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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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almost desirable. Thus, legitimate teaching is presented in a very positive light<br />

through the use <strong>of</strong> these <strong>rhe<strong>to</strong>rical</strong> devices. The <strong>rhe<strong>to</strong>rical</strong> objective is<br />

evidently <strong>to</strong> motivate the believers <strong>to</strong> manifest behaviour that gives evidence<br />

<strong>of</strong> their compliance <strong>to</strong> uJgiainouvsh didaskaliva.<br />

The participle <strong>of</strong> uJgiaivnw is used in all three instances thus far, namely 1:9,<br />

2:1 and 2:2. This is an instance <strong>of</strong> direct repetition. Sound doctrine ought <strong>to</strong><br />

manifest as soundness that will in turn affect other areas <strong>of</strong> the individual life.<br />

The intention behind these lists is <strong>to</strong> provide criteria for the kind <strong>of</strong> behaviour<br />

that would be viewed as evidence for compliance <strong>to</strong> sound doctrine by older<br />

men. It communicates the following notion: “Older men, if you really are<br />

obedient <strong>to</strong> sound doctrine you will behave in these particular ways. If you are<br />

not behaving in these ways, it must be reasonably concluded that you are not<br />

obedient <strong>to</strong> sound doctrine”. Paul is not suggesting that the older men are<br />

leaders though. As was said about elders-overseers, the lists constitute what<br />

is called shared knowledge although is highly likely that local leaders were<br />

selected from this category (Fee, 1988:185, Towner, 1994:236; Dibelius &<br />

Conzelmann, 1972:50-51). The positive qualities enunciated here were<br />

qualities that the broader society considered commendable. Paul however,<br />

attributes such behaviour <strong>to</strong> the influence <strong>of</strong> sound teaching and expects that<br />

the older men by their conduct must manifest submission <strong>to</strong> sound teaching.<br />

Here. the audience is presented with behaviour that complies with sound<br />

doctrine and that would be considered good by the rest <strong>of</strong> society.<br />

2.2.5.2 The behaviour <strong>of</strong> older women<br />

In verse 3, older women (presbu`ti") are required <strong>to</strong> manifest behaviour<br />

compliant with sound doctrine. The adverb wJsauvtw" relates this sentence <strong>to</strong><br />

the previous one. For older women, compliance <strong>to</strong> sound doctrine involves<br />

their behaviour or demeanour (katasthvma). The hapax legomenon,<br />

iJeroprephv~, refers <strong>to</strong> religious conduct or behaviour. It means “<strong>to</strong> act like a<br />

sacred person” (Zodhiates, 1992:762). While these lists are also examples <strong>of</strong><br />

“shared knowledge”, they undergo a change in the hand <strong>of</strong> the apostle. This is<br />

brought about, here and elsewhere, through the use <strong>of</strong> special religious<br />

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