The Laying On Of Hands: What Does This Mean?

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance 

that thou stir up the gift of God,

which is in thee by the putting on

of my hands. For God hath not

given us the spirit of fear; but of

power, and of love, and of a sound

mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed 

of the testimony of our Lord, nor

of me his prisoner; but be thou

partaker of the afflictions of the

gospel according to the power of

God; who hath saved us, and called 

us with an holy calling, not according

to our works, but according to His

own purpose and grace which was

given us in Christ Jesus before the 

world began, but is now made 

manifest by the appearing of our

Savor Jesus Christ, who hath 

abolished death, and hath brought

life and immortality to light through

the gospel; whereunto I am appointed

a preacher, and an apostle, and a

teacher of the Gentiles. For which

cause I also suffer these things; 

nevertheless I am not ashamed:

for I know whom I have believed,

and am persuaded that He is able

to keep that which I have committed

unto Him against that day.

2Timothy 1:6-12

         We find Paul exhorting Timothy to "stir" up the gift of God that was in him; this is true for all Christians to do, "stir" up the gift God has given to you and that gift is salvation from all your sins and eternal life. Paul reminds Timothy that he had laid hands on him and we must understand what this means for some have used these words to infer that they can by some power they have give this power to another by their laying on of hands. Is this true? We must come to understand the Greek word used by Paul so we can fully understand this word, its usage, thereby not falling in to error. The Greek word is:  έπιθέσεως, which is genitive, in other words "of" and a word combining two Greek words: έπι, upon, and
θέσεως from τίθημι a verb which means "to put" as in an appointing to a service, to choose, not to impart some power from person to another as some teach and preach. It is to impose a name (Mark 3:16), to inflict (Acts 16:23; Luke 10:30), to impose with authority (Acts 15:28), to set or fall upon, assail, assault, attack (Acts 18:10). Many misuse this to somehow prove that they are "apostles." In the United States we use a handshake to set something or someone into motion. There have been and are, books, programs to teach a person what gift that God may have given them, this is wrong, if God has given you a gift and your relationship is with God you will know what your gift is and you will be using it. It may be that what you are doing is not seen as a gift but you are having success, well, maybe, just maybe this is your gift from God. Remember as a being, a human being you have certain talents and gifts and God can use those talents or gifts in His service. Just be ready to be used by God and not tell Him what you are willing to do, or by what gift you will serve Him.

    In the early Church God used extraordinary gifts and this was necessary to assist the Church in its infancy but as the Church grew in knowledge, as the Bible was set forth as the inspired word of God, which it is if you do any critical research you will come to the same conclusion, and those extraordinary gifts ceased. Some have attempted to reinstitute those extraordinary gifts as though God is now using them again, but there is no Scriptural warrant for such teaching. Paul instructed Timothy to use his gifts, and we too are instructed to use our gifts, thereby bringing the Gospel to your world. Fear often causes a person not to use a gift, or they have decided that the work they are doing is enough showing that by this usefulness they are actually Christian. This is wrong: you are a Christian because you have believed upon Jesus Christ, heeded the calling of God, converted yourself to Him, and all you do is the result of your faith in Him. Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel, and all the persecutions that came to him due to his belief in Jesus Christ. Are you? Are you ashamed of being a Christian and will succumb to pressure by those who are not Christian? Are you so ashamed of the Gospel that you are not willing to speak to others about it, maybe in fear of retribution? Authentic Christians have the Holy Spirit residing in them ready to guide and assist a person so that there is not need of timidity or cowardly dispositions, or of slavish discouraging fears. 

      Are you persuaded and by this persuasion committed to Jesus Christ? You souls are saved and preserved to the heavenly kingdom, and by the promises of God you are secure because God always keeps His promises. This knowledge should make you strong in faith, in works to always put God first, and to do all things to bring glory to God. Nothing should be able to separate you from your gifts, and nothing can separate you from the love of God. It is our returning love to God that we are not idle, but we are willing to be used by God. Don't look for gifts: Look to God and praise Him for He has given to you a gift of eternal life, salvation, and this is never to be taken from you, no matter what happens in this life. Use your natural talents, use the gifts of God that you have come to use, seek only to be used, seek only God, His Son Jesus Christ, live for Him, and the Holy Spirit (God) Who is residing in you will give you grace and peace until that day when you will be called home.

Be strong and of a good courage;

     for unto this people shalt thou

divide for an inheritance the land,

     which I sware unto their faithers

to give them. Only be thou strong 

    and very courageous, that thou

mayest observe to do according

    to all the law, which Moses my

servant commanded thee: turn not

    from it to the right hand or to 

the left, that mayest prosper

     whithersoever thou goest.

                Joshua 1:6-7

God is able to keep you

Richard L. Crumb