Laying Hands on the Sick
Early Christian writings connect laying on hands with healing the sick and with receiving the Holy Spirit after baptism. The Gospels place this practice on Jesus' own healing work, and writers like Irenaeus, Origen, Tertullian, Cyprian, and the Apostolic Constitutions repeat it as normal Christian practice. The clearest early witness is healing by touch in the Gospels; the church writings are strongest on baptism and blessing, with fewer direct sickbed rites described.
110 early-church witnesses · 192 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about laying hands on the sick?
Early Christian teaching strongly connects laying on hands with healing the sick and with giving the Holy Spirit after baptism. Jesus is pictured healing by touch in the Gospels, and writers like Irenaeus, Origen, Tertullian, Cyprian, and the Apostolic Constitutions treat that practice as normal Christian life, not a rare sign.
The evidence is broad for healing and for post-baptismal laying on of hands, though the baptismal use is a related but separate church practice rather than the same thing as prayer for the sick. There is also some liturgical prayer for the sick, but fewer direct early passages explicitly describe bishops or elders laying hands on sick people in a church rite. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Jesus healed sick people by laying on hands in the Gospels.
- Early Christian writers linked laying on hands with healing and with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Cyprian and the Apostolic Constitutions describe hands laid on believers after baptism.
- Direct early evidence for a formal church rite of laying hands on the sick is present but less abundant than the baptismal evidence.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians think laying hands on the sick could heal them?
Yes. The Gospels say Jesus laid his hands on sick people and healed them, and early writers like Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Origen speak of healing through that same kind of touch. Mark 6:5, Luke 4:40, Mark 16:18, and related passages give the clearest Bible base for the practice.
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Luke 4:40 Direct teaching
Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
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Mark 16:18 Direct teaching
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
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Mark 6:5 Direct teaching
And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
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Matthew 10:8 Direct teaching
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book II Direct teaching
Others still, heal the sick by laying their hands upon them, and they are made whole.
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness
In short, He did himself touch others, upon whom He laid His hands, which were capable of being felt, and conferred the blessings of healing, Luke 4:40 which were not less true, not less unimaginary, than were the hands wherewith He bestowed them.
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Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness
and after this cure, when the sun was setting, he says, all, as many as had persons sick with various diseases, brought them to Him, and He laid his hands on each one of them and cured them.
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Clement of Alexandria, Who Is the Rich Man That Shall Be Saved? Supporting witness
and disease at its height is subdued, put to flight by the laying on of hands;
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall by no means hurt them: they shall lay their hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness
49 except that he laid his hand upon a few of the sick, and healed them.
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Arnobius, Against the Heathen Background
For it is known that Christ, either by applying His hand to the parts affected, or by the command of His voice only, opened the ears of the deaf, drove away blindness from the eyes, gave speech to the dumb, loosened the rigidity of the joints, gave the power of walking to the shrivelled — was wont to heal by a word and by an order, leprosies, agues, dropsies, and all other kinds of ailments, which some fell power has willed that the bodies of men should endure.
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness
And he laid his hand 52 on them one by one and healed them: Matthew 8:17 that that might be fulfilled which was said 53 in the prophet Isaiah, who said, He takes our pains and bears our diseases.
More related quotations from this section 1 shown
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Background
...med man from the beginning, when He found His creation harmed by wickedness, performed all kinds of healing on it. At times, He did so for each individual part, as it is found in His own creation; and at other times, He restored man completely, making him perfect for Himself for the resurrection. What was His purpose in healing different parts of the flesh and restoring them to their original condition if those parts healed by Him were not able to obtain salvation? For if it was merely a temporary benefit that He provided, He granted nothing of importance to those who were healed by Him. Or how can they argue that the flesh is incapable of receiving the life that comes from Him, when it received healing from Him? For life is brought about through healing, and incorruption through life. Therefore, He who gives healing also grants life; and He who gives life also encompasses His creation with incorruption.
Why did early Christians lay hands on believers after baptism?
They linked post-baptismal laying on of hands with receiving the Holy Spirit. Cyprian, Origen, the Anonymous Treatise on Re-Baptism, and the Apostolic Constitutions all describe prayer and hands being laid on believers for this gift after baptism or reception into the church.
