I know you are just trying to make a point here MarkBsnr, but just a quick read through some writings of Paul, he almost takes for granted that those he is writing to understand the nature of Jesus Christ and that he and God the Father and Holy Ghost are one. Here are a few for you to look up (You can go to http://www.tgm.org/bible.htm for an easy way to see them in any version you desire):
Romans 8:9-11 "Spirit of God" and "Spirit of Christ" used interchangeably, meaning the same thing.
Romans 14:8-9 We are the Lord's, Christ is the Lord.
Romans 15:16 and Romans 15:19,29 - Actually many other places in Romans and throughout Paul's epistles, he uses "Gospel of God" and "Gospel of Christ" interchangeably.
I Corinthians 1:24 Christ is the "power of God" and the "wisdom of God".
II Cor. 4:3,4 Christ, who is the image of God.
II Cor. 4:6 Knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
II Cor. 5:19 Plainly says "God was in Christ."
II Cor. 13:14 Very plainly refers to the trinity -
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, [be] with you all. Amen.
***I know you are just trying to make a point here MarkBsnr, but just a quick read through some writings of Paul, he almost takes for granted that those he is writing to understand the nature of Jesus Christ and that he and God the Father and Holy Ghost are one. ***
You are absolutely correct. It is making a point. The point is that Scripture is not necessarily perspicuous and not necessarily clear.
***Romans 8:9-11 “Spirit of God” and “Spirit of Christ” used interchangeably, meaning the same thing.***
But Romans 8:11 also says that: If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you.
This, on the surface says that Jesus is subordinate to and a messenger from God.
***Romans 14:8-9 We are the Lord’s, Christ is the Lord.***
The term Lord is used interchangeably between God and man.
***Romans 15:16 and Romans 15:19,29 - Actually many other places in Romans and throughout Paul’s epistles, he uses “Gospel of God” and “Gospel of Christ” interchangeably.***
Agreed; it still does not definitively call Jesus God; here Jesus could be a an exalted messenger - Gabriel brought the message of God, not his own.
You bring up good examples and ones that the Church took into account in declaring the Trinitarian formula, in all probability. Yet by themselves and in this grouping, they do not once and for all call Jesus God.
*** The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, [be] with you all. Amen.***
And to everyone reading this thread.