Epithesis derives from epitithēmi (to place upon). It means the act of laying on — particularly the laying on of hands in ordination, commissioning, healing, and blessing. It appears 4 times in the NT, always in the context of official, sacred acts of the church.
The laying on of hands (epithesis cheirōn) is one of the foundational acts of Christian ministry — listed among the "elementary teachings" in Hebrews 6:2. When elders lay hands on Timothy (1 Timothy 4:14, 2 Timothy 1:6), they are not merely performing a ritual; they are transmitting apostolic authority and charismata through a tangible, physical act. The practice is rooted in the OT: Jacob laying hands on Joseph's sons (Genesis 48), Moses laying hands on Joshua (Numbers 27:23). God works through embodied, communal acts of commission. The epithesis is a declaration: "You are sent; you are equipped; you are not alone."