Paul and the Godhead

I have been spending some time in Paul's letters and would like to start a discussion on his perspectives of God, more specifically the trinity. I am going to make this statement and then try to back it up with my observations. It is through my readings of his letter that I believe or have begun to believe that Paul is at least binitarian. Let me clarify what i mean by that.....I think that Paul is binitarian with a developing or less emphasized confession of the deity of the Holy Spirit. With that said I will admit that my investigation to this point is "new-born" and I am trying to develop it more. So let me try to support my statement first through a series of post:

1. The greetings:

.....to all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. - Romans 1.7


Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Corinthians 1.3


Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. - 2 Corinthians 1.2


Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ - Galatians 1.3


Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. - Ephesians 1. 2


To the saints and faithful brothers1 in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. - Colossians 1.2


Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. - 1 and 2 Thessalonians 1.1


Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. - 1 Timothy 1.1-2


Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. - 2 Timothy 1.1-2



To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. - Titus 1.4


Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. - Philemon 1.3




These are all the intros that Paul uses in his letters....obviously some are repetitive but you get the point. Paul has a clear understanding of the deity of God the Father and Jesus Christ, but he interestingly lacks the Holy Spirit as a part of all his greetings . This does not even take into consideration the closings that he uses, that often look much like his greetings. This was ultimately the first observation that drove me to begin to look at Paul's perspectives on the Godhead.

-r