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14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was conferred on you through the prophetic word[a] with the imposition of hands of the presbyterate.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 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.

12 Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.(A)

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[a]I have competed well; I have finished the race;(A) I have kept the faith.

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Footnotes

  1. 4:7 At the close of his life Paul could testify to the accomplishment of what Christ himself foretold concerning him at the time of his conversion, “I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name” (Acts 9:16).

Occasion for Writing. Beloved, although I was making every effort to write to you about our common salvation,[a] I now feel a need to write to encourage you to contend for the faith that was once for all handed down to the holy ones.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 3–4 Our common salvation: the teachings of the Christian faith derived from the apostolic preaching and to be kept by the Christian community.