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Laying on of hands

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  • Laying on of hands

    I noticed today that Hebrews 6:2 lists the "laying on of hands" as one of the "elementary teachings about Christ", along with repentance, baptism, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. This seems like a particularly high importance for something we rarely discuss today.

    There are a few references to Jesus healing in this manner, but most references in the New Testament seem to have to do with the conferring of the Holy Spirit or ordination. 1 Timothy 5:22 warns Timothy about laying hands too hastily; the context seems to be ordination, and the ESV even translates it like this. A couple other relevant verses: "Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery." (1 Timothy 4:14) and "For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands." (2 Timothy 1:6)

    It seems unavoidable to me through the Hebrews verse that this is something we should be doing on some level today. But how specifically, and when?
    "I am not angered that the Moral Majority boys campaign against abortion. I am angry when the same men who say, "Save OUR children" bellow "Build more and bigger bombers." That's right! Blast the children in other nations into eternity, or limbless misery as they lay crippled from "OUR" bombers! This does not jell." - Leonard Ravenhill

  • #2
    Originally posted by KingsGambit View Post
    I noticed today that Hebrews 6:2 lists the "laying on of hands" as one of the "elementary teachings about Christ", along with repentance, baptism, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. This seems like a particularly high importance for something we rarely discuss today.

    There are a few references to Jesus healing in this manner, but most references in the New Testament seem to have to do with the conferring of the Holy Spirit or ordination. 1 Timothy 5:22 warns Timothy about laying hands too hastily; the context seems to be ordination, and the ESV even translates it like this. A coup le other relevant verses: "Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery." (1 Timothy 4:14) and "For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands." (2 Timothy 1:6)

    It seems unavoidable to me through the Hebrews verse that this is something we should be doing on some level today. But how specifically, and when?
    Yeah, it bothers me a bit also. Multiple things that are considered "elementary" and "foundation(al)" that don't get much mention. "Laying on of hands" does get plenty of practice in Pentecostal circles, where I'm most at home, but less elsewhere. And for an "elementary" and "foundation(al)" teaching, there sure is not much agreement about "baptisms."

    Here is what Keener says:

    Hebrews 5:11–6:12 Press Deeper or Fall Away (IVP Background Commentary 2nd Edition)
    Heb 6:2-3. “*Baptisms” probably refers to the various kinds of ceremonial washings in Judaism, of which the most relevant to Christianity was *proselyte baptism as an act of conversion washing away the former impurity of a pagan life. Jewish worshipers laid hands on certain sacrifices, and Jewish teachers laid hands on *disciples to ordain them; the latter was more relevant to Christian practice. The *resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment were standard Jewish doctrines, though embarrassing to some Hellenized elements in Judaism.


    He makes no mention of the "laying on of hands" that Jesus did several times in the Synoptics as a means of healing, or that was extended to believers in the Great Commission, assuming the "long ending" of Mark to be canonical. In Acts, it was done for healing, but more frequently in association with the "coming upon" of the Spirit, or with commissioning/ordaining persons for particular missions. (Those terms -- "commission," "ordain" are not used explicitly; I infer the concepts from the contexts.)
    Geislerminian Antinomian Kenotic Charispneumaticostal Gender Mutualist-Egalitarian.

    Beige Federalist.

    Nationalist Christian.

    "Everybody is somebody's heretic."

    Social Justice is usually the opposite of actual justice.

    Proud member of the this space left blank community.

    Would-be Grand Vizier of the Padishah Maxi-Super-Ultra-Hyper-Mega-MAGA King Trumpius Rex.

    Justice for Ashli Babbitt!

    Justice for Matthew Perna!

    Arrest Ray Epps and his Fed bosses!

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    • #3

      I'm always still in trouble again

      "You're by far the worst poster on TWeb" and "TWeb's biggest liar" --starlight (the guy who says Stalin was a right-winger)
      "Overall I would rate the withdrawal from Afghanistan as by far the best thing Biden's done" --Starlight
      "Of course, human life begins at fertilization that’s not the argument." --Tassman

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      • #4
        I'm surprised to see Keener of all people overlook that, with his reputation for thoroughness and that he is a charismatic. Though to be fair, this is a popular level work. Still, the text does say that this is a fundamental issue.
        "I am not angered that the Moral Majority boys campaign against abortion. I am angry when the same men who say, "Save OUR children" bellow "Build more and bigger bombers." That's right! Blast the children in other nations into eternity, or limbless misery as they lay crippled from "OUR" bombers! This does not jell." - Leonard Ravenhill

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        • #5
          Originally posted by KingsGambit View Post
          I'm surprised to see Keener of all people overlook that, with his reputation for thoroughness and that he is a charismatic. Though to be fair, this is a popular level work. Still, the text does say that this is a fundamental issue.
          Well, as I think about it, most of his notes in that commentary are by nature "cultural background." He may be focusing on the cultural background relevant to Hebrew believers.
          Geislerminian Antinomian Kenotic Charispneumaticostal Gender Mutualist-Egalitarian.

