If Paul says that Jesus was given the name Lord at his exaltation, then he wasn’t the Lord before that moment, which means Jesus isn’t God.

To understand Paul's statement in Philippians 2:9, we must consider the entire context of Philippians 2:5-11. Paul describes Jesus as existing in the form of God, indicating his divine nature, and explains that he humbled himself to become a man and serve. This act of humility was followed by God exalting Jesus and bestowing upon him the name that is above every name, which refers to the name Lord or Yahweh. This is supported by Old Testament scripture, where every knee bows to Yahweh, and Paul applies this to Jesus, showing that he shares in God's authority. Furthermore, other New Testament passages reinforce this idea. In Ephesians 1:19-23, Paul states that God raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand, far above all authority and power. Similarly, 1 Peter 3:21-22 emphasizes that angels, authorities, and powers are subject to Jesus. These verses collectively illustrate that Jesus did not seek to exalt himself but waited for God to exalt him after fulfilling his mission. Thus, the claim that Jesus was not God before his exaltation misunderstands the nature of his incarnation and the purpose of his humility. Jesus willingly took on the role of a servant, and upon completing his earthly mission, he was restored to the position he held before coming to earth, affirming his eternal divinity.