John Calvin 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)

Having extolled his own preaching so confidently, he now shows that this was no idle or empty boast. He supports his assertion with two arguments. The first is that he was not prompted by ambition, flattery, or any similar passion to accommodate himself to the views of men. The second and far stronger argument is that he was not the author of the gospel but faithfully delivered what he had received from God.

Regarding Galatians 1:10, For do I now persuade according to men or according to God? The ambiguity of the Greek construction in this passage has given rise to a variety of expositions. Some render it, Do I now persuade men or God? Others interpret the words “God” and “men” as meaning divine and human concerns. This sense would agree very well with the context if it were not too wide a departure from the words. The view I have preferred is more natural, for nothing is more common with the Greeks than to leave the preposition κατὰ, according to, to be understood.

Paul is speaking not about the subject of his preaching, but about the purpose of his own mind, which could not refer as appropriately to men as to God. The disposition of the speaker, it must be acknowledged, may have some influence on his doctrine. Just as corruption of doctrine springs from ambition, avarice, or any other sinful passion, so the truth is maintained in its purity by an upright conscience. And so he contends that his doctrine is sound because it is not modified to gratify men.

Or, do I seek to please men? (Galatians 1:10). This second clause does not differ much, yet it differs somewhat from the former, for the desire of obtaining favor is one motive for speaking “according to men.” When such ambition reigns in our hearts that we desire to regulate our discourse to obtain the favor of men, our instructions cannot be sincere. Paul therefore declares that he is in no way chargeable with this vice; and, to repel the slanderous insinuation more boldly, he employs the interrogative form of speech, for interrogations carry greater weight when our opponents are allowed an opportunity to reply if they have anything to say. This expresses the great boldness Paul derived from the testimony of a good conscience, for he knew that he had discharged his duty in such a manner as not to be liable to any reproach of that kind (Acts 23:1; 2 Corinthians 1:12).

If I yet pleased men (Galatians 1:10). This is a remarkable sentiment: that ambitious persons, that is, those who hunt for the applause of men, cannot serve Christ. He declares for himself that he had freely renounced the estimation of men to devote himself entirely to the service of Christ; and in this respect, he contrasts his present position with that which he occupied at an earlier period of life. He had been regarded with the highest esteem and had received loud applause from every quarter; therefore, if he had chosen to please men, he would not have found it necessary to change his condition. But we may draw from it the general doctrine I have stated: that those who resolve to serve Christ faithfully must have the boldness to despise the favor of men.

The word men is here employed in a limited sense, for the ministers of Christ ought not to labor for the express purpose of displeasing men. But there are various classes of men. Those to whom Christ is precious (1 Peter 2:7) are men whom we should endeavor to please in Christ, while those who choose for true doctrine to give way to their own passions are men to whom we must give no countenance.

And godly, upright pastors, will always find it necessary to contend with the offenses of those who choose that, on all points, their own wishes shall be gratified; for the Church will always contain hypocrites and wicked men, by whom their own lusts will be preferred to the word of God.

And even good men, either through ignorance or through weak prejudice, are sometimes tempted by the devil to be displeased with the faithful warnings of their pastor. Our duty, therefore, is not to be alarmed at any kind of offenses, provided, at the same time, that we do not excite in weak minds a prejudice against Christ himself.

Many interpret this passage differently, as implying an admission to the following effect: “If I pleased men, then I should not be the servant of Christ. I admit it, but who can bring such a charge against me? Who does not see that I do not court the favor of men?” But I prefer the former view, that Paul is relating how great an amount of men’s estimation he had relinquished to devote himself to the service of Christ.

Now I make known to you (Galatians 1:11). This is the most powerful argument, the main hinge on which the question turns: that he has not received the gospel from men, but that it has been revealed to him by God. Since this might be denied, he offers proof drawn from a narrative of facts. To give his declaration greater weight, he begins by stating that the matter is not doubtful but one which he is prepared to prove, and thus introduces himself in a manner well adapted to a serious subject. He affirms that it is not according to man (Galatians 1:11); that it savours of nothing human, or that it was not of human contrivance; and in proof of this he afterwards adds that he had not been instructed by any earthly teacher.