Laying On Of Hands

Laying On Of Hands

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. - 2 Tim 1:6-7

The gift of God is often thought of as a specific spiritual gift being imparted through the laying on of hands. This is one of the verses people deduce about impartation. Actually, verse 7 itself explains what the gift of God really is. "For God has not given us a SPIRIT..."

The gift of God, thus, is the Spirit of God - the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit is THE Gift of God.

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.” But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that THE GIFT of God could be purchased with money! - Acts 8:18-20 (emphasis added)

Another verse people use to justify impartation (apart from Romans 1:11, which had been explained before) is as follows:

Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. - 1 Tim 4:4

1) The gift was given by a prophetic word

2) Laying on of the hands of the eldership pointed to commissioning of a particular office

“When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” ...And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. - Eph 4:8,11

The gift in Timothy that was confirmed by the prophetic word and the commissioning of the elders is known as Christ's gifts (Eph 4:11).

This is clear in 2 Timothy.

But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an EVANGELIST, fulfill your ministry. - 2 Tim 4:5 (emphasis added)

It wasn't any impartation of a specific gift. It is the confirmation of the office of an evangelist that Timothy is called by God to.

In summary, do you need people to lay hands on you? Yes and No.

Yes, if it is for the gift of the Holy Spirit - baptism of the Spirit. You can receive directly from God too.

Yes, if it is for healing (Mark 16:17-18). You can receive directly from God too.

Yes, if it is for the commissioning of an ordained ministry (1 Tim 4:4).

But no, if you talk about a specific spiritual gift, because Christ lives in you. Nobody can give to you what Christ has already given to you. #identity