To try to capture in succinct and synthetic form Paul’s understanding of God is an almost impossible task. There are several reasons why this enterprise is risky, even if necessary. For one thing, Paul’s thought is never systematic, never speculative. Rather like the composition of his letters his mind moves to express his teaching in response to the needs of his congregations. This makes his “doctrine of God” less part of his reasoned theology and more implicit in his pastoral and pragmatic