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Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Direct teaching
...ect, but, as it were, whole and complete. For when the Holy Spirit is given to each believer by the laying on of the bishop’s hands, as happened with the Samaritans after Philip’s baptism, the apostles gave them the Holy Spirit by laying hands on them in this way. And so that this might happen, they themselves prayed for them, because the Holy Spirit had not yet descended on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Moreover, after His resurrection, when our Lord had breathed on His apostles and had said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” John 20:22, in this way and in this way only He bestowed the Spirit on them.
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Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Direct teaching
...hink, my brother? If a man is not baptized by a bishop in such a way as to receive the laying on of hands at once, and yet dies before receiving the Holy Spirit, would you judge that he has received salvation or not? For even the apostles themselves, and the disciples who also baptized others and had themselves been baptized by the Lord, did not receive the Holy Spirit at once. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified. And after His resurrection, a considerable time passed before that happened. In the same way, when the Samaritans were baptized by Philip, they did not receive the gift until the apostles, who were invited from Jerusalem to Samaria, came down to them, laid hands on them, and gave them the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands. During that interval, any one of them who had not received the Holy Spirit might have been cut off by death, and died deprived of the grace of the Holy Spirit. Nor can it be doubted that the same kind of thing is common in the present day and happens often: many people, after baptism, leave this life without the laying on of the bishop's hands, and yet are considered complete believers. Just so, the Eth
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Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching
viz., that prayer being made for them, and hands being imposed, the Holy Spirit should be invoked and poured out upon them, which now too is done among us, so that they who are baptized in the Church are brought to the prelates of the Church, and by our prayers and by the imposition of hands obtain the Holy Spirit, and are perfected with the Lord's seal.
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
in the name of the same Christ, the imposition of hands might avail also for the reception of the Holy Spirit;
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
and that imposition of hands shall be to him instead of baptism: for by the laying on of our hands the Holy Ghost was given to believers.
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Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Supporting witness
In the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit was given by the imposition of the apostles' hands in baptism.
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Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Supporting witness
Lastly, for this reason was the grace and revelation of the Holy Spirit bestowed by the imposition of the apostles' hands after baptism.
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Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness
that is, that by the imposition of hands alone of the bishop— because baptism in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ has gone before it — may the Holy Spirit also be given to another man who repents and believes.
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Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness
And it cannot be doubted also, that in the present day this sort of thing is usual, and happens frequently, that many after baptism depart from this life without imposition of the bishop's hands, and yet are esteemed perfected believers.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
And as you receive an heathen after you have instructed and baptized him, so do you let all join in prayers for this man, and restore him by imposition of hands to his ancient place among the flock, as one purified by repentance;
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
...e instructed and baptized him, so also let all join in prayers for this man, and restore him by the laying on of hands to his former place among the flock, as one purified by repentance. And that laying on of hands shall be to him instead of baptism. For by the laying on of our hands the Holy Ghost was given to believers. And if one of those brothers who had stood immovable accuses you because you are reconciled to him, say to him: "You are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad. For this your brother was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found." For God not only receives the penitent, but also restores them to their former dignity. Holy David is a sufficient witness, who, after his sin in the matter of Uriah, prayed to God and said: "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your free Spirit." And again: "Turn Your face from my sins, and blot out all my offenses. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in my inward parts. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me." Therefore, as a compassionate physician, heal all who have sinned, making use of savi
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Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness
...ose who seem to have departed this life without that benefit would necessarily be required from the hands of the bishops. Further, as you are not ignorant, the Holy Spirit is found to have been given by the Lord without baptism of water to men who believe, as it is written in Acts of the Apostles in this way: “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been poured out on the Gentiles. For they heard them speak in tongues, and they magnified God. Then Peter answered, ‘Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?’ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” Acts 10:44-48 Peter also later taught us very fully about these same Gentiles, saying: “And He made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.” Acts 15:9 And so there will be no doubt that men may be baptized with the Holy Spirit without water, since you see that these were baptized before they were baptized with water. In this way, the d
More related quotations from this section 6 shown
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Acts 8:19 Direct teaching
saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
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Acts 6:6 Direct teaching
These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
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Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness
For when by imposition of the bishop's hands the Holy Spirit is given to every one that believes, as in the case of the Samaritans, after Philip's baptism, the apostles did to them by laying on of hands;
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Acts 13:3 Supporting witness
And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book I Background
and with respect to their filling with the Holy Ghost, through the imposition of hands, those that believed in God through Him who was preached by them, namely, Christ Jesus—suspecting that even this was done through a kind of greater knowledge of magic, and offering money to the apostles, thought he, too, might receive this power of bestowing the Holy Spirit on whomsoever he would,—was addressed in these words by Peter: “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God can be purchased with money: thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight of God;
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Hebrews 6:2 Background
and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
Did early Christian worship include prayer for the sick?
