How was Paul able to give Timothy a spiritual gift when he laid hands on him?
I know the gift came from God, but I’m confused how it came through Paul when he laid hands on Timothy.
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Asked February 19 2019
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Richard Glover
Supporter
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Tim Maas
Supporter
In my opinion, the spiritual gift that Timothy received was directly from God the Holy Spirit, and was not conveyed through the act of the laying of hands upon him (which was done not only by Paul himself, but also, as indicated in 1 Timothy 4:14, by the elders of the congregation, as well). (That is, neither Paul nor the elders were the medium through which that gift "flowed" or was bestowed, but the laying on of their hands was a concrete action marking the dedication of Timothy to the ministry.) To me, Paul himself confirms this in 2 Timothy 1:7, when he says directly that "God did not give us [indicating that Paul was putting himself and Timothy in the same category] a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power and love and self-control."
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