Hebrews 6:2 - Doctrine of Laying on of hands

[AlexL]

I read this in my personal study:

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

My question is what is the doctrine of laying on of hands and does anyone do it? I know in our church we don't lay hands on anyone.

My bible commentary does not even discuss what this doctrine of Christ is.

Thanks
Alex

 

[AlexL]

Does nobody know?

Does nobody know this? :tear:

I only know of the instances of laying on of hands, but nothing about the doctrine of said... I am praying someone can help..raying:

 

[Brother Bob]

Yes, we practice the "laying on of hands". Yesterday, I had a sister come forward at prayer time and ask us to lay hands on her and pray for healing. We went down on our knees for prayer and in that prayer we laid our hands on her and ask God to heal her of her afflictions, then we removed our hands and ask God to go with her. We do not make a show of it, it is usually incorperated in our Prayer service but if someone comes to me personally and asked me to "lay" hands on them for afflictions, then I do so and again, I ask God to heal them. We do not think we have the ability to heal them but we ask God to do so. When you receive what you ask in faith believing then you know the Lord hath provided it.

 

[richard n koustas]

Could this possibly be a reference to the laying the hands on the sacrificed animals in the OT (since this epistle is written to the Hebrews and the NT had not been put together yet)? if my memory serves, both the continual burnt offering and the sin offerings required that the offerer had to lay his hand on the animals head.

 

[Brother Bob]

Jam 5:14Is any sick among you? 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:
It don't suggest in any way the sacrifice of animals.

 

[Brother Bob]

We certainly do not believe in the Benny Henn type of healing. What we do is personal and quite and in no way is for show. I have seen God grant the prayers of healing. It dont come flying out of the sky, God just takes over that person's affliction and heals them.

 

[Marcia]

I think it might be referring to the laying on of hands for ordaining and commissioning.

Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. Acts 13.3

 

[rsr]

Both John Gill and Adam Clarke interpret these verses are referring to commandments of the Levitical law, which are superseded by the doctrine of Christ.

And of laying on of hands; the foundation of this was to be no more laid, nor the doctrine of it to be any longer taught and learned in the way it had been; for not the rite, but the doctrine of laying on of hands is here intended; and it has no reference to the right of laying on of hands by the apostles, either in private persons, or officers of churches; for what was the doctrine of such a rite, is not easy to say; but to the rite of laying on of hands of the priests, and of the people, upon the head of sacrifices; which had a doctrine in it, even the doctrine of the imputation of sin to Christ, the great sacrifice. It was usual with the Jews to call the imposition of hands upon the sacrifice, simply, hkymo, "laying on of hands"; and they understood by it the transferring of sin from the persons that laid on hands, to the sacrifice, on which they were laid; and that hereby, as they express it, sins were separated from them, and, as it were, put upon the sacrifice; but now believers were no longer to be taught and learn the great doctrine of the imputation of sin, by this rite and ceremony, since Christ has been made sin for them, and has had sins imputed to him, and has bore them in his own body on the tree ...

- John Gill's Commentary

Laying on of hands Was also frequent, especially in sacrifices: the person bringing the victim laid his hands on its head, confessed his sins over it, and then gave it to the priest to be offered to God, that it might make atonement for his transgressions. This also had respect to Jesus Christ, that Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

... Now the foundation of all these doctrines was laid in the Old Testament, and they were variously represented under the law, but they were all referred to the Gospel for their proof and illustration.

- Adam Clarke's Commentary

 

[Brother Bob]

James 5: (has nothing to do with the above of sacrifices) Not sure if Heb. 6 is referring to this laying on of hands or not.
13: Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14: Is any sick among you? 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 shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16: Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much

 

[AAA]

I read this in my personal study:

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

My question is what is the doctrine of laying on of hands and does anyone do it? I know in our church we don't lay hands on anyone.

My bible commentary does not even discuss what this doctrine of Christ is.

Thanks
Alex

My father-in-law is a SBC pastor that pastors a Missionary Baptist Church and they do practice laying on of hands in prayer for the sick and for ordination of deacons and the like.

I have also seen a SBC pastor practice this while deacons were taking thier office.

GOD bless you.

 

[convicted1]

RE: Laying on of hands

My mawmaw used to get skin cancer from time-to-time and she would always go to her brother-in-law, who was a preacher, and would have him lay hands on her. In a few days, her cancer would be gone. Did her brother-in-law heal her? No. It was God through her FAITH that healed her! Some don't use any oil when they do this, and some do. The churches I go to, don't ue it, they say the spirit is the oil. I truly think that they should use olive oil. It talks of anointing with OIL. So I think they should. But the oil, in and of itself, doen't do the healing....it is through faith that we are healed by God!! I liken 'laying on of hands' to a lightning rod. The rod does not have any power, but when the lightning hits it, it does. God uses man in the same way. Some men are just better 'Lightning rods' than others. May God Bless!! John 3:16 :1_grouphug:

 

[tinytim]

I have never used oil. If a person insists in the oil, is their faith in the oil or God.

