Thomas Aquinas, on 1Tim 4:14

“Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was given thee by prophesy, with imposition of the hands of the priesthood.”

“Then when he says, do not neglect, he gives the reason for this advice: first, the cause from the gift received; second, the cause from the reward expected, at take heed to yourself. In regard to the first he does two things: first, he gives the reason; second, he shows how that which is contained in the reason can be fulfilled, at meditate upon these things. He says, therefore: do not neglect the grace that is in you. As if to say: yes, take heed, because one who receives grace should not be negligent in using it; rather, it should bear fruit. The servant who hid his master's money in the earth is punished for negligence (Matt 25:24). Therefore, do not neglect the grace that is in you. By this we are to understand the episcopal dignity or the gift of knowledge or prophecy or miracles; none of which should be neglected: do not receive the grace of God in vain (2 Cor 6:1). I say, the grace which was given to you by prophecy, i.e., by divine inspiration. For in the early Church where elections were conducted honestly and for the honor of God, no one was chosen for the bishop's office except by divine choice, as Ambrose and Nicholas were chosen. And he calls this inspiration prophecy. Hence a Gloss says: they were chosen by the saints, because the saints chose only those they know had been chosen by God. And the Apostle foresaw that this would be beneficial to the Church: when prophecy should fail, i.e., this manner of choosing, the people shall be scattered abroad (Prov 29:18). But how was this grace received? With the imposition of the hand of the priest, where another version has of the hands of the priesthood. But, as has been stated, the names priest and bishop were interchangeable; because priests and bishops were established by the imposition of hands: take Josue and put your hand upon him (Num 27:18). The Lord also put his hands upon children (Matt 19:15); and the apostles upon the seven deacons (Acts 6:6). That is why hands are imposed upon those who are to be ordained bishops. But a question arises here: since a bishop ought to be ordained by three, why does he say here, of the priest, in the singular? I answer that he says this because even more than one are present, one is the chief and the others assistants. Yet it can be said that this constitution was not in vogue then, either because there were few bishops or because all of them could not be assembled. Another version has of the priesthood, i.e., of those who imposed hands not as men but as priests. And this imposition signifies the conferring of grace: not that the ministers give grace, but that they signify the grace given by Christ. Hence it is given by those who are Christ's ministers; that is why he says, of the priesthood, or of the priest: because there is one imposition of hands performed by deacons and another by priests.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.