Verse 6 Stir up the gift of God; be diligent and active in the exercise of the gift, that is, the office of the ministry.--The putting on of my hands. His ordination to the work of the ministry was stated, in 1 Timothy 4:14, to be by the presbytery, that is, the elders. But the ceremony of laying on of hands was often performed in token of any special consecration, as well as in cases of original induction to the ministerial office. For an example, see Acts 13:2,3. So Paul appears to have consecrated Timothy for the particular work to which he called him.