Titus 1:8
in Titus 1Instead, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled;
KJV
But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
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This verse in Titus 1
Commentary
9 notes on this verse"But [he should be] hospitable, a lover of good, chaste, just, holy, continent or abstinent, one who holds to the correct doctrine, faithful in speech, so that [he] is able to comfort [others] in sound doctrine and refute those who contradict it." Above all, hospitality is required of a future bishop. For if everyone wishes to hear it from the Gospel: "I was a stranger and you took me in" (Matt. 25:35): how much more should a bishop, whose house should be a common inn for everyone!
This site's exposition
he must be hospitable
on Titus 1:8-9
Verse 9 gives the office its task: to encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it. The word for sound, hugiaino, means healthy, and it opens a thread that runs through the whole letter.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
For the bishop must be blameless as God's steward, not stubborn, not quick-tempered, not drunken, not violent, not greedy for gain; but hospitable, loving what is good, self-controlled, righteous, holy, disciplined. To be accused is a general concept. For to be accused encompasses all things …
Ver. 8. "But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate." Ver. 9. "Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught." You see what intensity of virtue he required. "Not given to filthy lucre," that is, showing great contempt for money. "A lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy"; he means, giving away all his substance to them that need. "Temperate"; he speaks not here of one who fasts, but of one who commands his passions, his tongue, his hands, his eyes. For this is temperance, to be drawn aside by no passion. "Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught." By "faithful" is here meant "true," or that which was delivered through faith, not requiring reasonings, or questionings. "Holding fast," that is, having care of it, making it his business. What then, if he be ignorant of the learning that is without? For this cause, he says, "the faithful word, according to teaching." "That he may be able both to exhort, and to convince the gainsayers." So that there is need not of pomp of words, but of strong minds, of skill in the Scriptures and of powerful thoughts. Do you not see that Paul put to flight the whole world, that he was more powerful than Plato and all the rest? But it was by miracles, you say. Not by miracles only, for if you peruse the Acts of the Apostles, you will find him often prevailing by his teaching previously to his miracles. "That he may be able by sound doctrine to exhort," that is, to retain his own people, and to overthrow the adversaries. "And to convince the gainsayers." For if this is not done, all is lost. He who knows not how to combat the adversaries, and to "bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ," and to beat down reasonings, he who knows not what he ought to teach with regard to right doctrine, far from him be the Teacher's throne. […]
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then he mentions the good they should have: first, that which pertains to right living; second, to true doctrine, at embracing that faithful word (Titus 1:9). All of these are obvious and need no comment. …
Not only not to receive profit, but also to give everything away to strangers. The apostle thus calls the gentle, moderate, and unenvious person. That is, pure. Impartial in regard to people. That is, reverent toward everything divine, neglecting nothing in relation to God. The …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But a lover of hospitality,....
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A lover of hospitality - Φιλοξενον· A lover of strangers. See the note on 1Ti 3:2. Instead of φιλοξενον, one MS. has φιλοπτωχον, a lover of the poor. That minister who neglects the poor, but is frequent in his visits to the rich, knows little of his Master’s work, and has little of his Master’s spirit. A lover of good men - Φιλαγαθον· A lover of goodness or of good things in general. Sober - Prudent in all his conduct. Just in all his dealings. Holy in his heart.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But a lover of hospitality - Notes, 1Ti 3:2. A lover of good men - Margin, “or things.” The Greek (φιλάγαθος philagathos) means, a lover of good, and may apply to any thing that is good. It may refer to good men, as included under the general term good; and there is no more essential qualification of a bishop than this. A man who sustains the office of a minister of the gospel, should love every good object, and be ever ready to promote it; and he should love every good man, no matter in what denomination or country he may be found - no matter what his complexion, and no matter what his rank in life; compare the notes at Php 4:8. Sober - Notes, 1Ti 1:2. Just - Upright in his dealings with all. A minister can do little good who is not; compare the notes at Php 4:8. Holy - Pious, or devout. Faithful in all his duties to God; Notes, 1Ti 2:8. Temperate - ἐγκρατῆ egkratē. Having power or control over all his passions. We apply the term now with reference to abstinence from intoxicating liquors. In the Scriptures, it includes not only that, but also much more. It implies control over all our passions and appetites. See it explained in the notes at Act 24:25; compare 1Co 7:9; 1Co 9:25; Gal 5:23.
The words behind it
7 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἀλλὰ | alla | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| φιλόξενον, | philoxenon | hospitable, | G5382 → | |
| φιλάγαθον, | philagathon | a lover of good, | G5358 → | |
| σώφρονα, | sophrona | self-controlled, | G4998 → | 4 times |
| δίκαιον, | dikaion | upright, | G1342 → | |
| ὅσιον, | hosion | holy, | G3741 → | |
| ἐγκρατῆ, | egkrate | [and] disciplined, | G1468 → |
ἀλλὰbut
allaG235 →635 times
φιλόξενον,hospitable,
philoxenonG5382 →
φιλάγαθον,a lover of good,
philagathonG5358 →
σώφρονα,self-controlled,
sophronaG4998 →4 times
δίκαιον,upright,
dikaionG1342 →
ὅσιον,holy,
hosionG3741 →
ἐγκρατῆ,[and] disciplined,
egkrateG1468 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Titus 2:7In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:3
not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
- 1 Timothy 4:12
Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
- 2 Corinthians 4:2
Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to…
- 1 Peter 5:3
Through
1 Timothy 3:2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
it leads to
- Titus 1:6–9
An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and who are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination.
- 2 Timothy 2:24
And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.
- Romans 12:13
Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.
- Titus 1:6–9
Through
1 Samuel 18:1After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself.
it leads to
- Proverbs 18:24
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
- 1 Samuel 20:17
And Jonathan had David reaffirm his vow out of love for him, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.
- Proverbs 18:24
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
About Titus
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jerome, Commentary on Titus; John Chrysostom, Homily on Titus 2; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON TITUS; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Titus and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Titus.