One Lord, Jesus Christ: Paul's ''Kyrios Christology''

(Christ Pantocrator (Greek: Χριστὸς Παντοκράτωρ) ,

 A Byzantine icon of Jesus Christ, circa 5th century A.D. source )

There is no distinction in the Greek text. The 2 occurrences of kyrios in Psalm 110:1 have the same generic meaning of ''lord''. In the Masoretic text, there's a distinction between the first lord and the second lord in regard to the titles because the first lord is Adonai (literally, ''My Lords'', when ascribed to YHWH, it becomes ''My Lord'' or simply ''Lord'') whilst the second lord is Adoni (literally, my lord). The distinction between ''LORD'', ''Lord'' and 'lord'' in English is that ''LORD'' is often used as written substitute for the Tetragrammaton YHWH in the Old Testament English translations. On the other hand, ''Lord'' is often the written substitute for the divine name in English translations of the New Testament and ''lord'' simply refers to any superior, or one who has authority over another/others (master/ruler/husband (Abraham)/angel etc.). As far as i know, all English NT bibles have Jesus as ''Lord'', affirming his being true God.

There are NT texts saying that Jesus was made Lord, was highly exalted, was given all power in heaven and earth etc. [1]. However, in earliest NT texts (Paul's letters), Jesus Christ was already Lord, during the creation of all things and prior to his (Jesus') incarnation. Paul also believed that Jesus had chosen to empty himself of his lordship in order become like a slave which meant Jesus wanted to serve not to be served during his ministry on earth.  The risen Jesus becomes Lord again when God the Father exalted him (Jesus) above every creature in heaven, on earth and under the earth. 

Jesus, as Lord, created all things

1 Corinthians 8:6 New Revised Standard Version

6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

Paul identified Jesus as Creator of all things and as the one Lord mentioned in the Greek Shema Yisrael [2].

Jesus emptied himself of lordship

Philippians 2:6-7 New Revised Standard Version

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form,

Mark 10:45 New Revised Standard Version

45 For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Jesus is functionally equal with God because he, like God, is Lord. Both God and Jesus rule over all creatures. Jesus was ''Lord'' [kurios] but he (Jesus) chose to empty himself, specifically by taking the form of a ''slave'' [doulos]. That is to say, Jesus vacated his throne as Lord in order to become like a slave (a slave is one who serves; a servant). Jesus ''came to serve'', as Mark puts it. 

Jesus becomes Lord again.

Philippians 2:9-11 New Revised Standard Version

9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Psalm 97:9 Brenton Septuagint Translation

For thou art Lord most high over all the earth; thou art greatly exalted above all gods. 

Paul applied to Jesus the same exact word ''ὑπερυψόω'' (elevate above/ highly exalt/ greatly exalt) which LXX translator applied to the ''Lord'' in Psalm 97:9. God gave ''the name above all names'' or ''title above all titles'' to Jesus. The name/title in the context is ''Kyrios'' (''Lord''). (v. 11). See Acts 2:36 (''God made Jesus ''Kyrios'' (''Lord'')). 

The ancient Jews used ''Kyrios'' (''Lord'') as an oral/verbal substitute for the divine name. In the Septuagint (ca. 3rd cen. C.E.), ''Kyrios'' (''Lord'') is also used as written substitute for the divine name. In these copies, Kyrios is written anarthrous (''without the definite article'') indicating that the title Kyrios is being used as a proper name, not as a common noun. 

Notes

[1]   

• God gave to Jesus all power in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18)
• God put all things under Jesus' feet (1 Corinthians 15:26-27)
• God highly-exalted Jesus (Philippians 2:9a)
• God made Jesus Lord (Acts 2:36)
• God gave to Jesus the name above all names (Philippians 2:9b) so that every knee , Paul adds: ''in heaven, on earth, and under the earth'', will bend in the name of ''Jesus''. 
• God seated Jesus at his right hand in the heavenly realms far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named (Ephesians 1:20-21)

1. God put all things under Jesus' feet, obviously exempting God and Jesus (they aren't including in the all things). 

2. 1 Corinthians 15, all things are not subject to God. all things will be subject to God after Jesus subjects himself to God because God himself subjects all things to Jesus. 

3. 1 Corinthians 15 does not say/ never said that Jesus' lordship/kingdom/dominion/rule will end. Luke 1:33 explicitly said that Jesus' kingdom ''has no end''.

4. All power [over all creatures] in heaven and on earth. Jesus does not have power over everyone in heaven. He has no power over God the Father who gave him power. ''all power in heaven'' refers to ''all creatures in heaven i.e. the angels''.

5. Every knee (in 3 different locations: heaven, earth and under the earth) will bend in the name of Jesus. These are the knees of all creatures in heaven, on earth and under the earth. 

Matt 28:18, 1 Cor 15:26-27, Phil 2:10-11, all of these NT texts indicate that Jesus, as Lord, is uncreated. 

[2]

Romans 11:36 New Revised Standard Version 

33 O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Or who has given a gift to him,  to receive a gift in return?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 8:6 New Revised Standard Version

6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

Paul applies the two different titles (''God'' and ''Lord'') to one figure in Romans 11:36. In the context, verse 34, Paul quoted Isaiah 40:13 from the Septuagint, identifying the ''Lord'' as the God of Israel. Paul also applies the two prepositional phrases (''from whom are all things'' and ''through whom are all things'') to one figure in Romans 11:36.  In 1 Corinthians 8:6, Paul applies the two different titles  (''God'' and ''Lord'') of Romans 11:36 to two different figures (''the Father'' and ''Jesus Christ''). Paul applied ''God'' to the Father and ''Lord'' to Jesus Christ. Paul also applies the two prepositional phrases  (''from whom are all things'' and ''through whom are all things'') of Romans 11:36 to two different figures, applying ''from whom are all things'' to the Father and ''through whom are all things'' to Jesus Christ in 1 Corinthians 8:6. Paul also was detailed in 1 Corinthians 8:6 in that he modified the divine titles  (''God'' and ''Lord'') with the adjective ''one'' (Greek: heis): ''one God'' and ''one Lord'', which alludes to the Shema Yisrael in Greek (''Lord our God, Lord is one''). In this case, Paul equated both the Father and Jesus Christ to the Lord God of the Old Testament, identifying each of them as legitimately one Lord God. 

Both Romans 11:36 and 1 Corinthians 8:6 speak of the creation of ''all things''. Since we're talking about all things in the context of creation, ''all things'' in Romans 11:36 and 1 Corinthians 8:6 refers to ''all created things''. Paul believed that the Father and Jesus Christ are equally uncreated. 

Acts 17:24 New Revised Standard Version

24 The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands,

God is Lord precisely because he created all things. Jesus Christ, together with the Father, created all things so that's why Jesus is Lord in 1 Corinthians 8:6. In 1 Corinthians 8:6, Paul applies to Jesus the divine title ''Lord'' and the prepositional phrase ''through him are all things'' of Romans 11:35-36, identifying Jesus as both God and Creator.