I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. Gal. 1:11-17
When I picture God talking with a person, I think of Moses going to the tent, a cloud would come over the tent, Moses would meet with God for hours and then Moses would come out with a glowing face. Those were probably the times when God would give him instructions on leading the people, insight into dealing with problems, but also the words to the first 5 books of the Bible. Think about it; how could anyone tell the creation account when no one except God was there unless the creator told someone (Moses) how it happened.
I tend to forget that for 3 years in the Arabian desert, Paul got some direct interaction with Jesus giving him insight that he would need for his future ministry to the Gentiles along with how the Old Testament pointed to and was fulfilled by Christ, the Messiah. Paul pens insights and doctrines into his epistles that we can only get from him, so we have to assume, during his 3 years, God answered Paul's questions so much clearer than His recorded answers to the other disciples' questions. I have to believe it is because now Paul had the indwelling Holy Spirit opening his mind to the truth. We see the disciples, in their last recorded interaction with the risen Jesus in Acts 1, asking Jesus when He was going to deliver them from the Romans. They still didn't get it. Jesus' response was kind of funny. He basically says, stay in Jerusalem and don't talk to anyone until the Holy Spirit comes. Paul, now filled with the Holy Spirit could actually ask questions and get answers.
When you read 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, you see that Paul has insights into the second coming, rapture, antichrist that he couldn't have gotten anywhere except from direct revelation. Paul explains Justification by faith especially in Romans and Galatians in a way that the Jews had totally missed. In Ephesians and 1 Corinthians he discusses the Church as the body and bride of Christ and also lays out the concept of spiritual gifts which must have been revealed to him. The whole concept of being indwelt by the Holy Spirit was talked about in John but Paul unpacked it in his epistles which must have been explained to him divinely. The qualifications of deacons and elders and roles of women in the Church sounds a little like Jethro instructing Moses on how to lead the people. Lastly, the whole inclusion of Gentiles and the limited duration of the Church age with the Jews then coming back to God had to be divinely revealed to Paul.
Some skeptics like to discount Paul's writings and say that they are just filled with his opinions. Some theologians say that they are inspired but take the "Red Letters" of Jesus in higher regard. My thought is that God talked "face to face" with Paul like He did with Moses so treat Paul's words with the utmost respect that we give Moses'. Will God talk to you the same way He talked to these 2 if you are committed and desirous enough? My thought is no. Why? Because the Bible is written and everything we need to know is in there. However, God will speak to you through His word "face to face" anytime you call on His name, come into His presence and sincerely desire to hear from Him. How badly do you want it?
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