The Greek term hosios is found in Titus 1:8, as one of the qualifications for elders, and is translated holy. This is one of 8 times the term appears in the New Testament manuscripts (Acts 2:27; 13:34,35; 1 Timothy 2:8; Hebrews 7:26; and Revelation 15:4; 16:5). As Vine notes in his definition of the term, it is used to refer to God, Jesus, certain Messianic promises to David, and to the character of Christians. It is found 41 times in the Greek translation of the Old Testament (Septuagint).
In Titus 1:8, the reference is to a character trait that must be present in those who would serve as elders. Strong defines it as proper, right, pious, hallowed. Thayer says it refers to those pious toward God, with a special and preeminent sense in which it refers to the Messiah Himself. Vine states that it refers to being religiously right, holy (as opposed to that which is unrighteous or polluted).
All Christians should have this character trait. When we consider that Jesus is perfectly holy, as His disciples we seek to be as He is. This requires us to acknowledge His authority, and to seek to submit to His definition of rightness and piety.
It is not enough to be religious. We must be religiously right. It is not enough to be pious, our piety must be toward God and His will. It is not enough to act as others see to be proper. We must act as God determines is proper. Then, and only then, are we holy. “Because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I [the Lord] am holy’” (1 Peter 1:16).
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