Yes. Early liturgies ask God to heal the sick, and later Christian writers tie prayer to healing and mercy. James 5:14-15 is the clearest Bible passage for praying over the sick, and the liturgical prayers fit that same pattern.
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James 5:14 Direct teaching
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
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James 5:15 Direct teaching
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
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Mark 6:13 Direct teaching
And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.
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Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James Direct teaching
Remember, O Lord, the sick and afflicted, and those troubled by unclean spirits, their speedy healing from You, O God, and their salvation.
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Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James Supporting witness
For those who are in old age and infirmity, for the sick and suffering, and those who are troubled by unclean spirits, for their speedy cure from God and their salvation;
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Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. Mark Supporting witness
Deliver them and us, O Lord, from sickness and disease, and drive away the spirit of weakness.
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Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. Mark Supporting witness
Look down in mercy and compassion, O Lord, and heal the sick among Your people.
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Polycarp, Connection to James 5:14 Supporting witness
let the presbyters be compassionate and merciful to all, bringing back those that wander, visiting all the sick.
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Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness
Before all things, the Teacher of peace and the Master of unity did not want prayer to be made separately and individually, as if each person should pray only for himself. For we do not say, "My Father, who art in heaven," or, "Give me today my daily bread." Nor does each person ask that only his own debt should be forgiven. Nor does he ask for himself alone that he may not be led into temptation and delivered from evil. Our prayer is public and shared. And when we pray, we do not pray for one person, but for the whole people, because we, the whole people, are one. The God of peace and the Teacher of harmony, who taught unity, willed that each one should pray in this way for all, just as He Himself bore us all in one. The three children kept this rule of prayer when they were shut up in the fiery furnace. They prayed together and were of one heart in the agreement of the spirit. Sacred Scripture assures us of this. And by telling us how such people prayed, it gives an example that we ought to follow in our prayers, so that we may be as they were: "Then these three," it says, "as if from one mouth sang a hymn and blessed the Lord." They spoke as if from one mouth, although Christ ha
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Background
...difference between health and knowledge. Knowledge comes through learning, but health comes through healing. A person who is sick cannot study any subject until he is completely well. The instructions given to learners and to the sick are not always spoken in the same way. They are given to the first group in a way that leads to knowledge, and to the second in a way that leads to health. So then, just as those of us who are sick in body need a physician, those who are sick in soul also need a pædagogue to cure our sicknesses. Then we need a teacher to train and guide the soul into all the knowledge it needs, once it has become able to receive the revelation of the Word. Since the all-kind Word eagerly desires to bring us to perfection, by a step-by-step order that leads to salvation and is suited for effective training, he follows a beautiful order: first he exhorts, then he trains, and finally he teaches.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Background
...way, healthy people do not need a physician, at least as long as they are strong. But those who are sick need his skill. So also we, who are sick in our lives with shameful desires, blameworthy excesses, and other burning effects of the passions, need the Savior. And He gives not only gentle medicines, but also strong ones. So the bitter roots of fear stop the eating sores of our sins. Therefore fear is beneficial, even if it is bitter. When we are sick, we truly need the Savior. When we have gone astray, we need someone to guide us. When we are blind, we need someone to lead us to the light. When we are thirsty, we need the fountain of life, and whoever drinks from it will no longer thirst, John 4:13-14. When we are dead, we need life. As sheep, we need a shepherd. As children, we need a tutor. And all humanity needs Jesus, so that we may not remain stubborn and sinful to the end and so fall into condemnation, but may be separated from the chaff and stored in the Father’s barn. For the winnowing fork is in the Lord’s hand, and by it the chaff meant for the fire is separated from the wheat, Matthew 3:12; Luke 3:17. If you are willing, you may learn the highest wisdom of the all-
