Renewing Your Mind — “The Apostle’s Defense”

Podcast by Ligonier Ministries
Episode Date: December 20, 2025
Speaker: Dr. Derek Thomas
Host: Nathan W. Bingham

Overview of the Episode

This episode explores the Apostle Paul’s defense of his apostleship and message in Galatians 1:11–24. Dr. Derek Thomas discusses Paul’s dramatic past, the sovereignty of his conversion, and the divine origin of his gospel. The episode aims to deepen listeners’ understanding of the nature of God’s grace, the authenticity of Paul’s ministry, and the importance of maintaining the true gospel as taught by the apostles.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Paul’s Past and Reputation

• Historical Context: Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus) was once a zealous persecutor of the early Christian church.

  “We cannot overemphasize the degree to which Saul of Tarsus almost extinguished the early church. He had it within his power, or at least almost from a human point of view, to actually put out, to snuff out the Christian church at its very infancy.” (Dr. Thomas, 00:00)

• Common Knowledge: Paul’s history was well known to the early church. His reputation as a former “radical anti-Christian activist” cast suspicion on him, especially among Judaizers.
• Defending His Authority: Judaizers attacked Paul’s character, calling him a “Johnny-come-lately” and questioning his right to instruct the Galatians.

2. Conversion by Sovereign Grace

• The Source of Paul’s Change:

  “But when he who had set me apart before I was born….” (Dr. Thomas quoting Galatians 1:15, 07:55)

• Paul grounds his apostleship and faith in God’s sovereign choice, not in a personal decision or heritage. He highlights being “set apart before birth” and “called by his grace.”
• The Doctrine of Effectual Calling:
  Dr. Thomas draws parallels between Paul’s “called” language and the Reformed tradition’s doctrine of effectual calling.

  “When Paul thinks about his conversion, he is gripped by the sovereignty of God. … The reason he is a Christian is not because he made a decision… Who enabled him to will? Who enabled him to be drawn to Christ? It was the gracious sovereign hand of my heavenly Father.” (11:30)

3. The Gospel’s Divine Origin

• Paul’s Gospel Was Not Derived from Others:
  The Judaizers claimed Paul’s gospel was incomplete and questioned its authenticity since he was not one of the original apostles.
• Paul’s Independence and Revelation:

  “The gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.” (Dr. Thomas quoting Galatians 1:11, 01:40)
  Paul emphasizes he did not receive the gospel from Peter, John, or James, but through a direct revelation from Christ.

• Paul’s Time in Arabia and Meeting Peter:
  After his conversion, Paul went to Arabia, then Damascus, and only after three years did he meet Peter for fifteen days.

  “He still had to get the approval of the supremos: James, the Lord’s brother, John, the one whom Jesus loved, and Peter. … Paul’s point is that this gospel that he preaches, it’s actually not Peter’s gospel. It’s not John’s gospel. It’s not of man, is the point that he wants to make.” (20:40)

4. Clarity on Paul’s Relationship to the Other Apostles

• Unique Role, Not Second-Class Apostle:
  Paul isn’t a lesser apostle; his commissioning and message come directly from Christ.
• Personal Application and the Glory of God:
  Dr. Thomas encourages listeners to see themselves as “called ones” by God’s grace, just as Paul was, and reinforces the Reformation principles of grace alone and faith alone.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Paul’s Conversion and God’s Sovereignty:

  “There is something about my understanding of the gospel that has sovereignty written all over it.” (08:13, Dr. Thomas) “I was found of Thee.” (09:33, quoting an anonymous hymn)

• On the Difference Between “Born Again” and “Called”:

  “But for Paul, Paul sees it using a different metaphor. It’s not being born again, it is being called.” (12:45)

• On James Calling Jesus ‘Lord’:

  “That’s one of the reasons why I’m convinced by the truth of the New Testament that Jesus is divine. Because his brother James … calls him Lord … the Greek equivalent of Yahweh. I have an older brother and it never dawns on me to call him Lord.” (18:30)

• On the Centrality of God’s Initiation:

  “It is a story of grace from beginning to end.” (12:10)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Paul’s reputation and past as persecutor – 00:00–04:45
• The challenge of the Judaizers – 04:45–07:45
• Paul’s understanding of his conversion and God’s calling – 07:45–14:00
• Effectual calling in Reformed theology – 14:00–15:30
• On Paul’s gospel not being of man, but from God – 17:30–21:00
• Paul’s visit to Peter, the earliest apostles, and his authority – 21:00–22:30

Tone and Style

The episode maintains a reverent, didactic tone, blending historical scholarship with pastoral exhortation characteristic of Reformed teaching. Dr. Thomas delivers thoughtful, structured analysis aiming to both educate and edify the listener.

Summary Takeaway

Dr. Derek Thomas’s message emphasizes the dramatic transformation of Saul—the church’s tormentor—into Paul, God’s chosen apostle. Paul’s authority and gospel rest not on tradition or human institution, but on God’s sovereign grace and call. The episode calls believers to hold fast to the apostolic gospel: salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.