LAY HANDS SUDDENLY ON NO MAN
Recently, I have heard some wild (fear based) doctrines and theories centered about the following passage of scripture: "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure." (1 Timothy 5:22 KJV) After much research, the clearest understanding of this passage that I have been able to find [the translation of the passage that best lines up with the context of the scripture and makes the most sense] is from The Complete Jewish Bible. Here it is: "Do not be hasty in granting s’mikhah to anyone, and do not share in other people’s sins — keep yourself pure." (1 Timothy 5:22 CJB) Okay, what is s’mikhah? According to The Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics, 1917, page 552: The Hebrew word "s’mikhah" means "ordination." According to Webster's Dictionary: "Ordain" means "to invest officially (as by the laying on of hands) with ministerial or priestly authority." So, i