Bible Dictionary: Imposition

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) The act of imposing, laying on, affixing, enjoining, inflicting, obtruding, and the like.

2. (n.) That which is imposed, levied, or enjoined; charge; burden; injunction; tax.

3. (n.) An extra exercise enjoined on students as a punishment.

4. (n.) An excessive, arbitrary, or unlawful exaction; hence, a trick or deception put on laid on others; cheating; fraud; delusion; imposture.

5. (n.) The act of laying on the hands as a religious ceremony, in ordination, confirmation, etc.

6. (n.) The act or process of imposing pages or columns of type. See Impose, v. t., 4.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

HANDS; HANDS, IMPOSITION, LAYING ON OF

im-po-zish'-un (epithesis cheiron, Acts 8:18 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6 Hebrews 6:2): The act or ceremony of the imposition of hands appears in the Old Testament in various connections: in the act of blessing (Genesis 48:14); in the ritual of sacrifice (hands of the offerer laid on head of victim, Exodus 29:10, 15, 19 Leviticus 1:4; Leviticus 3:2, 8, 13; Leviticus 4:4, 24, 29; 8:14; 16:21); in witness-bearing in capital offenses (Leviticus 24:14). The tribe of Levi was set apart by solemn imposition of hands (Numbers 8:10); Moses appointed Joshua to be his successor by a similar act (Numbers 27:18, 23 Deuteronomy 34:9). The idea in these cases varies with the purpose of the act. The primary idea seems to be that of conveyance or transference (compare Leviticus 16:21), but, conjoined with this, in certain instances, are the ideas of identification and of devotion to God.

In the New Testament Jesus laid hands on the little children (Matthew 19:13, 15 parallel Mark 10:16) and on the sick (Matthew 9:18 Mark 6:5, etc.), and the apostles laid hands on those whom they baptized that they might receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17, 19; Acts 19:6), and in healing (Acts 12:17). Specially the imposition of hands was used in the setting apart of persons to a particular office or work in the church. This is noticed as taking place in the appointment of the Seven (Acts 6:6), in the sending out of Barnabas and Saul (Acts 13:3), at the ordination of Timothy (1 Timothy 4:14 2 Timothy 1:6), but though not directly mentioned, it seems likely that it accompanied all acts of ordination of presbyters and deacons (compare 1 Timothy 5:22 Hebrews 6:2). The presbyters could hardly convey what they had not themselves received (1 Timothy 1:14). Here again the fundamental idea is communication. The act of laying on of hands was accompanied by prayer (Acts 6:6; Acts 8:15; Acts 13:3), and the blessing sought was imparted by God Himself. No ground is afforded by this symbolical action for a sacrament of "Orders."

See SACRIFICE; MINISTRY; ORDINATION.

James Orr

IMPOSITION OF HANDS

im-po-zish'-un.

See HANDS, IMPOSITION (LAYING ON) OF.

Greek

1936. epithesis -- a laying on, an assault
... assault, imposition. From epitithemi; an imposition (of hands officially) -- laying
(putting) on. see GREEK epitithemi. (epitheseos) -- 4 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1936.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

5183. Nachath -- quietness, rest
... From nchath; a descent, ie Imposition, unfavorable (punishment) or favorable (food);
also (intransitively; perhaps from nuwach), restfulness -- lighting down ...
/hebrew/5183.htm - 5k

5378. nasha -- to beguile, deceive
... A primitive root (perhaps identical with nasha', through the idea of imposition);
to lend on interest; by implication, to dun for debt -- X debt, exact, giver ...
/hebrew/5378.htm - 6k

Library

Whether the Imposition of the Priest's Hands is Necessary for this ...
... OF THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE (TEN ARTICLES) Whether the imposition of the
priest's hands is necessary for this sacrament? Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the imposition of the.htm

Of the Imposition of the Bishop's Hand.
... The Epistle of Pope Urban First. VII. Of the imposition of the bishop's
hand. For all the faithful ought to receive the Holy Spirit ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/vii of the imposition of.htm

Of the Imposition of Hands. Types of the Deluge and the Dove.
... Chapter VIII."Of the Imposition of Hands. Types of the Deluge and the
Dove. In the next place the hand is laid on us, invoking ...
/.../tertullian/on baptism/chapter viii of the imposition of.htm

