what does this mean?

[Sam]

Originally Posted by SeekingOne

My version says:

"Before God, the Messiah Yeshua and the chosen angels, I solemnly charge you to observe these instructions, not pre-judging and not doing anything out of favoritism. Do not be hasty in granting s'mikkah (laying on of hands, granting authority) to anyone, and do not share in other people's sins - - keep yourself pure."

It seems to me that it is just part of a list of instructions, and one of them is to use caution in granting authority to someone. I guess in my mind, it would be not to just quickly decide to give someone authority quickly just because you feel good about it and need to get going to the next town, but to make sure you know this person can handle the authority and will use it in a Godly way.

The CJB (Complete Jewish Bible) says:
Do not be hasty in granting s'mikhah to anyone, and do not share in other people's sins - keep yourself pure

Paul wrote several things to Timothy in that epistle and part of it was about ordaining bishops/elders and deacons. The way that is sorta thrown in at the end seems to indicate to me that Paul just thought of it as he was closing his letter and didn't try to go back and revise what he had previously written about selecting people for church office. He just sort added it there at the end as an afterthought.

I know some people who think it means we should be careful how and when we lay hands on people to pray for them because we may not know just what's going on in them and where they are with the Lord and we may "pick up" some kind of spirit from them if we are not careful.