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Elementary Principles - Part 5 “Laying on of Hands”
Elementary Principles - Part 5
“Laying on of Hands”
By Derek Long
One of the “elementary principles of Christ” is the “laying on of hands” according to Hebrews 6:1-2. Many people may look at the topic of “laying on of hands” and say it is complicated or complex. The Bible teaches it is something elementary people need to be instructed in before going on to the meat of the word (Hebrews 5:12-14).
Laying on of hands is something which is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. Laying on of hands appears to have slightly different purposes and results depending on who is laying hands on whom, etc. We want to examine two major areas in which laying on of hands is discussed in the Bible.
The Laying on of the Hands of the Apostles to Impart Spiritual Gifts
Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit upon those who were His apostles (John 14:26; 16:5-13). On the day of Pentecost following Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, the Holy Spirit fell upon the apostles. Acts 2:4 says, “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” In Peter’s sermon, he reminds them how Joel had predicted the events which were taking place then. He says, “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those day; and they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be
saved’” (Acts 2:18-21). The Holy Spirit would not simply empower the apostles to do miraculous wonders though but also would be given to others. Acts 8 shows us how the power of the Holy Spirit to perform miracles was passed on from the apostles to others. Acts 8:5-8 tells us Philip, who was not an apostle but one of the seven chosen to serve in Acts 6:5-6, went to Samaria, preached Christ to them, and worked miracles confirming the message he preached (Mark 16:19-20; Hebrews 2:4). Many of the people of Samaria believe and are baptized including a man who previously practiced sorcery named Simon (Acts 8:12-13). Philip had the ability to perform miracles but was unable to impart the Holy Spirit to others and give them the ability to perform miracles. Acts 8:14-16 tells us the apostles Peter and John come to Samaria to impart the ability to perform miracles by the Holy Spirit to these new converts. Acts 8:17-19 says, “Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was
given, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’” The laying on of the apostles’ hands is the way the ability to perform miracles was transmitted from the apostles to others. Another example of this type of laying on of hands is when Paul laid hands on about twelve men in Ephesus (Acts 19:5-7).
The Laying on of Hands to Show Approval or Appoint to a Specific Work
God instructs Moses in Numbers 27:18, “Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.” The purpose of this laying on of hands seems to be to signify Joshua is the one who will take Moses’ place as the next leader of Israel. Acts 13:1-3 is another instance of laying on of hands where it is for the purpose of separating Barnabas and Saul, men who already had miraculous gifts, to the work the Holy Spirit had for them. It appears laying on of hands is a means to place men in certain works.
Timothy is warned by Paul, “Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22). Timothy is being urged to be careful about those he might support or place into a certain work. We need to be careful about those we show our approval to and make sure they are faithfully serving the Lord lest we share in their evil deeds (2 John 9-11).
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Hopefully these thoughts helps us have a better understanding of the elementary principle of laying on of hands
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