It is impossible to please God without faith.

Prayer should be enough.

I see the passage in James in a whole different way. I see the Oil as medicinal... like the oil the good samaritan used to bind the wounds of the victim.

To me the passage is saying, do everything humanly possible (today it would be the same as going to the Dr.) But then realize that God is the one that absolutely heals.

But of course if you want to disagree with me, that is OK, my wife doesn't agree with me over this also.

I am happy to pray for anyone, and lay hands on them.

 

[rlvaughn]

tinytim, I'll have to join your wife in disagreeing with you on that! Even back in that day they didn't think oil was a cure-all to be used with every type of sickness.

Plus, I think if we go with that thinking about faith, we could also say, "If a person insists on laying-on-of-hands, is their faith in the laying-on-of-hands or God?"

As far as laying-on-of-hands goes, I assume that most Baptists still incorporate this in the service of ordination for elders and deacons. Some, as already noted, use it when praying for the sick. Another fairly common Baptist interpretation that has fallen into disuse was laying hands on the newly baptized. The most influential early American Baptist confession of faith included an article on the subject (which even made it prerequisite to communion).

"We believe that laying on of hands, with prayer, upon baptised believers, as such, is an ordinance of Christ,1 and ought to be submitted unto by all such persons that are admitted to partake of the Lord's Supper, and that the end of this ordinance is not for the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, but for a farther reception of the Holy Spirit of promise,2 or for the addition of the graces of the Spirit, and the influences thereof; to confirm, strengthen, and comfort them in Christ Jesus, it being ratified and established by the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit in the primitive times,3 to abide in the church as meeting together on the first day of the week was,4 that being the day of worship, or christian sabbath, under the Gospel, and as preaching the word was,5 and as baptism was,6 and prayer was,7 and singing psalms, etc. was,8 so this laying on of hands was,9 for as the whole Gospel was confirmed by signs and wonders, and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost in general,10 so was every ordinance in like manner confirmed in particular." -- Philadelphia Confession of Faith, Chapter 31, 1742
http://www.reformedreader.org/ccc/pctoc.htm

 

[Salty]

Would you say laying on of hands and baptism are similar in that they are both only symbolic?

 

[Zenas]

The doctrine of laying on of hands is a reference to ordination. See, for example:

Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hnds by the presbytery. 1 Timothy 4:14.

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.

 

[awaken]

Mark 16:18...." they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover"

 

[AresMan]

I read this in my personal study:

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

My question is what is the doctrine of laying on of hands and does anyone do it? I know in our church we don't lay hands on anyone.

My bible commentary does not even discuss what this doctrine of Christ is.

Thanks
Alex

My understanding of Hebrews is that it is all about the New Covenant, and the writer is warning about returning to the Old Covenant under pressure from Judaizers. The Old Covenant was ready to vanish away and was effectually done away and fulfilled in Christ. If one were to attempt to save himself under the Old Covenant, believing that it effectuated salvation, he would be damned. The writer is telling these Jews not to go back to the old ways.

Heb 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Just before this, the writer discussed Christ being priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. However, these Jews were struggling with the need to participate in the Levitical priesthood from the pressure of Judaizers. The writer basically calls the elements of the Old Covenant "milk," and their meaning and fulfillment in Christ "meat."

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.

I believe this "foundation" is specifically the Old Covenant and what it ultimately teaches toward the New Covenant. There, of course, is fundamental overlap in this list also in the New Covenant, but the prospect is that if one is looking only at the Old Covenant, these items in such context were only the "foundation."

Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

This would sound like, from a human standpoint, a person could apostatize from the faith and have no hope of return. I don't believe that this is what that really means. I believe it is more of a hypothetical situation in reference to someone trying to sanctify himself under the Old Covenant in light of the fact that Christ has provided the one-time sacrifice. One could not fall away from the faith and then be renewed to repentance under "the foundation" of the Old Covenant, because in doing so, one would be "crucifying the Son of God afresh." The blood of bulls and goats could not take away sin, but now Christ has taken away the first that He may establish the second. To put one's faith in an animal sacrifice now to gain approval of God when Christ our passover is sacrificed for us is to "crucify to [oneself] the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."