St. Joseph's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

In 2 Tim. 1:6, Paul exhorts Timothy "Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying of my own hands". This is in reference to the Episcopal ordination of Timothy by Paul (Cf. 1 Tim. 4: 14). Timothy is expected to transfer this authority to his successors. But he must not lay hands on anyone hastily (1 Tim. 5:24). From the early days itself, elders existed in the Church. "So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commanded them to the Lord in whom they had believed" (Acts 14:23). In Titus 1:5 St. Paul asks Titus his "true son in common faith", to appoint elders in every city. "You should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you" (1:5). In the following verses, the qualities of a Bishop-elect is narrated (VV 6:9). Acts 6: 1-6 narrates how deacons were chosen by the community and appointed by the apostles by laying hands on them. The author of Hebrews says that there is no need of laying a further foundation for our principles with regard to repentance, faith in God, baptism, laying on hands, resurrection, and eternal judgement (Heb. 6:1-2).