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Did Paul believe Jesus was God?

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01 Clarifying the question

Did Paul hold the belief Jesus was the God of the Old Testament, at least in some sense (e.g. sharing in God's divinity, or existing as a part of God)? Did Paul feel Jesus had Yahweh’s divinity (Yahweh being God’s personal name in Hebrew)? In Paul’s view, did Jesus have God's metaphorical fingerprint and DNA?

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  1. Paul taught Jesus is God

    01 Supporting reason Paul taught Jesus is God Read argument · 3 paths deeper

    As a Christian, Paul taught that Jesus was God incarnate, sharing in YHWH's divine nature.

    This page analyzes 6 arguments:

    • Paul’s letters …
      • Explicitly say Jesus is God. E.g. …
        • Rom 9:5 — “Christ, who is God”
        • Phil 2 — “in the form of God”
        • 2 Pet 1:1 — “Our God and savior, Jesus”
        • Titus 2:13 — “Our God and savior, Jesus”
      • Overtly imply Jesus is God (via property ascription), E.g. …
        • By applying God’s “Lord” (YHWH) designation to Jesus.
        • By teaching traditional prayers to Jesus (to use).

    This is relevant because Paul taught what he believed to be true.

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  2. Paul prayed to Jesus

    02 Supporting reason Paul prayed to Jesus Read argument

    Paul was a Jew who directed prayers to Jesus, speaking to Him and petitioning Him with reverence, devotion, and expectation.

    A full page will analyze six arguments:

    • Example: In 2 Cor 12:8-9, Paul casually writes how he prayed to Jesus.
    • Paul relayed prayers to Jesus (teaching others to).
    • Paul taught Christians to pray to Jesus.
    • Jesus taught Christians to pray to him.
    • Paul’s churches prayed to Jesus.
    • The Jerusalem church prayed to Jesus.

    This suggests Paul believed Jesus was God, because Paul was a devout Torah-observant Jew. As a Christian, he continued to regard the Old Testamenta s scripture. In virtue of both his upbringing, biases, and what is clearly taught in the Old Testament, Paul would naturally consider worship and prayer to beings other than God (YHWH) as blasphemous.

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  3. [More forthcoming]

    03 Supporting reason [More forthcoming] Read argument



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