This section has two verses:

Titus 1:8-9
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
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.

In verse 7 we see what elders must not be. In these two verses, we see what elders [and ultimately all firstfruits] must be.

We will begin with the Barclay.

WHAT THE ELDERS MUST BE

[the verse paraphrased]: Rather he must be hospitable, a lover of all good things and all good people, prudent, just, pious, self-controlled, with a strong grip on the truly reliable message which Christian teaching gave to him, that he may be well able to encourage the members of the Church with health-giving teaching, and to convict the opponents of the faith.

THE previous passage set out the things which the elders of the Church must not be; this one sets out what the elders must be. These necessary qualities group themselves into three sections [sections 1 and 2 in verse 8 with section 3 in verse 9].

(1) First, there are the qualities which elders of the Church must display to other people.

An elder must he hospitable. The Greek is philoxenos, which literally means a lover of strangers. In the ancient world, there were a great many who were constantly on the move. Inns were notoriously expensive, dirty and immoral; and it was essential that Christian travellers should find an open door within the Christian community. To this day, no one needs Christian fellowship more than the stranger in an unfamiliar place.

An elder must also be philagathos, a word which means either someone who loves good things or who loves good people, and which Aristotle uses in the sense of unselfish; that is, someone who loves good actions. We do not have to choose between these three meanings; they are all included. The Christian elder must be someone whose heart answers to the good in whatever person, wherever and in whatever circumstances it is found.

(2) Second, there comes a group of terms which tell us the personal qualities which Christian elders must possess.

They must be prudent (so¯phro¯n). Euripides called this prudence. Socrates called it ‘the foundation stone of virtue’. Xenophon said that it was that spirit which shunned evil, not only when evil could be seen but even when no one would ever see it. R. C. Trench defined it as ‘entire command over the passions and desires, so that they receive no further allowance than that which the law and right reason admit and approve’. So¯phro¯n is the adjective to be applied to the person, as the Greeks said themselves, ‘whose thoughts are saving thoughts’. The Christian office-bearers must be people who wisely control every instinct.

They must be just (dikaios). The Greeks defined the just person as the one who gives to other people what is due to them. The Christian elders must be the kind of people who give to other people the respect, and to God the reverence, which are their due.

They must be pious (hosios). The Greek word is hard to translate, for it describes the person who reverences the fundamental decencies of life, the things which go back beyond any human law [this relates to doing all things after the counsel of God's will].

They must be self-controlled (egkrate¯s). The Greek word describes the person who has achieved complete self-control. Anyone who would serve others must first be in complete control of self. ~Barclay commentary with minor edits by me

We will now go to the other commentaries. We will begin with the general and go to the specific.

We will go first to the Matthew Henry and breaking into the commentary where it begins speaking to verse 8:

But, Secondly, Positively: he must be (Titus 1:8) a lover of hospitality, as an evidence that he is not given to filthy lucre, but is willing to use what he has to the best purposes, not laying up for himself, so as to hinder charitable laying out for the good of others; receiving and entertaining strangers (as the word imports), a great and necessary office of love, especially in those times of affliction and distress, when Christians were made to fly and wander for safety from persecution and enemies, or in travelling to and fro where there were not such public houses for reception as in our days, nor, it may be, had many poor saints sufficiency of their own for such uses - then to receive and entertain them was good and pleasing to God. And such a spirit and practice, according to ability and occasion, are very becoming such as should be examples of good works. A lover of good men, or of good things; ministers should be exemplary in both; this will evince their open piety, and likeness to God and their Master Jesus Christ: Do good to all, but especially to those of the household of faith, those who are the excellent of the earth, in whom should be all our delight.

Sober, or prudent, as the word signifies; a needful grace in a minister both for his ministerial and personal carriage and management. He should be a wise steward, and one who is not rash, or foolish, or heady; but who can govern well his passions and affections. Just in things belonging to civil life, and moral righteousness, and equity in dealings, giving to all their due. Holy, in what concerns religion; one who reverences and worships God, and is of a spiritual and heavenly conversation [conduct]. Temperate; it comes from a word that signifies strength, and denotes one who has power over his appetite and affections, or, in things lawful, can, for good ends, restrain and hold them in. Nothing is more becoming a minister than such things as these, sobriety, temperance, justice, and holiness - sober in respect of himself, just and righteous towards all men, and holy towards God. And thus of the qualifications respecting the minister's life and manners, relative and absolute, negative and positive, what he must not, and what he must, be and do. ~Matthew Henry

Now a few words from the Matthew Henry Concise. The text covers verses 5-9.

The character and qualification of pastors, here called elders and bishops, agree with what the apostle wrote to Timothy. Being such bishops and overseers of the flock, to be examples to them, and God's stewards to take care of the affairs of his household, there is great reason that they should be blameless. What they are not to be, is plainly shown, as well as what they are to be, as servants of Christ, and able ministers of the letter and practice of the gospel. And here are described the spirit and practice becoming such as should be examples of good works. ~Matthew Henry Concise

Now a couple of things from the Biblical Illustrator:

A lover of hospitality - The true hospitality

By this is not meant what is called keeping a good open table, of which we have, and have ever had, many examples in England, and much money, time, and health have been spent at these luxurious and hospitable banquets. The apostle does not mean the great dinners of friendship, such as we have now, when luxuries are drawn together from the ends of the earth, to renew the sated appetite, and anticipate not only the real but the imaginary wants of the guests; he refers not to the sparkling of the wine, or the brilliancy of wit when the spirit is high, or those postprandial [pohst-pran-dee-uh l] [after the dinner] exhibitions which have been called the feast of reason and the flow of soul. No; this is not his meaning: but the bishop must be a lover of hospitality in a higher and far nobler sense of the word; his house and his heart ever open to the poor and needy (Luke 14:13); if he has two coats, the first naked man whom he meets gets one of them; if the Lord has given him wealth, he actually realizes the 25th of Matthew, by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting those that are in prison. He loves to see the learned and the good, the advanced Christian and the weak believer, assembled round his table, in free and full and unrestrained conversation; it is his noble privilege to meet with all classes, mix with all classes, and still be a blessing to them all; he can fare with a peasant or feast with a prince, and be equally satisfied with either. ~Biblical Illustrator

