/ˌhɒspɪˈtæləti/
From the Latin hospitalitas ("friendliness to guests"), from hospes ("a guest, host, stranger"). The Greek equivalent in the New Testament is philoxenia (φιλοξενία), literally "love of strangers."
Biblical hospitality is the loving, generous, and sincere reception of others into one's home and life. It is not merely social entertaining for friends, but a ministry that extends care to fellow believers and, crucially, to strangers and those in need. It is a practical expression of God's own welcoming heart toward humanity and is listed as a requirement for church leadership (1 Timothy 3:2). It involves providing food, shelter, and fellowship without expectation of repayment.
HOSPITAL'ITY, n. The act or practice of receiving and entertaining strangers and guests without reward. Hospitality is a virtue much commended in the scriptures.
The concept has been distorted in two main ways: 1) It has been commercialized into the "hospitality industry" (hotels, restaurants), which is a business transaction. 2) It has been domesticated to mean simply "entertaining," where the focus is on impressing friends with a perfect home and meal, rather than sacrificially meeting the needs of others, especially strangers.