Dr. E, I wouldn't bother trying to prove to Mark that the Apostle Paul fully understood AND preached the deity of Christ and WAS a believer in the trinity. I have tried, with considerable Scriptural proof, oh, about four or five times now in the past year or so, and they are completely dismissed. What will it take to convince a person who's mind is set?
You would think these verses alone would do it:
Colossians 2:8-10 (New American Standard Bible)
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
9For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
10and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;
But, astonishingly, it didn't. And we KNOW Paul wrote the letter to the Colossians (see chapter 1 verses 1 and 2). I also included many other verses from Paul's letters such as Rom. 8:9-11; Rom. 9:5; Rom. 14:8-9; Rom. 15:16, 19, 29; I Cor. 1:24;II Cor. 4:3,4,6; II Cor. 5:19; and II Cor. 13:14. To no avail. I really don't think it worth the extra effort, which is probably why you haven't replied to it already. Good thinking. :o)
You would think these verses alone would do it:
Colossians 2:8-10 (New American Standard Bible) 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. 9For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;
Aren't you forgetting something? The Holy Spirit? The Trinity consists of three members of the Triune God. Where is the Holy Spirit. Regardless of what fullness of Deity means, where is the Holy Spirit? Your other examples are equally missing the Nicene formula.
When you can find the Nicene formula in Paul, please present it.
You would think these verses alone would do it: ...
Thank you, boatbums, for your consistently faithful rendering of Paul's thoroughly Trinitarian understanding...again.
Let us pray God gives them eyes to see and ears to hear.
If not, they will continue to miss out on Christ's assurance and Paul's witness to the truth.
As God wills.