Christ is not the primary cause from which we can explain all subsequent effects that manifest themselves in the apostle’s life and work; God is. In theological terms, Paul’s theology is fundamentally not christocentric; it is theocentric. Inspired by the fundamental conviction of aniconic monotheism, best captured by the Shema, the closest thing Judaism has to a creed: “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One” (Deut 6:4),
But at 1 Cor 8:6, Paul inserts Jesus into the Shema
