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

what they have known to be true would amount to a moral
paradox, thus making this line of argumentation very persuasive.
o Arguments based on the notion of irreconcilable conduct
The salutation lays the groundwork for this line of argumentation
when the church is referred to as ejklektoiv qeou`, whose faith and
knowledge of the truth must be for the goal of conforming to
godliness, eujsevbeia. Thus, godliness will characterise the
ejklektoiv qeou'. An ungodly ejklektov~ qeou' would be unthinkable
or irreconcilable.
In 2:11-14, Paul describes the Cretans as God's own
possession, zealous for good works, … eJautw`/ lao;n periouvsion,
zhlwth;n kalw`n e[rgwn. The argument is as follows: Those who
belong to God are zealous for good works, Cretans believers
belong to God, and therefore the Cretans believers are zealous
for good works. Negatively, this argument contends that the
absence of a zeal for good works is tantamount to not belonging
to God. It is thus a form of irreconcilable conduct to belong to
God and not to be zealous for good works.
The reference to the believers in 3:8 as frontivzwsin kalw`n
e[rgwn proivŸstasqai oiJ pepisteukovte" qew`/ is another instance of
this line of argumentation. To believe in God, and not engage in
good deeds would also constitute irreconcilable conduct.
e. Arguments based upon identification with the audience
In 3:3, the apostle argues on the basis of identification with his
audience in order to achieve his objective of engendering a
compliant attitude. This technique provides the apostle with a
platform from which to address his audience, effectively
reinforcing his authority over or right to speak to them with great
liberty and confidence.
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