In what Manner, and from what Cause, the Functions of the ...
... Chapter XVI."In What Manner, and from What Cause, the Functions of the Presbyter,
Appointed to Preside over the Imposition of Penance, were abolished. ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter xvi in what manner and.htm

Whether the Character is Imprinted on a Priest when the Chalice is ...
... Now the Holy Ghost is given by the imposition of hands. Therefore the character
of order is given at the moment of the imposition of hands. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the character is imprinted.htm

Acts XIII
... together. The design of the ceremony of fasting, prayer, and imposition
of hands observed on this occasion is variously understood. ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xiii.htm

Whether those who had Been Baptized with John's Baptism had to be ...
... born of women a greater than John the Baptist." But those who were baptized by the
apostles were not baptized again, but only received the imposition of hands ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether those who had been.htm

Epistle Lxvii. To Quiricus, Bishop, &C.
... the name of the Trinity, when they return to holy Church, may be recalled to the
bosom of mother Church either by unction of chrism, or by imposition of hands ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle lxvii to quiricus bishop.htm

Concerning the Paulianists who have Flown for Refuge to the ...
... And we mean by deaconesses such as have assumed the habit, but who, since they have
no imposition of hands, are to be numbered only among the laity. Notes. ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon xix concerning the paulianists.htm

It is by all Means Proper that a Bishop Should be Appointed by all ...
... But they are not contradictory; for the Apostolical canon by ordination (cheirotonian)
means consecration and imposition of hands, but the present canon by ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon iv it is by.htm

Thesaurus

Imposition (3 Occurrences)
... HANDS; HANDS, IMPOSITION, LAYING ON OF. ... Specially the imposition of hands was used
in the setting apart of persons to a particular office or work in the church. ...
/i/imposition.htm - 11k

Laying (87 Occurrences)
... HANDS; HANDS, IMPOSITION, LAYING ON OF. ... Specially the imposition of hands was used
in the setting apart of persons to a particular office or work in the church. ...
/l/laying.htm - 39k

Sponge (3 Occurrences)
... 12. (vt) Fig.: To deprive of something by imposition. 13. (vt) Fig.: To get by
imposition or mean arts without cost; as, to sponge a breakfast. 14. ...
/s/sponge.htm - 10k

Imposing (8 Occurrences)

/i/imposing.htm - 9k

Hands (998 Occurrences)
... HANDS; HANDS, IMPOSITION, LAYING ON OF. ... Specially the imposition of hands was used
in the setting apart of persons to a particular office or work in the church. ...
/h/hands.htm - 39k

Impossible (31 Occurrences)

/i/impossible.htm - 17k

Hand (14438 Occurrences)
... Timothy 4:14 2 Timothy 1:6); but it also designates the infliction of cruelty and
punishment (Genesis 37:22 Leviticus 24:14), the imposition of responsibility ...
/h/hand.htm - 27k

Negligent (7 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 4:14 Be not negligent of the gift that is in thee, which has been given
to thee through prophecy, with imposition of the hands of the elderhood. ...
/n/negligent.htm - 8k

Judaeus
... In the winter of 39-40 AD, he was spokesman of the deputation sent to Rome to protest
against imposition of emperor-worship upon fellow-citizens of his faith. ...
/j/judaeus.htm - 29k

Gouge (4 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) Imposition; cheat; fraud; also, an impostor; a cheat; a trickish
person. Multi-Version Concordance Gouge (4 Occurrences). ...
/g/gouge.htm - 8k

Bible Concordance

Imposition (3 Occurrences)

1 Timothy 4:14 Be not negligent of the gift that is in thee, which has been given to thee through prophecy, with imposition of the hands of the elderhood.
(DBY)

2 Timothy 1:6 For which cause I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the imposition of my hands.
(WBS)

Hebrews 6:2 of the doctrine of washings, and of imposition of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment;
(DBY)

Subtopics

Imposition

Imposition of Hands

Related Terms

Laying (87 Occurrences)

Sponge (3 Occurrences)

Imposing (8 Occurrences)

Hands (998 Occurrences)

Impossible (31 Occurrences)

Hand (14438 Occurrences)