Friend of StrangersEsimerkki

One of the most beautiful words in the Bible is philoxenos. It is usually translated as "hospitable", but another possible, and perhaps even better, translation is “xenophile” or “friend of strangers." The word is a combination of the two Greek words “filia”, meaning “love”, and “xenos”, meaning “stranger”.

Christians are urged to be hospitable and eagerly xenophile:

“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality [philoxenos].” (Ro 12:13)

“Do not neglect to show hospitality [philoxenos] to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Heb 13:2)

Not only that, being philoxenos is a requirement for being a church leader:

“Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable [philoxenos], able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.” (1Ti 3:2-3)

According to Paul, it is just as important for a pastor to be a friend of strangers as it is that he refrains from drinking, fighting, and fiddling with money. To be really clear, Paul repeats the same instruction in another of his letters:

“For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable [philoxenos], a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” (Tt 1:7-9)

For a Christian leader, it is as important to be xenophile as it is to teach sound Biblical teaching and rebuke false teachers.