The Foundation...of the Doctrine of the Laying on of Hands

The Doctrine of the Laying on of Hands.
Hebrews 6:2

This doctrine has everything to do with AUTHORITY and the HOLY GHOST.

In the Old Testament:

Genesis 48:14, 17; The Patriarch Jacob lays hands on Ephriam’s and Manasseh’s heads (vss. 14-20).  Jacob confers a blessing upon Ephriam and Manasseh.  As Jacob laid his hands upon Ephriam’s and Manasseh’s heads he laid his blessing upon them, which blessing and prophecy came from God.  The hands are an outward signification of the inward blessing.

Exodus 24:9-11; the implication of this passage is that God laid His hand on Moses and not on the others.

Leviticus 8:14; the laying on of the hands was used in the sacrifices of the old dispensation to denote the imputation of the sin of the sinner upon the pure substitute.

Numbers 27:18-23; with the laying on of the hands of Moses all Israel had a public demonstration that what Moses had was transferred by God to Joshua.  God is the authority for the act.  The result of this transference of authority is recorded in Deuteronomy 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.”  One more thing that must not be missed in this text is the combination of the Holy Spirit and authority.  This is also very clear in the New Testament teaching and examples of the laying on of hands.

In the New Testament:

Acts 6:6; the church chose these first deacons and the authority and responsibility was conferred upon them by the laying on of the hands of the apostles.  The authority came from the church, for that is the entity that chose these men for this business.  The apostles laid their hands on them, not as the authority, but as the representatives of the authority.

Acts 8:17; Philip obviously did not have authority from the church to lay hands—transfer authority to create an autonomous church.  Philip had authority to preach and baptize.  So, the apostles (all that was left of the church of Jerusalem in that city—Acts 8:1) sent Peter and John to transfer authority.  Consistent with Numbers 27:18-23 and Acts 13:3 the Holy Ghost is given with the authority.  Or, we should say, the Holy Spirit is the authority and a Scriptural NT. Church is the agent through which that authority, the Holy Spirit, is conferred from on church to another.

The authority of the church of Jerusalem was conferred upon the Samaritan church by authorized leaders.

Acts 13:3; when you read this verse you will notice that the “they,” and “their” refer to the church of Antioch.  Again we see that the authority to send men resides with a New Testament Baptist church as they are directed by the Holy Ghost.  Barnabas and Saul operated under the authority of the church at Antioch.  The laying on of hands by the church conferred the church’s authority to do the great commission work upon Barnabas and Saul. 

Note:  The Holy Ghost and authority can never be separated.

Acts 19:6; in Acts 18:18 we have Paul leaving Corinth with Aquila and Priscilla.  In verse 19 their arrival in Ephesus is recorded and in verses 20-21 we are told that Paul preaches at a synagogue, but sails from Ephesus within a short time.  Acts 19:1 see Paul arriving back in Ephesus (est. at least one year later).  In Acts 19:1-5 Paul meets a group of errant lost disciple, whom he instructs in the truth.  Upon hearing the truth they believe and are saved.  Paul baptizes them.  In Acts 19:6 Paul lays hands on these disciples (now legitimate) and this appears to be the start of the church of Ephesus.  Verse seven tells us that there were about twelve men, additionally women are implied.  The speaking of tongues is due to the Jewish presence.

1Timothy 4:14:

The context in which verse 14 sits is “let no man despise thy youth,” and verse 12-16 hold some awesome instruction on how to be young in the ministry and respected.  Verse 14 comments significantly on Timothy’s ordination.  Timothy was give the gifts of the ministry of the Word by revelation (prophecy) and his church recognized this gift and at the suitable time the pastors, as representatives of this church, laid hands on him conferring the authority of the presbytery to Timothy.  This ordination is the same as in Acts 6, only the office is different.  Notice the authority is never to operate separate from a church but under a church.  The ordination gives standing approval of a field of action for a God appointed man.

1Timothy 5:22; to lay hands upon one is not only to confer authority, but is to tie your name with their.  This is most serious; their actions will be reflected back upon you.  You will bear a responsibility and stain for their waywardness.