Jesus' Teachings to the Apostle Paul in Scripture
The Apostle Paul received teachings directly from Jesus Christ through revelation, a point he emphasizes in his letters. Paul asserts that his gospel message did not originate from human sources or instruction but was given to him "by revelation of Jesus Christ" [4, 9]. This direct revelation is distinct from learning through human teachers, which was a common method for Jewish scholars [4].
Paul's conversion experience on the road to Damascus was central to this reception of divine teaching. This event, recounted three times in the book of Acts, marked his prophetic call and commission as an apostle [5, 6]. During this encounter, Jesus revealed himself to Paul, who was then known as Saul, and called him to ministry [4, 5]. While Paul later learned details about the life of Christ from other apostles, his core message and authority came from this direct encounter [4].
The content of Jesus' teachings to Paul, received through revelation, formed the foundation of Paul's preaching. For instance, Paul's exhortations in Romans 12:14, such as blessing those who persecute, closely resemble sayings of Jesus found in the Gospels (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27-28) [2]. Although Paul does not explicitly quote Jesus, the parallels suggest he was alluding to well-known teachings of Christ [2]. Similarly, Paul's teaching on love for one another in 1 Thessalonians 4:9 reflects the teaching of Jesus (John 13:34-35) [7].
Paul's ministry consistently focused on testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading people about Jesus, often drawing from the Law of Moses and the Prophets to demonstrate how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament hopes [1, 8]. This approach aligns with Jesus' own preaching, which centered on the kingdom of God [8]. Paul's unique experience of direct revelation gave him distinctive authority and insight, even as he suffered greatly for his faith, as Jesus had predicted [3, 4].
Sources
- Acts “Acts 28:23 (BSB) — So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets.”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 12:14: 12:14 The exhortations in this verse closely resemble two sayings of Jesus (Matt 5:44; Luke 6:27-28). Although Paul does not introduce the commands as a quotation, he is almost certainly alluding to these sayings of Christ. Perhaps the words were so well known that he did not need to specify the source. The teaching of Rom 12–13 has many parallels with the teaching of Jesus.”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 9:16: 9:16 As Jesus predicted, Paul suffered greatly for his faith (see 2 Cor 11:23-27; see Acts 13:45; 14:19; 16:22-27; 21:30-31; 26:21; 2 Tim 1:11-12).”
- Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 1:12: 1:12 no human source . . . no one taught me: Jewish scholars primarily depended on teachers. The Judaizers argued that Paul had received his commission and message from the other apostles, but then had unfaithfully changed the message. • I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ: See 1:17; Acts 9:3-15; 26:12-18. Paul’s unique experience gave him distinctive authority and insight. But he learned other matters, such as the life of Christ, from others (e.g., Gal 1:18; 1 Cor 11:23-26; 15:3-11).”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 9:1: 9:1-19 The conversion of Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus road is of central importance to the narrative of Acts—Luke recounts the story three times (also 22:1-21; 26:1-29). Paul (Saul) also alludes to this experience several times in his letters (1 Cor 15:8-10; Gal 1:11-17; Phil 3:4-11; see 1 Tim 1:12-17). Saul’s conversion was his prophetic call and commission as an apostle (Acts 9:15; 22:15, 21; 26:15-18). No one is beyond the power of God to reach, redeem, and use for holy purposes—nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). Paul was prepared through his training, ”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 22:1: 22:1-21 Paul’s premier defense of his life and faith before his own people in Jerusalem illustrates his flexibility as a missionary, just as his speech to the Greek philosophers in Athens had done (17:22-31; see 1 Cor 9:20-23). Paul begins by recognizing his kinship with his people, explaining his Jewish background and training under the noted rabbi Gamaliel the Elder and describing his zealous desire to honor God in everything, which they shared (Acts 22:1-3). Paul then describes his persecution of Christians (22:4-5), the revelation of Jesus to him on the way to D”
- 1 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Thessalonians 4:9: 4:9–5:11 Paul responds to a series of questions from the Thessalonians (cp. 1 Cor 7:1) concerning love for one another (1 Thes 4:9-12), the destiny of deceased believers (4:13-18), and when the day of the Lord would come (5:1-11). 4:9 God himself has taught you to love one another (cp. Isa 54:13) through the teaching of Jesus (John 13:34-35), the cross (Rom 5:8; Eph 5:1-2), and the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5; Gal 5:22).”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 28:23: 28:23 Paul explained how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament hopes for the Kingdom of God, the master theme of Jesus’ own preaching (Mark 1:14-15; see Matt 4:12-17; Luke 4:14-21, 43). Referring to the Scriptures, Paul presented the case for Jesus as the promised Messiah.”
- Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 1:12: Translate, "For not even did I myself (any more than the other apostles) receive it from man, nor was I taught it (by man)." "Received it," implies the absence of labor in acquiring it. "Taught it," implies the labor of learning. by the revelation of Jesus Christ--Translate, "by revelation of [that is, from] Jesus Christ." By His revealing it to me. Probably this took place during the three years, in part of which he sojourned in Arabia (Gal 1:17-18), in the vicinity of the scene of the giving of the law; a fit place for such a revelation of the G”