Are you meaning that the permission/directive of “rebuking sharply” ended with Titus and is no longer in effect?
I mean that, at least in my reading, the part about "rebuking sharply" was directed to Titus--but he is not then told to tell the Cretans in general to do the same as he is supposed to.
(What we know as chapter 2 and the first part of chapter 3 are largely Paul telling Titus about what to do with people in general or specific parts of the population. In this part are some commands mainly concerning Titus himself, like what I quoted earlier from chapter 2.)
I've read the letter to Titus before, but I'd never noticed that difference until I read it again in light of certain things in certain threads in the Religion Forum.
My idea, which is still forming, involves recognizing that passages in which someone is called a "fool" do not mean that those of us who identify as Christians should be going around calling other people fools with impunity.
After reading these threads, I noticed what looks like a connection between Matthew 5:22 and James 3:1: calling someone a "fool" would put us at risk, and being a "master" (or teacher, or instructor) also would put us at risk.
Obviously these two states aren't quite parallel in themselves: presumably being a teacher would be a better thing than going around calling people fools.
So these two points are both connected to another observation: it's probably safer for Jesus and Paul (and Titus?) to use certain language, if they truly are wiser and more discerning in the use of language than the average person, or even the average Christian. All this is not to set up any particular distinction between the speech of "teachers" and that of "ordinary Christians," but it's probably wiser not to go around calling others "fools" on a whim. At least you'd be less likely to get punched.
Yes, the Corinthians are told, as I mentioned, to follow or imitate Paul, as he followed Christ. Yet I would argue that this imitation consists of something deeper than repeating phrases without discernment. Should we go around telling people, "before Abraham was, I am"?
One other note here, which I also find interesting, is that the policies of the Religion Moderator also seem to prevent the use of "you fool" as a term of address in the Religion Forum. (Read the parts about "making it personal.") I'm not saying this to ingratiate myself with the Religion Moderators, but I just do not think that the policy interferes with the work of God.
A Christian rebuking an errant person sharply is not synonymous with calling that someone a fool.
How did you think it was?
Unless something is SPELLED OUT, then I am NOT about to read between the lines and try to put words into the RM's text.
Oh you FOOLISH Galatians!
Who has bewitched you?
Galatians 3:1