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

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

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section). In a letter <strong>of</strong> this nature that deals with issues <strong>of</strong><br />

legitimacy and the challenge <strong>of</strong> illegitimacy, it is important <strong>to</strong><br />

establish the basis <strong>of</strong> legitimacy. It is, therefore, significant that<br />

the apostle’s first objective is <strong>to</strong> convince the Cretans <strong>of</strong> the<br />

divine basis <strong>of</strong> legitimate ministry. Since the church is God’s<br />

elect, ejklek<strong>to</strong>iv qeou', He has a right <strong>to</strong> prescribe who may or<br />

may not minister <strong>to</strong> them. Equally important, is the second<br />

dominant <strong>rhe<strong>to</strong>rical</strong> objective, which sets out <strong>to</strong> convince the<br />

Cretans <strong>of</strong> God’s central role as the Author <strong>of</strong> sound doctrine,<br />

the Teacher <strong>of</strong> sound doctrine and the Model <strong>of</strong> good deeds.<br />

Related <strong>to</strong> this, is the concept that God expects a particular<br />

behaviour from those who pr<strong>of</strong>ess <strong>to</strong> believe in Him. Hence, any<br />

failure <strong>to</strong> behave in a manner compliant <strong>to</strong> sound doctrine is<br />

presented as tantamount <strong>to</strong> a denial <strong>of</strong> God (1:16). Also, in 2:2-<br />

10, the negligent behaviour <strong>of</strong> believers can either be a cause<br />

for God’s word <strong>to</strong> be maligned, or God’s doctrine can be<br />

adorned by sound conduct. Similarly, the reference <strong>to</strong> Cretans<br />

as “those who believe in God”, oiJ pepisteukovte" qew`/, is another<br />

variation <strong>of</strong> this kind <strong>of</strong> argument that God expects a particular<br />

behaviour from those who believe in Him. Following on from this,<br />

is a further variation <strong>of</strong> the divine authorisation argument,<br />

namely the divine prerogative or the right <strong>of</strong> the divine. This<br />

argument is closely related <strong>to</strong> the argument <strong>of</strong> the divine<br />

expectation <strong>of</strong> a particular behaviour. According <strong>to</strong> 2:11-15, God<br />

has a right over those whom He has redeemed (lutroovmai) and<br />

cleansed (kaqarivzw) from all lawlessness (ajpo; pavsh" ajnomiva").<br />

Since God is the one who purchased and cleansed the Cretan<br />

believers, they belong <strong>to</strong> Him; hence the prerogative <strong>to</strong> prescribe<br />

the appropriate behaviour belongs <strong>to</strong> Him.<br />

Furthermore, this line <strong>of</strong> argumentation is foundational for the<br />

past-present-future momentum characteristic <strong>of</strong> this letter. There<br />

is a hope, ejlpiv~, but only those who behave in the divinely<br />

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