John Calvin Commentary Titus 1:8

"but given to hospitality, as lover of good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled;" — Titus 1:8 (ASV)

But hospitable, devoted to kindness. From this it is clear how destructive that plague is which tears the Church apart through quarrels. He contrasts this vice, first, with docility, and next, with gentleness and modesty towards all, for a bishop will never teach well if he is not also ready to learn. Augustine highly praises a saying of Cyprian: “Let him be as patient to learn as skillful to teach.”

Moreover, bishops often need advice and warnings. If they refuse to be admonished, if they reject good advice, they will immediately fall headlong, causing grievous injury to the Church. The remedy against these evils, therefore, is that they not be wise in their own eyes.

I have chosen to translate φιλάγαθον as devoted to kindness, rather than with Erasmus, as “a lover of good things,” because this virtue, accompanied by hospitality, seems to be contrasted by Paul with covetousness and stinginess. He calls that man just who lives among men without harming anyone. Holiness has reference to God, for even Plato draws this distinction between the two words.