Quoted verses:
Luke 14:13
But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

Matthew 25:35-36
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Here is another speaking to the last three words of the verse:

Just, holy, temperate - Good ministerial qualities

1. Just refers to the principles of equity in our conduct with one another. In the entire management and government of his Church, but especially in discipline, the bishop or elder requires this qualification. He must look upon the poor and the rich, the ignorant and the learned, in this respect with an equal eye.

2. Holy, on the other hand, expresses more especially our relations towards God, who is so often called in Scripture “the Holy One of Israel.” He is a saint, and rejoices to be numbered with the company of those that are sanctified. His external conduct, which is altogether just, is not superficial but real, and flows from holiness of heart; and all his noble actions in the sight of man are based on the new heart, the new nature, and the new hope within him. He is holy: his presence rebukes the ungodly, and the tongue of the wicked is silent before him; the atmosphere around him is pure, salubrious, and serene; his words when he speaks are like ointment poured forth; his holy exhortations and heavenly prayers are full of the blessing of the Lord; and his whole walk in the midst of the people is like the sun, brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. This twofold relation of man to his neighbour and to God was known to the heathen, for Polybius says (23:10, 8), “Just in respect to our fellow man, and holy in things pertaining to God.” Both of these meet in the Christian bishop and form the greatest perfection of his character. He is distinguished by justice among his fellow creatures on earth, and his holiness connects him with his Lord and Head in heaven.

3. He is also temperate, ἐκρατῆς, (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:9; 1 Corinthians 9:25)
—powerful, master of himself, having self-control, and hence continent, which is undoubtedly the meaning of it here. He has renounced the world, the devil, and the flesh, and he will not be drawn away from his high calling by sensual pleasure. ~Biblical Illustrator

Quoted verses:
1 Corinthians 7:9
But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

1 Corinthians 9:25
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

Let us go now to the specific commentaries.

The verse is broken out in six parts:

1] But a lover of hospitality.
2] A lover of good men.
3] Sober.
4] Just.
5] Holy.
6] Temperate.

1] But a lover of hospitality.

Barnes and the John Gill say to see the notes it has on 1 Timothy 3:2 [see Lesson]

Given to hospitality - This is often enjoined on all Christians as a duty of religion. For the reasons of this, and the nature of the duty, see the Romans 12:13 note; Hebrews 13:2 note. It was a special duty of the ministers of religion, as they were to be examples of every Christian virtue. ~Barnes Notes

Quoted verses
Romans 12:13
Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Hebrews 13:2
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

A lover of hospitality - Φιλοξενον· A lover of strangers. 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. ~Adam Clarke

2] A lover of good men.

A lover of good men. - Better, lover of good. ~Vincent's Word Studies

A lover of good men. - disposed to generous actions. ~Popular Commentary of the New Testament

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 Philippians 4:8. ~Barnes Notes

Quoted verse:
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

A lover of good men - Φιλαγαθον· A lover of goodness or of good things in general. ~Adam Clarke

A lover of good men - or "of good"; the Syriac version renders it, "of good things"; as prayer, preaching, reading, meditation, spiritual conversation, and every religious exercise: or "of good men"; for such an elder or bishop has chiefly to do and converse with; and if he is not a lover of them, their company will be disagreeable to him, and he will be of no advantage to them; and if he does not love the souls of men, he will not naturally care for their state, or be concerned for their good. ~John Gill

3] Sober.

Sober - Prudent in all his conduct. Just in all his dealings. Holy in his heart. ~Adam Clark

Sober - in body, using moderation in diet and dress; and in mind, being prudent, modest, and humble, and thinking soberly of himself, and others, as he ought. ~John Gill

4] Just.

Just - Upright in his dealings with all. A minister can do little good who is not. ~Barnes Notes

Just - righteous in his dealings with men, giving to everyone their due; upright and sincere in his conversation [conduct] with the saints; and faithful in his counsel, admonitions, and reproofs. ~John Gill

5] Holy.

Holy - Pious, or devout. Faithful in all his duties to God. ~Barnes Notes

Holy - devout towards God, constant in all religious exercises in the closet, family, and church; and living soberly, righteously, and godly in the world. ~John Gill

6] Temperate.

Temperate - having power over; possessed of; hence, controlling, keeping in hand. ~Vincent's Word Studies

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. ~Barnes Notes

Temperate - self-denying and abstemious [ab-stee-mee-uh s] [moderate] , in his food and raiment; not too nice on points of honor, nor magisterially [maj-uh-steer-ee-uh l ly] [domineeringly] rigid in the exercise of his ecclesiastical functions. Qualifications rarely found in spiritual governors. ~Adam Clarke

Temperate - in eating and drinking; continent [showing restraint or control] from the lusts of the flesh; and even abstaining from those things which might be lawfully used, though inexpedient, for the sake of the weak, the peace of the church, and the glory of God. ~John Gill

So, be a lover of hospitality - his house and his heart ever open to the poor and needy.
Be a lover of good things.
Sober - prudent in your conduct.
Just - righteous in your dealings, faithful in your counsel; upright in your conduct.
Holy - devote towards God; living righteously.
Temperate - having power and control over all your passions

...these are the lessons of verse 8.