## Chapter 23 – Lawful Oaths and Vows

1. A lawful oath is an element of religious worship in which a person swearing in truth, righteousness, and judgment solemnly calls God to witness what is sworn<sup>1</sup> and to judge the one swearing according to the truth or falsity of it.<sup>2</sup>

<sup>1</sup>[Exodus 20:7](/get-passage/Exodus+20:7); [Deuteronomy 10:20](/get-passage/Deuteronomy+10:20); [Jeremiah 4:2](/get-passage/Jeremiah+4:2)
<sup>2</sup>[2 Chronicles 6:22-23](/get-passage/2+Chronicles+6:22-23)

2. People should swear by the name of God alone and only with the utmost holy fear and reverence. Therefore to swear an empty or ill-advised oath by that glorious and awe-inspiring name, or to swear at all by anything else, is sinful and to be abhorred.<sup>3</sup>  Yet in weighty and significant matters, an oath is authorized by the Word of God to confirm truth and end all conflict.<sup>4</sup>  So a lawful oath should be taken when it is required by legitimate authority in such circumstances.<sup>5</sup>

<sup>3</sup>[Matthew 5:34-37](/get-passage/Matthew+5:34-37); [James 5:12](/get-passage/James+5:12)
<sup>4</sup>[Hebrews 6:16](/get-passage/Hebrews+6:16); [2 Corinthians 1:23](/get-passage/2+Corinthians+1:23)
<sup>5</sup>[Nehemiah 13:25](/get-passage/Nehemiah+13:25)

3. Whoever takes an oath authorized by the Word of God should consider with due gravity the seriousness of such a weighty act and to affirm nothing in it except what one knows to be true. For the Lord is provoked by ill-advised, false, and empty oaths, and because of them this land mourns.<sup>6</sup>

<sup>6</sup>[Leviticus 19:12](/get-passage/Leviticus+19:12); [Jeremiah 23:10](/get-passage/Jeremiah+23:10)

4. An oath is to be expressed in the plain and ordinary meaning of the words, without any ambiguity or mental reservation.<sup>7</sup>

<sup>7</sup>[Psalms 24:4](/get-passage/Psalms+24:4)

5. A vow must not be made to any creature but to God alone. Vows should be made and performed with the most conscientious care and faithfulness.<sup>8</sup>  However, Roman Catholic monastical vows of perpetual single life,<sup>9</sup> professed poverty,<sup>10</sup> and obedience to monastic rules, are by no means steps to higher perfection. Instead, they are superstitious and sinful snares in which Christians may not entangle themselves.<sup>11</sup>

<sup>8</sup>[Psalms 76:11](/get-passage/Psalms+76:11); [Genesis 28:20-22](/get-passage/Genesis+28:20-22)
<sup>9</sup>[1 Corinthians 7:2](/get-passage/1+Corinthians+7:2), 9
<sup>10</sup>[Ephesians 4:28](/get-passage/Ephesians+4:28)
<sup>11</sup>[Matthew 19:11](/get-passage/Matthew+19:11)