Paul’s Salutations and Valedictions |
| There are 14 epistles / books in the New Testament that are attributed to the apostle Paul. These are: Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon and Hebrews. |
| Paul’s standard greeting in his letters to the churches, as well as individuals to whom he wrote, consistently mentions “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Yet in each of his greetings he never mentions the Holy Spirit! (The same can also be said of Peter in the salutations of both his epistles.) |
| The same greeting, with only minor variations, appears in every epistle that bears Paul’s name. Notice below how consistent he is in not including the Holy Spirit in his greetings. |
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| Paul’s example and teaching were in line with Christ’s |
| If God were a Trinity, surely Paul, who was taught directly by the resurrected Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12) and who wrote much of the theological underpinnings of the early Church, would have comprehended and taught this concept. Yet we find no such teaching in His writings. |
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| Paul’s Salutations |
| Ro1.7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called [to be] saints: Grace to you and peace from GOD OUR FATHER, and the LORD JESUS CHRIST. |
| 1co1.3 Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from GOD OUR FATHER, and [from] the LORD JESUS CHRIST. |
| Ga1.3 Grace [be] to you and peace from GOD THE FATHER, and [from] our LORD JESUS CHRIST, |
| Ep1.2 Grace [be] to you, and peace, from GOD OUR FATHER, and [from] the LORD JESUS CHRIST. |
| Ph1.2 Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from GOD OUR FATHER, and [from] the LORD JESUS CHRIST. |
| Cl1.2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from GOD OUR FATHER and the LORD JESUS CHRIST. |
| 1th1.1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians [which is] in God the Father and [in] the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from GOD OUR FATHER, and the LORD JESUS CHRIST. |
| 2th1.1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in GOD OUR FATHER and the LORD JESUS CHRIST: |
| 2th1.2 Grace unto you, and peace, from GOD OUR FATHER and the LORD JESUS CHRIST. |
| 1ti1.2 Unto Timothy, [my] own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from GOD OUR FATHER and JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. |
| 2ti1.2 To Timothy, [my] dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from GOD THE FATHER and CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. |
| Tt1.4 To Titus, [mine] own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from GOD THE FATHER and the LORD JESUS CHRIST our Saviour. |
| Pn1.3 Grace to you, and peace, from GOD OUR FATHER and the LORD JESUS CHRIST. |
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| He1.1 GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, |
| He1.2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] SON, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; |
| He1.3 Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, SAT DOWN ON THE RIGHT HAND OF THE MAJESTY ON HIGH; |
| He1.4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. |
| He1.5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, THIS DAY have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? |
| He1.6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. |
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| 14 quotes: The Holy Spirit is ALWAYS left out of these greetings—an unbelievable and inexplicable oversight if the Spirit were indeed a person or entity coequal with God the Father and Christ! |
| This is even more surprising when we consider that the congregations to which Paul wrote had many gentile members from polytheistic backgrounds who had formerly worshipped numerous gods. Paul’s epistles record no attempt on his part to explain the Trinity or Holy Spirit as a divine person equal with God the Father and Jesus Christ. |
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| Paul’s Valedictions |
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| Ro16.27 To God only wise, [be] glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. |
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| 1co16.23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you. |
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| 2co13.14 The grace of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and the love of GOD, and the COMMUNION OF the Holy Ghost, [be] with you all. Amen. |
| Note: Communion is the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially on a mental or spiritual level. Such implies a spirit and not a person. |
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| Ga6.18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit. Amen. |
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| Ep6.23 Peace [be] to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. |
| Ep6.24 Grace [be] with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. |
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| Ph4.23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen. |
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| Cl4.18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace [be] with you. Amen. |
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| 1th5.28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you. Amen. |
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| 2th3.18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen. |
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| 1ti6.21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace [be] with thee. Amen. |
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| 2ti4.22 The Lord Jesus Christ [be] with thy spirit. Grace [be] with you. Amen. |
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| Tt3.15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace [be] with you all. Amen. |
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| Pn1.25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit. Amen. |
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| He13.21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen. |
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| In all of Paul’s writings, only in 2 Corinthians 13:14 is the Holy Spirit mentioned along with the Father and Jesus Christ in such expressions, and there only in connection with the “communion of the Holy Ghost” in which believers share—not in any sort of theological statement on the nature of God. The point Paul makes here is that God’s Spirit is the unifying agent that brings us together in godly, righteous communion or fellowship, not only with one another but with the Father and Son. |
| Yet here, too, God’s Spirit is not spoken of as a person. Notice that Paul writes that our communion is OF the Holy Spirit, not with the Holy Spirit. As 1 John 1:3 tells us, “Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ”—the Holy Spirit is not mentioned. |
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| Summary of Findings |
| God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ is the common denominator used by Paul. He clearly gives his salutations to two, and not three, persons. In fact the following 2 verses confirm things beyond doubt: |
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| However, for those that what more proof then a search through Paul’s 14 epistles / books for “Holy Spirit” gives just 3 finds [2co13.14 already been covered]: |
| Ep1.13 In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, |
| 1th4.8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us HIS HOLY SPIRIT. |
| Paul confirms that the Holy Spirit is an attribute of God; it is not another person nor god. |
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| Paul uses the words “Holy Ghost” on 19 times within his epistles / books; the relevant ones being: |
| Ro5.5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. |
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| Ro9.1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, |
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| Ro15.16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. |
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| 1co2.9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. [is64.4] |
| 1co2.15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. |
| 1co2.16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. {Note: So the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of God, gives us the mind of Christ. It is God’s revelation to His people of the deep things about Himself that He makes known to only them via being able to search all things. The Holy Spirit has nothing to do with being another person nor god.} |
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| 1co6.19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? |
| 1co6.20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. |
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| 2co6.4 But in all [things] approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, |
| 2co6.5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; |
| 2co6.6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, |
| 2co6.7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, |
| 2co6.8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and [yet] true; |
| 2co6.9 As unknown, and [yet] well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; |
| 2co6.10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and [yet] possessing all things. {Note: In these 7 verses we have just attributes of God – not one person is cited.} |
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| 2ti1.14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. {Note: Cannot be a person – how can you have a person within a person?} |
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| Tt3.5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and RENEWING of the Holy Ghost; {Note: You can’t renew a person nor a god.} |
