A Text centred rhetorical analysis of Paul's Letter to Titus
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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The content <strong>of</strong> the authorship debate is an established academic fact and is<br />
well documented in most commentaries and scholarly literature. Mere<br />
recitation, therefore, <strong>of</strong> these facts would not be conducive <strong>to</strong> the intent <strong>of</strong> this<br />
chapter.<br />
A rather more interesting avenue <strong>of</strong> investigation is <strong>to</strong> attempt the<br />
extrapolation <strong>of</strong> any insight that will advance our understanding <strong>of</strong> how<br />
scholars have come <strong>to</strong> the positions they so intrepidly defend. This study will<br />
focus on a <strong>rhe<strong>to</strong>rical</strong> <strong>analysis</strong> <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Letter</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Titus</strong>. However, it will soon<br />
become evident that the <strong>Letter</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Titus</strong> does not enjoy the attention <strong>of</strong> New<br />
Testament scholars <strong>to</strong> the extent that the Timothean correspondence does.<br />
While there is undoubtedly some justification for this, and without<br />
oversimplifying the complexities involved in the science <strong>of</strong> biblical<br />
interpretation, a probable explanation for this apparent ‘neglect’, would appear<br />
<strong>to</strong> emerge from an investigation <strong>of</strong> current literature. The question begs <strong>to</strong> be<br />
asked, would scholars maintain their views on the authenticity issue if a<br />
different methodology were <strong>to</strong> be utilised? Could the disparate position be<br />
attributable <strong>to</strong> a ‘flawed’ methodology? I have isolated and classified what I<br />
term reading principles or methodologies that occur in literature on the<br />
Pas<strong>to</strong>ral <strong>Letter</strong>s. While not part <strong>of</strong> the core discussion <strong>of</strong> the present study,<br />
the way in which scholars read these letters, illumines our understanding <strong>of</strong><br />
the scholarly treatment <strong>of</strong> these letters. Additionally, it bolsters the case for an<br />
appreciation <strong>of</strong> the individualistic peculiarities <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Letter</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Titus</strong>.<br />
1.1.2.2 Overview <strong>of</strong> the debate on authenticity<br />
The content and range <strong>of</strong> the debate on authorship <strong>of</strong> the Pas<strong>to</strong>ral <strong>Letter</strong>s is<br />
settled. Scholars have unequivocally sided themselves with one <strong>of</strong> two<br />
positions, namely those who argue that these letters are genuinely the product<br />
<strong>of</strong> Paul’s hand and those who argue that these are not from Paul. Therefore, a<br />
mere replication <strong>of</strong> the facts will not be presented in this section.<br />
What is important is <strong>to</strong> attempt <strong>to</strong> establish a link between the authorship<br />
debate, and the <strong>rhe<strong>to</strong>rical</strong> criticism <strong>of</strong> the Pas<strong>to</strong>ral <strong>Letter</strong>s, specifically the<br />
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