Preview

Titus Paper: This Paper Will Identify Two Biblical Scholars' Primary Viewpoints on Titus 2: 11-15

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
806 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Titus Paper: This Paper Will Identify Two Biblical Scholars' Primary Viewpoints on Titus 2: 11-15
Titus was a Gentile who converted to Christianity. He completed his missionary work along side Paul, as one of Paul 's assistants. The book of Titus is one of the shortest Pastoral Epistles. It is believed that Paul was the author of Titus; in this book Paul addressees how church leaders should act, it advises how Titus should teach the various groups, and finally the author gives Titus advice regarding Christian conduct. This paper will identify two biblical scholars ' primary viewpoints on Titus 2: 11-15, beginning with Lewis Donelson 's viewpoint and then Dean Thompson; it will then compare the two biblical scholars ' reflections on the passage. The final paragraph will indicate whether or not I agree with either scholar 's viewpoints and the reason (s) for my agreement or disagreement.
According to Lewis Donelson, Associate Professor of New Testament at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, "We must learn good doctrine and teach it to others, so that we all can acquire the virtuous life…this human effort in and of itself will not be sufficient. As Christians have always insisted, it is really only God who can author the virtuous life. Thus the references to the power of God 's grace in 2:11-14 are essential to the author 's understanding of how all this works, for it is only through the divine powers that come in the gospel that new life, the life of virtue, is possible." (Donelson 175) Although Donelson suggests that the overall purpose of vv. 11-14 is to highlight Jesus as the reason to live virtuously and as the power source to accomplish such a difficult task, he really spends a significant amount of time discussing virtuous living. Donelson definitely takes the pressure off Christians themselves living virtuously by highlighting the gospel truths. I believe this is done so that the Christians would not focus on the act but the reasoning. Donelson says, "It is only the truths of the gospel that can produce virtue. (Donelson 176) Through



Bibliography: Donelson, Lewis R. "Colossians, Ephesians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus" Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996. Thompson, Dean K. "Titus 2:11-14" Interpretation, 55 no. 4 (2001): 423-425. Database on-line. Available from EbscoHost Research Databases, ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials. Accessed October 19, 2005.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The author of the book of Titus is Paul and most believe Titus was written around 65-66 A.D. The apostle Paul is one of the most popular and very well-known characters of the Bible. Paul, who was known as one of the most passionate and well versed in his faith with God throughout the whole Bible,. Before becoming an apostle, Paul’s previous name was Saul. Saul started out living a lifestyle out of anger and rage. He hated Christians but after witnessing the stoning of Stephen, his eyes were opened. A once angry and hated by everyone one kind of man was then changed by watching a death of a radical Christ follower, which was, started a spark in Saul’s heart. Christ showed Saul how he needed to internally and externally transformation if he wanted to see change start to take place and Jesus Christ then finally changed Saul…

    • 912 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Unlike most commentaries which immediately throw the reader into a verse-by-verse dissection of the epistles, the authors begin each half with a brief overview of the letter. The summary includes a brief history of the city of Corinth, an explanation of the cities religious practices, and the issues that are addressed in Paul’s letters as well as how the two relate to one another. These summaries are very well written and on their own, while they wouldn’t make much of a book, provide the reader with incredible insight of Corinthian culture and the context of the letters, and are perhaps the defining trait of this…

    • 891 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Habakkuk

    • 1891 Words
    • 8 Pages

    2. Brown, Raymond Edward., Joseph A. Fitzmyer, and Roland E. Murphy. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1990. Print.…

    • 1891 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Paul the Apostle gave us not only some of the most profound pieces of early Christian theological reflection, but also some of the finest, poignant writing in history. Throughout Paul of Tarsus’ life, he has been able to contribute to the development of Christianity through his heritage, his personal encounter with Jesus and his life as a missionary for Jesus. AD 33, before Paul converted to Christ, Christianity grew only amongst disaffected Jews. A Jew himself, Paul spoke Greek and inherited Roman citizenship. This enabled him to put Jewish ideas into the language of the Gentiles, and because of his efforts, through his missionary journey’s throughout Asia, Macedonia and the West, Christianity grew from its beginnings in Israel to the rest of the Roman Empire.…

    • 1567 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    We were fashioned for fellowship. This is not limited to just our small groups, our Church family, and our saved friends. We were created to build relationships with those, even the non-believers. We should love each person with the love of Christ, despite cultural differences. Paul talks about how the Jews cared for the law so much that they rejected the Gentiles. They did not feel as though they were worthy (which ultimately none of us are) enough to be redeemed by God and that they could not be justified. In Romans 3:28-30 Paul says, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.”…

    • 924 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Romans Epistle Analysis

    • 469 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In the epistle of Romans Paul is introducing himself to the Romans and explains the message he plans on teaching before he arrives in Rome. The epistle was sent from Corinth before Paul had sailed of for Troas during Paul’s second missionary journey. Paul had friends in Rome, whom he had planned to visit on several occasions, but had always been prevented from doing so. He had several reasons for being interested in the Roman church: his desire to see the imperial city, their need for instruction, his desires to stop any Judaizing activity, and his hope for possible support for mission to Spain. The central theme of Romans is the revelation of the righteousness of God to man, and its application to mans spiritual needs (Tenney 1985, 304–305).…

