Verse Lens · Concise explanation
Titus 1:8 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 8. 8But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
The negative traits turn to positive love of hospitality and good, sound judgment, justice, holiness, and self-control.
Read It With
- Titus 1:5–9
Read Titus 1:5–9 as a complete movement. Keep the city-by-city task, the connected character profile, God's-steward language, and teaching purpose together.
Why This Verse Appears Here
'But' supplies the positive character that must replace the prohibited traits in verse 7.
Read Titus 1:5–9 together
Why these verses belong together: The city-by-city commission, household and character profile, stewardship, and teaching capacity form one appointment charge.
Verse 5. 5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
Verse 6. 6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
Verse 7. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
Verse 8. 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
Verse 9. 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
What Remains True
God's steward is positively formed by hospitality, love of good, sound judgment, justice, holiness, and self-control.
How It Can Shape Life
- Ask for demonstrated welcoming, fair, restrained conduct rather than accepting the absence of scandal as sufficient.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Titus 1:5–9 — Titus Must Appoint Blameless, Hospitable, Teachable LeadersSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact KJV wording and immediate English context for Titus 1:5–9.
Exact location: eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM, source files dated 2026-08-19, Titus 1:5–9; archive and normalized-corpus SHA-256 values are recorded in the library policy.
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Critically edited Greek wording, connectives, grammar, and lexical forms.
Exact location: Official SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/Titus.txt, Titus 1:5–9.
Open the Titus Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — Titus with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, digital edition accessed 2026
Supports: Material translation choices, syntax, and textual variants at the cited verses.
Exact location: NET Bible, Titus 1, translator, study, and textual notes attached to verses 5–9.
Open NET Titus 1 ↗public domain critical commentary
A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles
Walter Lock
T&T Clark, International Critical Commentary, 1924
Supports: Public-domain verse-level philology and older interpretive options checked against primary evidence and newer work.
Exact location: Walter Lock, Pastoral Epistles, ICC, Titus commentary, print pp. 128–133.
Open source ↗