Lawful Oaths &Vows

THE 1689 BAPTIST CONFESSION CHAPTER 23

[This chapter of] the Confession addresses a subject that may seem irrelevant, if not trivial, in today's society. Why would a Christian confession of faith include a seven-paragraph chapter regarding oaths and vows? While the question is not objectionable, the very fact that so many ask it reveals how far we as a society have fallen in our understanding of oaths and vows. