“But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;”
Rather, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined — the positive virtues form the inverse of vice: hospitality (philoxenos) opens the household, love of good (philagathos) pursues virtue, sophrosyne (self-control) masters passion, dikaios (upright) honors justice, hosios (holy/pious) reveres God, and enkratēs (disciplined) exercises mastery over appetites. Together these define the character consonant with proclaiming sound doctrine.
Church Fathers on Titus 1:8
For a ruler without, as he rules by law and compulsion, perhaps does not consult the wishes of those under his rule. But he who ought to rule men with their own consent, and who will be thankful for his rule, if he so conduct himself as to do everything of his own will, and share counsels with no one, makes his presidency tyrannical rather than popular. For he must be “blameless, as the steward of God, not self-willed, not soon angry.” For how shall he instruct others to rule…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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