A Text centred rhetorical analysis of Paul's Letter to Titus

1:1-4 and in 2:11-14 and 3:4-7 there is transition in time frames – past,
present and future. Each relates how God has acted and how His purposes
were established. In this manner, the reader-hearers are given a “track
record” or profile of God’s actions. Logically, therefore, it can be deduced that
if God has acted in the past and it came to fruition, then the future or ejlpiv~ is
certain.
Conclusion
The dominant rhetorical objective of verses 4-7, a single sentence in the
original, is to enforce compliance to sound doctrine by appealing to the divine
example through the reminder of God’s salvific intervention. This section in
particular, has also not escaped the pervasiveness of the authenticity debate
which has contributed to a mellow appreciation for the actual content of the
sentence and the intent of the author. The approach to this sentence has
centred upon three central issues: a) the extent and delineation of the
passage and the degree to which this passage is considered representative of
authentic Pauline work; b) the interpretation of the word loutrovn. In this
regard, the evidence shows that continuity or discontinuity with Pauline
theology impacts upon the interpretation of this word; c) the nature of the
passage, specifically whether it is a hymn or creed. Apart from these
differences in opinion, there is widespread consensus surrounding the content
of the sentence, particularly its soteriological nature. Scholars also recognise
the unique Trinitarian emphases of the passage as well as its essential
doctrinal character. While the text hints at baptism and salvation, it has been
demonstrated that these are not the primary foci of the passage and to insist
that is so, does not advance our appreciation for the unique contribution of
this letter.
The key aspect to appreciating this sentence is to interpret it in the order in
which it appears. Such an approach reveals the intricate and powerful
rhetorical argument that characterises this sentence. Paul’s overall rhetorical
strategy is to hold before his audience the example of no one less than God
Himself. The behaviour that they ought to conform to was demonstrated in
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