Expositor's Bible Commentary 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 verb introducing this verse means “to make clear,” “to certify” (GK 1192), and has the effect of suggesting that a somewhat formal statement will follow, as indeed it does. Just as v.1 advanced Paul’s claim to apostleship by denying alleged inadequate sources for that apostleship and affirming the true one, so this section denies inadequate sources for the gospel, while affirming that what Paul preached came directly from God by revelation.

Paul goes on to deny three possible sources for his teaching. First, it was not “something that man made up.” This is patently true, for the centrality of a cross and a resurrection do not figure in man-made religion. People seem always to prefer what flatters them and affirms human goodness, not what judges them.