By examining Paul’s writings to the Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, one can deduce what Paul believed about who Jesus was and his relationship to God, his Father. By examining these texts, we can see that Paul was had neither a Trinitarian or Oneness perspective. He believed that the Father was the only true God, the God of Jesus.
1. Paul believed there was but one God, the Father.
Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead,
Galatians 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ., who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age,
Galatians 1:5 according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.
Ephesians 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God , To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 5:20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
Ephesians 6:23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father
Philippians 4:20 Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Colossians 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
Colossians 1:3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Philemon 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
2. Paul believed that Jesus and God were two separate individuals capable of interacting with each other.
Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead,
Galatians 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age,
Galatians 1:15-16 But when God,who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,
Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
Ephesians 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God , To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Ephesians 6:23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:9-11 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philemon 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Paul believed that Jesus was seated at the right hand of God. This once again helps to demonstrate that Jesus and God the Father are separate individuals. Jesus is not God, but he is seated at God’s right hand.
Colossians 3:1-2 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
4.Paul believed that Jesus had a God, the Father.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Ephesians 1:15-17 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.
5. God the Father works in and through Christ. He is not Christ.
Ephesians 5:20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
Philippians 1:11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes throughJesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
So to summarize: In these Scriptures, Paul identifies the Father as the only true God. He identifies Jesus Christ as the son of the only true God, God the Father. He states that Jesus has a God, whom he identifies as the Father. He makes a clear distinction between God and Jesus, as two separate and distinct individuals capable of interacting with each other. This strongly suggests that Jesus is not the Father. He also states that Jesus is at the right hand of the Father – a spatial difference that means that Jesus cannot be the Father.
