In reading the Book "The Only True God" by James F. McGrath some startling observations were made concerning Monotheism and the Letters attributed to Paul, especially concerning Jesus and the exalted position given him by Jehovah.
"That Pauls application of the divine name "Lord" and of Yahweh text from the Hebrew Bible to Jesus is intended to present Jesus as God's agent, who shares in God's rule and authority, becomes clear when one considers Romans14.9-11, where Paul takes up the language of Isaiah 45.23 once again, but here emphazes that the throne of judgment is ultimately God's, even though Christ is the Lord through whom the judgment is carried out. In 1 Corinthians 15.27-28 Paul makes clear the roles played by Jesus and God: Jesus is the "(son of Man)" to whom all things are to be subjected.
That is to say, Jesus is the representative of humankind whom God has chosen to be his agent and mediator of judgment" pg 49-50
It does not configure that Jewish nor Christian monotheism was compromised by attaching the divine Name nor ascribing some sort of proskeneo (worship, obescience)to others to the ultimalte exhaltation to the supreme God or Lord,( Give thanks to the God of gods....give thanks to the Lord of lords. Ps.136.2,3) who is exalted over all as Almighty God Jehovah.
"To put it another way, readings of Philippians 2.6-11 which emphasize the exalted status of Jesus and the application to him of language which applied to Yahweh in Isaiah tend to emphasize only part of what this passage actually says. That Paul believed Jesus occupied this exalted status can hardly be questioned. However, this text makes equally clear thst Jesus was exalted by God to this postition, and the clear implication is that this was a position he did not previously occupy. God exalted him." pg 51
"In ancient Judaism, God could empower his agent to wield his full power and authority, precisely because any figure so empowered always remained by definition subject and subordinate to the one empowering him, namely God." pg 51
In conclusion, unless forced to understand these text in some sort of unnatural way. We must go with the clear and unambigious text and let other text help us along the way.
