LAYING ON OF HANDS

PRINCIPLES OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST

Heb 6:1-3     Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.And God permitting, we will do so.(NIV)

REASONS FOR THE LAYING ON OF HANDS

In looking at the Scriptures it is observed that the "laying on of hands" was used for various purposes.

It was used (1) for ordination

            (2) for conveying gifts of the Holy Ghost

            (3) for purpose of healing

                    ORDINATION

OLD TESTAMENT

As with every other established doctrine of the New Testament, the doctrine of "laying on of hands" also had precedence in the Old Testament. Moses was told in Num 8:10,11 "And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites: And Aaron shall offer the levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD".

Num 27:18-23 "And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;

And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.

And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.

And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgement of Urim before the Lord: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

And Moses did as the Lord commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:

And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

Deut 34:9     And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.(KJV)

NEW TESTAMENT

The first New Testament ordination (deacons?) is recorded in Acts 6:1-6 "And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

     Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

     Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

     But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

     And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch;

     Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them."

Though the word "deacon" is not directly used in this situation, yet it is noted that the problems arose "because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration".

(Strong’s) diakonia from diakonos - attendance, aid,(official)service (especially. of the Christian teacher or technically of the diaconate):- (ad)minister(-ing, -tration, -try), office, relief, service(-ing). Noting then, that the word ministration also means service and comes from the same root word as "deacon - diakonos", one can safely conclude that the ordination described was in fact that of deacons (servants,ministers), which here describes function. In Philippians 1:1 (NIV) Paul writes "To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:..."

In (Strong’s) "appoint" (Acts 6:3) is translated from the Greek - kathistemi; to place down (permanently) i.e. (fig) to designate, constitute, convey:- appoint, be, conduct, make, ordain, set.

Looking again at the purpose for the ordinations above, it appears that the apostles and elders were being bothered (by complaints) by those concerned, and saw it fit to give the responsibility of that service to some of the men (permanently?).

Note the special characteristics of the seven "men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom".

In Paul's first letter to Timothy, he details the qualifications for the office of a deacon. In 1 Timothy 3:8-13 he says "Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Holding the mystery of the faith in a clear concience.

And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus"

Whereas in Acts 6:3, the qualifications for service were general, in 1 Timothy 3 they were far more specific and detailed.

The next set of ordinations occur in Acts 13:1-3 "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manean, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

     As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

     And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Here Barnabas and Saul (Paul) were separated out from the other brethren and appointed (ordained), by the laying of hands, for missionary work. It is important to note that it was during this first missionary journey that the Holy Spirit directed them to take the message of the gospel to the Gentiles. Note also that they were both called apostles. See Acts 14:14.

Now as Paul and Barnabas were returning to Antioch, they were appointing leaders in the churches. Acts 14:23 "And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed"

In (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) the word "ordained" comes from the Greek - cheirotoneo; from a comp. of 'cheir' (hand) and 'teino' (to stretch); to be a hand reacher or voter (by raising the hand) i.e. (gen) to select or appoint : - choose, ordain.

Looking closely at the meaning of the word "ordained" used here, it is noted that the outstretched hand is used to "choose" or "ordain" the appointee. In other words the church leaders were appointed by the laying of hands. So that based on the early church's experience the conclusion can be drawn that ordination or appointment was by the laying of hands.

In Titus 1:5 Paul writes "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:". The word 'ordain' here is the same used in Acts 6:3 as 'appoint'. It is the word ‘kathistemi’.

It would seem that a degree of permanence is implied.

Titus 1:6-9     If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

7    For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

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.(KJV)

1 Tim 3:1-7     This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

2    A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3    Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

4    One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

5    (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

6    Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

7     Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. KJV

CONVEYING OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS

1 Tim 4:14     Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.(KJV)

What are the gifts spoken about? Some of the Gifts of the Spirit are described in Rom 12:6-8     We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.

7    If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;

8    if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. (NIV)

Most of the Gifts are listed in 1 Cor 12:28     And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. (NIV)

Paul also identifies the five major or key ministry gifts for the establishment, growth and perpetuation of the Church.

He says in Eph 4:11-13     And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12   For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13   Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (KJV)

HEALING

Mark 16:15-18     And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

16   "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

17   "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

18    "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (NKJ)

Mark 6:13     And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. (KJV)

James 5:14-16      Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

15   And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

16   Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (NKJ)