The Agent of Persuasion
We are rational creatures. We reason. Reasoning proceeds in an orderly fashion from start to finish - from premise to conclusion. A conclusion stands on a platform of premises. The premises are the platform from which we jump to touchdown on a conclusion. Both the premises and the conclusion are important. Yet, the agent of persuasion is the premises not the conclusion. Conclusions do not persuade. Only premises persuade. The stronger the premises, the stronger is our grip on the conclusion. The weaker the premises, the weaker is our grip. Without premises, a conclusion has no value whatsoever. It is a guess - nothing more.
The agent of persuasion with regard to the identity of God is the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Persuasion
To persuade, present the question, its answer and the base on which the answer stands. The degree of certainty with which rational creatures hold onto an answer is directly proportional to the strength of the base on which the answer stands. A weak base means a weak degree of certainity and vice versa. This is how our faculty of rationality works. P.S. An answer without a base is a guess. It is speculation.
Understanding the Passage of the Argument from its Beginning, through its Middle, to its End
The argument passes from its beginning, through its middle, to its end. An argument can be weak or strong. It can contain unstated assumptions. It is important to follow it as it passes from its beginning, through its middle, to its end.