Galatians 1:10-12 (WEL) For am I now trying to please men or God? Does this sound like I’m trying to get human approval? For if I’m trying to get human approval, I wouldn’t be the servant of Christ. 11 I want it made known to you, brethren, that the Gospel, which was preached by me, is not of human origin. 12 Because I did not receive it from man, nor was taught it, but I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
V10 For am I now trying to please men or God? Does this sound like I’m trying to get human approval? For if I’m trying to get human approval, I wouldn’t be the servant of Christ.
Who are we supposed to please? If it is humans, what good is it? These are only temporary “blessings” that can be revoked at any time. If it is God, then His word is true and never changing.
Bible Illustrator-New Testament on Galatians 1:10:
“THE HUMOR OF DESIRING TO BE PLEASED, AND THE DANGER OF IT. A parasite is more welcome to us than a prophet. He is our apostle who will bring familiar and beloved arguments to persuade us to that to which we have persuaded ourselves already, and further our motion to that to which we are flying. Men would rather be cozened with a pleasing lie, than saved with a frowning and threatening truth. The causes from which this desire to be pleased proceeds.”
If Paul was seeking the approval and praise of people, then he is a servant to please them, doing their will, making them happy, and falsely contented. This is not a servant of God. False pastors and teachers will seek this.
If Paul is seeking the approval and praise of God, then he is a servant to please Him, doing His will, making Him happy, and being contented in doing so. This is a servant of God. God’s ways are always in wisdom, love, and holiness. His ways are always the best possible.
V11 I want it made known to you, brethren, that the Gospel, which was preached by me, is not of human origin.
Paul heard the Gospel from God Himself. Paul might have heard from others, especially in the trial and stoning of Stephen. But God initiated salvation to Paul by preparing his heart (John 16:8), producing guilt (Romans 7:7-12), and calling him (Acts 9:3-6).
Comments:
The Bible Says Com:
“Paul is not preaching a gospel preached to him by men but the one revealed to him by Jesus. In the last part of this chapter, he tells his audience the incredible story of how the gospel was revealed to him and how God used Paul’s dark past to further spread the gospel and encourage other believers across the region.
“Further, Paul is not preaching the gospel he received from God to please people, but to please God. Paul received a revelation directly from Jesus, and is being faithful to spread that word to people, regardless of whether they like it.
“The Galatians were led astray by men, not God. As Paul explains, the gospel does not come from man but from God, so the idea that these Galatians would be fooled by a twisting of the gospel from men is particularly striking to Paul. He asks his audience, am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God?
“If they were indeed seeking the favor of men, Paul—and the Galatians with him—would no longer be servants of Jesus, but servants of men.”
V12 Because I did not receive it from man, nor was taught it, but I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
This revelation is believed to be when Paul spent three years in Arabia and Damascus (Galatians 1:17-18).
God is the best theology teacher. This involves Bible reading, studying, and the practice of living by the rules of the New Testament (Law of Christ—Galatians 6:2) and the principles and examples taught in the Bible.
We learn:
- Don’t serve to please people; please God.
- The only Gospel is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Theologies are not the gospel plus the false gospels of other cults teaching faith along with human works.
- Paul knows the Gospel of Jesus Christ, so when he preaches and teaches it, it is the true Gospel.
Questions:
- What gospel do you believe?
- What gospel do you preach and teach?