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

ejpivgnwsin ajlhqeiva" th`" katÆ eujsevbeian. The objectives of his ministry relate
to the divinely elect ones who are characterised by very particular behaviour.
This initial emphasis therefore, is suggestive of the problem that the Cretans
were being confronted with, namely the threat of compromising the high
standard of living in the present life, katÆ eujsevbeian. Thus, in 1:16 the key
characteristic of the agitators is their paradoxical profession of God and their
denial of Him by their deeds or works, qeo;n oJmologou`sin eijdevnai, toi`" de;
e[rgoi" ajrnou`ntai. The objective of the apostle therefore, relates to the
maintenance or restoration of the following balance: deeds that affirm and
correspond to the testimony of faith in God. Behaviour, however, does not
happen in a vacuum but is influenced, if not determined by doctrine. In the
letter, we have two groups of teachers with opposing doctrines competing for
the same audience. Paul, in 1:1, informs the audience that he is a minister “for
the knowledge of the truth”, ejpivgnwsin ajlhqeiva". The overall rhetorical
objective is thus related to the notion of doctrinal quality. The congregation
must be persuaded to embrace healthy doctrine, while rejecting unhealthy
doctrine based upon the submission of convincing evidence. In the light of
these considerations, I submit that the following three-stage overall rhetorical
strategy underlies the letter.
First stage: 1:1-16: Convince the audience of the transcendent character of
the origin of legitimate teaching and of those who teach it
This stage in the overall rhetorical strategy underlies the first three units
identified in the rhetorical analysis:
1. Titus 1:1-4: Adapting the salutation to emphasise the divine basis of
legitimate ministry
2: Titus 1:5-9: Outlining the criteria for legitimate local leadership
3: Titus 1:10-16: Discrediting the illegitimate teachers
The first thing the apostle needs to do is to persuade the Cretans to
distinguish between “doctrine” and “doctrine”, as well as between “teachers”
and “teachers”. Legitimate teaching is “the truth” (1:1), it comes from God
through designated office bearers that includes apostles, delegates of the
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