          Beige Federalist.

          Nationalist Christian.

          "Everybody is somebody's heretic."

          Social Justice is usually the opposite of actual justice.

          Proud member of the this space left blank community.

          Would-be Grand Vizier of the Padishah Maxi-Super-Ultra-Hyper-Mega-MAGA King Trumpius Rex.

          Justice for Ashli Babbitt!

          Justice for Matthew Perna!

          Arrest Ray Epps and his Fed bosses!

          Comment


          • #6
            The "laying on of hands" regarding healing by Jesus has to be seen in perspective of the wide variety of ways He healed WITHOUT laying on of hands....

            making mud pies, speaking a word, giving directions to do something, touching people, being touched, taking somebody's hand, touching eyes, multiple healed by touching Jesus' garment (Matt 15:35-36), instant healing, a "two step" process (spitting, then laying on hands (Mark 8:22-25)....

            I think the laying on of hands is more to convey blessings, or dedicate a person to ministry or something like that.
            The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
              The "laying on of hands" regarding healing by Jesus has to be seen in perspective of the wide variety of ways He healed WITHOUT laying on of hands....

              making mud pies, speaking a word, giving directions to do something, touching people, being touched, taking somebody's hand, touching eyes, multiple healed by touching Jesus' garment (Matt 15:35-36), instant healing, a "two step" process (spitting, then laying on hands (Mark 8:22-25)....

              I think the laying on of hands is more to convey blessings, or dedicate a person to ministry or something like that.
              When my dad was in a coma at the hospital after a stroke, my mom's church's elders came and anointed him with oil, laid hands on him and prayed for him. The doctors were saying he wasn't likely to come out of his coma, but he did, so I credit God and the prayers of the elders for his recovery. After he recovered he started going to church and was baptized. The Holy Spirit could be easily seen in all of this.

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Sparko View Post

                When my dad was in a coma at the hospital after a stroke, my mom's church's elders came and anointed him with oil, laid hands on him and prayed for him. The doctors were saying he wasn't likely to come out of his coma, but he did, so I credit God and the prayers of the elders for his recovery. After he recovered he started going to church and was baptized. The Holy Spirit could be easily seen in all of this.
                Absolutely -
                Scripture Verse: James 5:

                14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, [a]anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer [b]offered in faith will [c]restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, [d]they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective [e]prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, [a]anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer [b]offered in faith will [c]restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, [d]they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective [e]prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

                © Copyright Original Source

                The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
                  I think the laying on of hands is more to convey blessings, or dedicate a person to ministry or something like that.
                  So maybe one takeaway is that appointing church leaders is a much more serious matter than people take it to be.
                  "I am not angered that the Moral Majority boys campaign against abortion. I am angry when the same men who say, "Save OUR children" bellow "Build more and bigger bombers." That's right! Blast the children in other nations into eternity, or limbless misery as they lay crippled from "OUR" bombers! This does not jell." - Leonard Ravenhill

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by kingsgambit View Post

                    so maybe one takeaway is that appointing church leaders is a much more serious matter than people take it to be.
                    amen!!!!!!!!!!!
                    "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6

                    "Theology can be an intellectual entertainment." Metropolitan Anthony Bloom

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
                      The "laying on of hands" regarding healing by Jesus has to be seen in perspective of the wide variety of ways He healed WITHOUT laying on of hands....

                      making mud pies, speaking a word, giving directions to do something, touching people, being touched, taking somebody's hand, touching eyes, multiple healed by touching Jesus' garment (Matt 15:35-36), instant healing, a "two step" process (spitting, then laying on hands (Mark 8:22-25)....

                      I think the laying on of hands is more to convey blessings, or dedicate a person to ministry or something like that.
                      That's the way the Mormons do it, and they are the TRUETM restoration of the Church... so it MUST be true...

                      That's what
                      - She

                      Without a clear-cut definition of sin, morality becomes a mere argument over the best way to train animals
                      - Manya the Holy Szin (The Quintara Marathon)

                      I may not be as old as dirt, but me and dirt are starting to have an awful lot in common
                      - Stephen R. Donaldson

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Bill the Cat View Post

                        That's the way the Mormons do it, and they are the TRUETM restoration of the Church... so it MUST be true...

                        I'm not here, so I didn't see this, or I'd have to smack you.
                        The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by KingsGambit View Post

                          So maybe one takeaway is that appointing church leaders is a much more serious matter than people take it to be.
                          Yeppers!
                          The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

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