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Background
... spoke about this event: ‘With my voice, I cried to the Lord, and He heard me from His holy hill. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.’ Isaiah also described how He would die: ‘I have spread out My hands to a disobedient and opposing people, who walk in a way that is not good.’ Isaiah also foretold His resurrection: ‘His burial has been removed, and I will give the rich for His death.’ In the twenty-first Psalm, David refers to the suffering and the cross in a mysterious parable: ‘They pierced my hands and my feet; they counted all my bones. They stared and looked at me; they divided my garments among themselves and cast lots for my clothing.’ When they crucified Him, they drove in the nails, piercing His hands and feet, and those who crucified Him divided His clothes, casting lots for what they wanted to take, each receiving according to the lot's decision. You argue that this Psalm does not refer to Christ because you are completely blind and fail to understand that no one in your nation called King or Christ has ever had his hands or feet pierced while alive or has died in this mysterious manner—namely, by the cross—except for Jesus alone.
More related quotations from this section 3 shown
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Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness
...g, beloved brothers, we ought to be watchful and earnest with our whole heart, fully focused on our prayers. Let all fleshly and worldly thoughts pass away, and at that time let the soul think of nothing except the very thing it is praying for. For this reason also the priest, as a preface before his prayer, prepares the minds of the brothers by saying, "Lift up your hearts," so that when the people answer, "We lift them up to the Lord," he may be reminded that he himself also ought to think of nothing but the Lord. Let the heart be closed to the adversary, and open to God alone. And let it not allow God's enemy to come near it at the time of prayer. For he often creeps upon us and enters within, and by clever deceit draws our prayers away from God, so that we may have one thing in our heart and another in our voice, when it is not the sound of the voice, but the soul and mind, that ought to be praying to the Lord with a sincere purpose. But what carelessness it is to be distracted and carried away by foolish and profane thoughts when you are praying to the Lord, as if there were anything you should rather think about than that you are speaking with God! How can you ask God to h
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Background
...’s whims instead of what is needed? The Lord Himself declares that He came as the physician for the sick, saying, “Those who are whole need not a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” How, then, shall the sick be strengthened, or how shall sinners come to repentance? Is it by continuing in the same ways, or rather by undergoing a significant change and reversal of their former way of living, which brought them much sickness and many sins? But ignorance, the mother of these, is dispelled by knowledge. Therefore, the Lord imparted knowledge to His disciples, using it to heal those who suffered and to deter sinners from sin. He did not speak to them based on their original ideas or answer in line with the opinions of His questioners but according to the doctrine leading to salvation, without hypocrisy or favoritism.
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Cyprian, Treatises Background
This treatise of Cyprian on the Lord’s Prayer has three parts. In this division he follows Tertullian in his book On Prayer. In the first part, he shows that the Lord’s Prayer is the greatest of all prayers, deeply spiritual, and most effective for obtaining what we ask. In the second part, he gives an explanation of the Lord’s Prayer. Still following in Tertullian’s footsteps, he goes through its seven main clauses. Finally, in the third part, he considers the conditions of prayer and tells us what prayer ought to be.
Common Questions
Did early Christians believe laying hands could heal sickness?
Yes. The Gospels show Jesus laying hands on sick people and healing them, and early writers like Irenaeus and Tertullian repeat that healing by touch was part of Christian faith.
Did the early church lay hands on people after baptism?
Yes. Cyprian, the Anonymous Treatise on Re-Baptism, Origen, and the Apostolic Constitutions link the laying on of hands with receiving the Holy Spirit after baptism.
Is laying on hands on the sick the same as confirmation or baptismal blessing?
No. The early texts connect both practices to laying on hands, but the healing of the sick and the post-baptismal gift of the Spirit are separate uses.
Source Index for Laying hands on the sick
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 192 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 110
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 82
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.
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Book 79 1:34
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