Charles Ellicott Commentary Galatians 1:11

"For I make known to you, brethren, as touching the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not after man." — Galatians 1:11 (ASV)

The Apostle now discusses at length his personal defense against his opponents. He does this through a historical review of his career, proving by a thorough process the thesis with which he begins: that the doctrine he taught comes from a divine source and has divine approval.

My doctrine is not human, but divine; it could not be otherwise. For:

1. I did not learn it in my youth—very much the contrary (Galatians 1:13–14);
2. I did not learn it at my conversion, for I went straight into the desert to wrestle with God in solitude (Galatians 1:15–17);
3. I did not learn it at my first visit to Jerusalem, for then I saw only Peter and James, and only for a short time (Galatians 1:18–24);
4. I did not learn it at my later visit, for then I dealt with the other Apostles on equal terms, and was fully and freely acknowledged by them as the Apostle of the Gentiles (Galatians 2:1–10);
5. Indeed, I openly rebuked Peter for seeming to withdraw the support he had given me (Galatians 2:11–14);
6. The law is dead, and the life which the Christian has he draws solely from Christ (Galatians 2:15–21).

But.—There is a nearly even balance of manuscript authority between this word and For. In any case, we would in English naturally omit the conjunction, though a translation must represent it.

Certify.—The word translated this way is the same as that which is translated “declare” in 1 Corinthians 15:1; “give you to understand,” in 1 Corinthians 12:3; and “do you to wit,” in 2 Corinthians 8:1. It is used to introduce a statement made with emphasis and solemnity.

After man.—Perhaps the best way to express the force of this phrase would be with the adjective, “Is not human.” Literally, it is, is not according to the standard of man—to be judged by human measure, and therefore human in all respects, in its nature and origin.