Paul often used a fuller phrase to speak of Jesus’ lordship, “the Lord Jesus Christ.” It is significant that he used this in conjunction with the mention of God the Father and the Holy Spirit (1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Cor. 13:14). At other times Paul used the simpler formulas “the Lord Jesus” (2 Thess. 1:7) or “our Lord Jesus” (1 Thess. 3:13). In contrast to the many false gods and lords of pagans, there is for Christians one God, the Father, and one Lord, Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 8:5–6). Paul was certainly familiar with the early confession “Jesus is Lord” because he averred in 1 Cor. 12:3 that “no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (HCSB). The word is used often in connection with the hope of Christ’s second coming (Phil. 3:20; 4:5; 1 Cor. 16:22; Rev. 22:20).
