THE SYMBOLICAL NATURE OF THE LAYING ON OF HANDS

THE SYMBOLICAL NATURE OF THE LAYING ON OF HANDS

lb. The hands are the physical means of contact and communication.

This lies in the fact that the hands are the ordinary instruments of bodily touch and transference.

lc. Contact: Mark 10:16  cf. touch of vs. 13

2c. Communication: Lev. 16:21-22 One may also compare Mark 5:23; 6:5; 8:23, 25; 16:18, Luke 4:40 with 6:17-19

2b. The hands are therefore suitable signs of spiritual contact and communication. Since the hands are the ordinary instruments for contact and communication they do provide suitable signs for the spiritual.
lc. Contact: Num. 11:11, 17, 25

2c. Communication: Deut. 34:9 cf. Num. 27:18-23

3b. But the hands are only mere accompaniment of spiritual contact and Communication.

lc. The hands appear to be the cause of Spiritual contact and communication, but when looked at carefully such is not valid.

Mark 10:16 - "Blessed" means that he spoke blessing.
Acts 28:8 - Antecedent action only is marked by laying on of hands.
- and this is also true of entering and praying.
Acts 19:6 - Antecedent action is marked by laying on of hands.
Nothing else can be inferred.

2c. The hands also appear to be the channel of Spiritual contact and com­munication, but such cannot be verified.

Acts 8:17-18 - Simon Magus was not fooled. In the hands there was no inherent power, but they did represent the authority of the apostles, which authority he asked for.
2 Tim.1:6 - must be explained in the light of 1 Tim. 4:14.
The "through the laying on of my hands" were symbols of the authority of Paul and the presbytery, and the hands thus were nothing more than accompaniments, namely, "with the laying on of hands," of the gift that was communicated.

3c. The hands are really only accompaniments of Spiritual contact and communication.
1 Tim. 4:14 - "with" indicates accompaniment.
Acts 9:17 - Paul already had the Spirit, nor is the laying on of hands said to be the cause or channel of the filling.
Acts 6:6 cf. 3, 5 - These men were already full of the Spirit.
By laying on of hands the sign of authority in setting aside was used.
Acts 13:3, 2, 4 - Paul and Barnabas were already set aside by the Spirit. The Church merely gave assent by using the sign of authority.

4b. The hands symbolize the coming and communication of the Spirit of God in some special way of blessing upon the believer.

lc. The coming in regeneration at time of conversion. Acts 19:6
2c. The coming in filling power at time of confession. Acts 9:17
3c. The coming in filling and control at presentation. Rom. 12:1
4c. The coming for guidance at ordination, etc. Acts 13:3; 1 Tim. 4:14
5c. The coming for healing at anointing. James 5:13-18; Matt. 12:22, 28