    • 469 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hays Essay Evaluation

    • 695 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The essay, Applying the Old Testament Law today, written by J. Daniel Hays reveals an intriguing perception of the Old Testament Law and its application by today’s Christian Church. The author identifies the fact that the Old Testament Law although valuable and necessary for the Israeli nation seems a bit out of place applied to the Christian Church. [1] Initially, He identifies at least a foundational understanding of the existence of laws which Christians may constantly break. Yet, it generally seems that the author is only giving the minimum amount of information needed to lead the reader into the arena of his subject matter. This does not initially seem threatening yet towards the middle of the article there is a statement that stirs some questions about the author’s understanding of scripture and his intentions.…

    • 695 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Titus Andronicus Analysis

    • 1529 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Many of William Shakespeare’s plays are so memorable because of the protagonists presented in them. Shakespeare delicately crafts (his) protagonists as complex characters that (evoke) different responses from the audience, often leaving the audience with a memorable impression of how they initially felt about the protagonist and how over time those feelings changed due to their experiences in life. Even after the play, the protagonist’s reactions to the events that took place in the play stay with us, because they make us question how we would have handled the situations that the protagonist was presented with. This exact feeling happens in two of Shakespeare’s early plays, Titus Andronicus and Hamlet. Both plays present two protagonists of…

    • 1529 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Second Timothy Analysis

    • 1991 Words
    • 8 Pages

    In verses ten through seventeen, as a response to these evil men, Paul gives Timothy two vital resources to help him defend against any kind of attack. The first resource being Paul’s personal lifestyle example, and the second being the Word of God. Paul begins unpacking Timothy’s arsenal of resources by bringing into remembrance nine specific qualities that the young minister had observed in the life of the apostle, and that stand in contrast to the list in the preceding verses. Heading the list are teaching (doctrine) and conduct, both of which are at the root of the problems faced in Ephesus and as a result are “the most significant aspects of Paul’s ministry relative to Timothy’s historical situation.” It is also important to note that the remainder of the list: purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, persecutions and suffering, are an outflowing of these two and make up a complete package of Paul’s character. It is not with pride, but excessive humility, that Paul offers his life as an example to Timothy and wishes him to emulate it. By pursuing a godly lifestyle, Timothy will be able to stand against any assault on his character. Paul follows this by noting locations where he had received harsh treatment for proclaiming the…

    • 1991 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    1. How did the term “Christian” originate? A derogatory attack against the Disciple in Antioch (Acts 11:26)…

    • 9120 Words
    • 37 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Collins, Raymond F. 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus: a commentary. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002.…

    • 5465 Words
    • 22 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The purpose of writing this exegetical paper to produce some analysis from chosen topic that is from Philippians 2:1-11. This exegetical paper will produce some basic analysis from the history, present and to the future through the content of the text. In addition, the relevant issues will also be provided through the background of this paper which will be deeply examined. This passage is deeply interpreted so that its context will clearly states the overall meaning of this passage in this letter. Summary and applications will also be shown if necessary to give the perfect conclusion for this paper. Well coming to this passage from Philippians in the epistle of Paul the apostle which was written to the Philippians when Paul had endured much suffering for the cause of Christ. These trials had taught to be content in all circumstances, an ability that Paul encouraged the Philippians to cultivate (4:11). In fact, his letter to the Philippians is a testimony to this…

    • 3031 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The New Perspective Paper

    • 675 Words
    • 3 Pages

    There has been much contrast seen in Pauline studies between Paul’s gospel and his thoughts on Judaism. By understanding these contrasts and determining what Paul was thinking, readers may be able to better interpret Paul’s letters regarding works of the law, Jew and Gentile relationships, and faith versus works. The two perspectives that will be addressed in this paper include the Old Perspective and the New Perspective. This paper will define what each view presumes, how the views affect our interpretation of Paul, and which perspective I agree with.…

    • 675 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Biblical Worldview Essay

    • 935 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Bible is an illustration of God and His love for us. Within the pages that we so effortlessly read, it is our life long journey to embody Christ and adhere to scripture and it’s teachings. The lessons to be learned in life are all encompassed in God’s words. The Bible displays so many lessons on life and how our lives should resemble His love. In this essay, we will examine the scripture of Romans 1-8 as it teaches us in great multitude of how our biblical worldview derives from the various aspects within those chapters.…

    • 935 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bible essay

    • 904 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Epistle to the Romans, was written by the Apostle Paul to “To all in Rome who are beloved ones of God, called as saints,” (Romans 1:7), to explain how salvation is offered through the gospel of Jesus Christ (“Epistole to the Romans” 2014) This is considered to be one of the most important religious texts of any time and a major teaching tool that can be used today. What is it that the Book of Romans can teach us today just like it helped teach Christians throughout time?…

    • 904 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics