Discovery BoxGalatians 1:12 
Context1:12 For I did not receive it or learn it from any human source; 1 instead I received it 2 by a revelation of Jesus Christ. 3
Galatians 1:16-19
Context1:16 to reveal his Son in 4 me so that I could preach him 5 among the Gentiles, I did not go to ask advice from 6 any human being, 7 1:17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem 8 to see those who were apostles before me, but right away I departed to Arabia, 9 and then returned to Damascus.
1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem 10 to visit Cephas 11 and get information from him, 12 and I stayed with him fifteen days. 1:19 But I saw none of the other apostles 13 except James the Lord’s brother.
1 tn Or “I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it.”
2 tn The words “I received it” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
3 tn It is difficult to determine what kind of genitive ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ (Ihsou Cristou) is. If it is a subjective genitive, the meaning is “a revelation from Jesus Christ” but if objective genitive, it is “a revelation about Jesus Christ.” Most likely this is objective since the explanation in vv. 15-16 mentions God revealing the Son to Paul so that he might preach, although the idea of a direct revelation to Paul at some point cannot be ruled out.
4 tn Or “to me”; the Greek preposition ἐν (en) can mean either, depending on the context.
5 tn This pronoun refers to “his Son,” mentioned earlier in the verse.
6 tn Or “I did not consult with.” For the translation “I did not go to ask advice from” see L&N 33.175.
7 tn Grk “from flesh and blood.”
8 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
9 sn As a geographical region Arabia included the territory west of Mesopotamia, east and south of Syria and Palestine, extending to the isthmus of Suez. During the Roman occupation, some independent kingdoms arose like that of the Nabateans south of Damascus, and these could be called simply Arabia. In light of the proximity to Damascus, this may well be the territory Paul says he visited here. See also C. W. Briggs, “The Apostle Paul in Arabia,” Biblical World 41 (1913): 255-59.
10 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
11 sn Cephas. This individual is generally identified with the Apostle Peter (L&N 93.211).
12 tn Although often translated “to get acquainted with Cephas,” this could give the impression of merely a social call. L&N 34.52 has “to visit, with the purpose of obtaining information” for the meaning of ἱστορέω (Jistorew), particularly in this verse.
13 tn Grk “But another of the apostles I did not see, except…” with “another” in emphatic position in the Greek text. Paul is determined to make the point that his contacts with the original twelve apostles and other leaders of the Jerusalem church were limited, thus asserting his independence from them.
