1 Timothy 4:13-15
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
13 Until I arrive, attend to the reading,[a] exhortation, and teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was conferred on you through the prophetic word[b] with the imposition of hands of the presbyterate.(A) 15 Be diligent in these matters, be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to everyone.
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- 4:13 Reading: the Greek word refers to private or public reading. Here, it probably designates the public reading of scripture in the Christian assembly.
- 4:14 Prophetic word: this may mean the utterance of a Christian prophet designating the candidate or a prayer of blessing accompanying the rite. Imposition of hands: this gesture was used in the Old Testament to signify the transmission of authority from Moses to Joshua (Nm 27:18–23; Dt 34:9). The early Christian community used it as a symbol of installation into an office: the Seven (Acts 6:6) and Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:3). Of the presbyterate: this would mean that each member of the college of presbyters imposed hands and appears to contradict 2 Tm 1:6, in which Paul says that he imposed hands on Timothy. This latter text, however, does not exclude participation by others in the rite. Some prefer to translate “for the presbyterate,” and thus understand it to designate the office into which Timothy was installed rather than the agents who installed him.
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