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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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<strong>of</strong> eternal life was manifested in the word <strong>of</strong> God (<strong>to</strong>;n lovgon auj<strong>to</strong>u'). Verse 3<br />

reiterates the divine authorisation <strong>of</strong> the apostle’s ministry, in which he strips<br />

even himself from any credit for the proclamation (khruvgma). Thus, the<br />

messenger as well as the content <strong>of</strong> the message must be divinely authorised.<br />

b) References <strong>to</strong> God<br />

There are five references <strong>to</strong> God in this section. This constitutes a high<br />

occurrence-ratio for a single noun in such a small section. The noun is used<br />

twice, first in v.1 and again in v.4, as part <strong>of</strong> the inclusio that cordons <strong>of</strong>f this<br />

section. Excepting this usage, the remaining three occurrences are very<br />

significant, highlighting the theocentric emphases <strong>of</strong> this opening section. The<br />

inclusio mentioned previously refers <strong>to</strong> the repetition <strong>of</strong> the nouns “God” and<br />

“Jesus Christ” in verses 1 and 4.<br />

The use <strong>of</strong> the word “God” establishes a relationship between God and the<br />

Church, who is described as ejklek<strong>to</strong>iv qeou'. This expression is juxtaposed<br />

with dou`lo" qeou' in verse 1. Thus, Paul’s service and apostleship are directed<br />

<strong>to</strong>wards a particular group, namely the elect <strong>of</strong> God. The kind <strong>of</strong> ministry<br />

presented here is specified as a divinely sanctioned ministry (dou`lo" qeou'),<br />

directed <strong>to</strong>wards a group, whose origins the apostle locates in the divine<br />

(ejklek<strong>to</strong>iv qeou').<br />

Next, God’s character is accentuated by the expression oJ ajyeudh;" qeov" (1:2).<br />

This description occurs in the context <strong>of</strong> the promise that God made. Thus,<br />

the divine character or ethic is used <strong>to</strong> highlight the reliability <strong>of</strong> the divine<br />

promise. What God has promised He has fulfilled. The affirmation <strong>of</strong> the divine<br />

character furthermore implies the imposition <strong>of</strong> a norm. If God cannot lie, then<br />

His servant cannot either or at least would be expected <strong>to</strong> be honest.<br />

The third reference occurs in 1:3 where God is referred <strong>to</strong> as Saviour (swthvr).<br />

Thus, we are dealing here with the divine origin <strong>of</strong> salvation. In the next verse,<br />

the same description is applied <strong>to</strong> Jesus Christ.<br />

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