Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him for fifteen days; but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord’s brother. In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! (Galatians 1: 18-20)

Cephas is another rendering of Simon Peter. James and Peter in many ways shared authority over the early Church in Jerusalem.

Paul apparently expects his Galatian readers to disbelieve this account. It seems likely that those who came with another gospel had a different version of Paul's early ministry.

We do not have their side of the story. But whatever they related, Paul is concerned that it will undermine the authority of his teaching.

In James and Peter we have a succession of authority that is based on tradition. In Paul we have a claim of authority arising from revelation.

Both tradition and revelation are honored - if sometimes uneasily - within the Christian experience. Each experience of faith is a bit suspicious of the other.

But each requires the other. Tradition needs revelation to renew the message for new generations. Revelation needs tradition to contextualize a unique personal experience within the timeless purposes of God.