1 Timothy 5:22
gLay hands hsuddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.
Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.
χεῖρας ταχέως μηδενὶ ἐπιτίθει, μηδὲ κοινώνει ἁμαρτίαις ἀλλοτρίαις· σεαυτὸν ἁγνὸν τήρει.
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Acts 6:6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
Acts 13:3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
1 Timothy 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
2 Timothy 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
h:
1 Timothy 3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
Joshua 9:14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.
Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
2 John 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
By Lay hands suddenly on no man, is certainly, to be understood: Do thou suddenly set no man apart to any ecclesiastical employment. Laying on of hands was but an external ceremony used in blessing, Gen 48:14,15, and in the conferring of power upon persons. Num 27:18 Deu 34:9. In the New Testament, we find this rite used: in prayer upon healing the sick, Mar 16:18 Act 28:8; in blessing, Mar 10:16; in conferring the gifts of the Holy Ghost, Act 19:6; in ordination, or setting persons apart to some ecclesiastical employment, 1Ti 4:14 Act 6:6; and being so used, it is sometimes put for the whole action. This the apostle forbids Timothy to do suddenly, that is, without a first proof of the person’s fitness for his work, 1Ti 3:10, both with respect to his knowledge, and to his holiness of conversation.
this participation of other men’s sin ought to be taken heed of in the whole course of our conversation, but it seemeth here to be especially forbidden with reference to what was before spoken of, viz. the setting men apart for or putting them into any ecclesiastical employment; he who puts into the ministry any erroneous or ignorant persons, or any persons of a lewd conversation, makes himself guilty of all the harm they do, if he hath not first taken a due and reasonable proof of them, but hath laid hands upon them suddenly. Amongst other ways by which we interest ourselves in others’ guilt, one is, by not hindering it, having power so to do. He, or they, whom it lies upon to admit, or not admit, men into the ministry, have a power to refuse them in case upon proof of them they do not find them apt to teach, or fit for the ministration they are to undertake, or such for holiness of life as God requireth: God by his word declaring what such persons ought to be, and commanding him or them first to prove such persons, and to lay hands on none suddenly, hath invested him or them with such a power, of which man cannot deprive them.
the purity here mentioned, is comprehensive of that chastity which some would have the word here signify, but it is most reasonable to understand it here with relation to what went before, viz. partaking of other men’s sins; If thou canst not keep the church pure, but ignorant or erroneous persons, or sots, will get into the church, yet let them not get in through thy hands,
keep thyself pure.