THEOSISTheodoret of Cyrus
For what reason did the Almighty God, when affirming that Jesus possessed the Spirit of God within Himself, instruct Moses to place 'His hand ... upon Him' (Num. 27:18)? This situation was similarly witnessed in the household of Cornelius, where they had already been baptized by receiving grace. Even our Lord Christ, who had received all the gifts of the Spirit in His human nature before His incarnation, submitted to the baptism of John. He ordered His servant to place His hand on His head and demonstrated the All-Holy Spirit descending upon Him in the form of a dove. The apostles, having already been filled with the Holy Spirit through the Lord's divine presence, then experienced the outpouring of grace from above.
Read more (283 words)
Such was also the case with Joshua, who was endowed with the Spirit's grace. However, to ensure that the people knew he was divinely appointed as their leader, the hands of the lawgiver were laid upon him in obedience to God's command. It is written, 'Thou shalt lay thy hands upon him: and thou shalt set him before Eleazar the priest, and shalt command him before all the host, and shalt give him of thy glory, that all the children of Israel may listen to him. And before Eleazar he shall be a sacrifice' (Num. 27:18-21). This means he was to be honored equally, and through the discernment granted to Eleazar, he would understand his duties. Thus, it is evident that those ordained by bishops partake in spiritual grace. Here, the Lord God stated: 'give on him of thy glory.' It is remarkable that although the Prophet had children, a brother, and a nephew, he did not appoint any of them as a leader; instead, he sought God's direction and designated the one called by Him. Following this, Moses established reminders concerning feasts and offerings and provided the laws regarding those who have vowed to present gifts to the Lord God (Num. 30:3). He decreed that every individual must fulfill their vow through action. If a woman is under her father's authority, her vow needs to receive her father's affirmation. Should the father disapprove of her vow, she will not be held accountable. If, however, after she declares her vow, the father either consents or remains silent, the vow is to be honored. He established equivalent principles for married individuals, directing that the husband's agreement is required for the validity of a vow.