his message.
• but (ἀλλὰ - alla): A strong adversative conjunction, indicating a sharp contrast or opposition. What follows completely overturns the preceding denials.
• I received it through (δι’ - di’): This preposition means "through" or "by means of," denoting the instrument or means by which something occurs.
• a revelation (ἀποκαλύψεως - apokalypseōs):
  • Apokalypseōs (ἀποκαλύψεως): The genitive of apokalypsis (ἀποκάλυψις), meaning an "unveiling," "disclosure," or "revealing." It implies a direct, supernatural communication of previously hidden or unknown truth by God Himself. This is the cornerstone of Paul's authority.
• of Jesus Christ (Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ - Iēsou Christou): This phrase indicates the source and content of the revelation. It can be interpreted in two ways:
  • Objective Genitive: A revelation about Jesus Christ.
  • Subjective Genitive: A revelation from Jesus Christ (Christ being the revealer).Given Paul's experience (Acts 9) and his broader theology, both senses apply, but the "from" aspect (Subjective Genitive) is strongly implied as Christ personally commissioned and enlightened Paul. The revelation's source is divine, not human.

Galatians 1 12 Bonus section

Paul's emphasis on direct revelation sets a powerful precedent for understanding authentic spiritual authority and the origin of divine truth. It teaches us that while human teachers and mentors are invaluable (Eph 4:11), the ultimate source of spiritual understanding must always be God's direct revelation, often through His Spirit illuminating His written Word (Jn 16:13-14). This distinguishes authentic Christianity from mere human philosophy or traditions. Furthermore, Paul's specific choice of denying paralambanō (tradition-based reception) highlights a critical distinction between true Gospel and human traditions, often central to the Galatians debate. His encounter on the Damascus Road was a unique apostolic commissioning, not a model for every believer's salvation, but it profoundly underscores the personal, radical intervention of Christ in a life called to extraordinary service.

Galatians 1 12 Commentary

Galatians 1:12 is a monumental assertion by Paul, fundamentally defining the divine source of his apostleship and Gospel. Facing challenges from Judaizers who questioned his authority because he was not among the original twelve apostles and seemingly lacked direct teaching from them, Paul here lays down his strongest counter-argument. He insists that his Gospel message was not transmitted through human tradition or formal teaching (neither "received" like an oral tradition nor "taught" like a student in a school). Instead, it came by "revelation from Jesus Christ," highlighting a direct, personal, and supernatural encounter and communication with the resurrected Lord. This moment of revelation, supremely exemplified by his Damascus Road experience (Acts 9), transformed him from persecutor to apostle and endowed him with immediate, unparalleled authority directly from God. This means his message possessed the same divine weight as if it had been given directly to the earliest apostles. This declaration is critical not just for Paul's defense but also for establishing the true nature of the Gospel as a divine deposit, not a human invention or interpretation. Its direct origin from Christ implies its purity, completeness, and independence from human influence, making any distortion (as by the Judaizers) an affront to God Himself. This also implies that Paul's message, as recorded in his epistles, holds unique and unchallengeable authority as Spirit-inspired, Christ-given truth for the Church.