NOTES for Gal 1:11-24

The Apostle Paul is, after all, distinguished by an astonishing boldness that one is sometimes tempted to call impudence. Just consider what he says: after God revealed His Son to him, he “did not confer with flesh and blood”! Generally speaking, communicating only with God directly and ignoring the Church is a straight road to founding a sect... Wait. Does Paul ignore the Church? No, and no again. He comes precisely into the Church, becomes part of it, and begins to preach Christ—not apart from the Church. What he does not seek is human instruction or approval. God’s calling is sufficient for him, and he does not have to go to the apostles to have his calling confirmed. He joins the community that already exists and then goes out to preach... In essence, by not trying to contact the apostles, he is also not trying to obtain any additional authority. He does not need confirmation from human beings.