Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 48:1 (Spring 1986)
Article: Revelation and Tradition in the Pauline Euangelion
Author: Knox Chamblin

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WTJ 48:1 (Spring 1986) p. 1

Revelation and Tradition in the Pauline Euangelion

Knox Chamblin

I. A Problem

1. Two Pauline Texts

We introduce our subject by juxtaposing two passages from Paul’s letters.1 Gal 1:11–12 reads, “I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached [Gnōrizō de ēumin, adelphoi, to euangelion to euangelisthen hup' emou] is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man [oude gar egō para anthrōpou parelabon auto], nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor 15:1–3 reads, “Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you [Gnōrizō de humin, adelphoi, to euangelion ho euēngelisamēn humin], which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you [tini logō euēngelisamēn humin]…. For what I received [ho kai parelabon] I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins.”

Just how are these two texts to be related to each other? There are remarkable linguistic similarities, as noted above. Yet in the first passage, Paul stresses that he did not receive his gospel from man, whereas in the second his language indicates that his gospel came to him as Christian tradition, mediated by those who were in Christ before him—in other words, that he did receive his gospel from men.2

WTJ 48:1 (Spring 1986) p. 2

2. Proposed Solutions

How is Paul’s choice of language in Gal 1:11–12, as distinct from that of 1 Cor 15:1–3, to be explained? We obviously do not solve the problem by retaining one of the texts and discarding the other, or by regarding them as contradictory to each other.3 Even apart from the question of the Bible’s inerrancy, the two statements are self-evidently compatible in Paul’s thinking. What attempts have been made to harmonize the two passages?

(1) A. E. Baker. He states that whereas Paul “received the historical facts of the Gospel from the Apostles” (1 Corinthians), he “received the spiritual meaning of those facts…by direct revelation from the Lord Himself” (Galatians).4 Yet this view (i) overlo...

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