Defense:
Perhaps one of the clearest indications that Paul thought Jesus was Yahweh comes from the fact that he used Monotheistic Old Testament passages which uniquely referred to Yahweh and applied them to the Lord Jesus Christ.

> 1 Corinthians 10:26, “FOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S, AND ALL IT CONTAINS.”
> Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.”

The Lord in the context of 1 Corinthians 10 is Jesus, while the Lord in Psalm 24:1 is Yahweh.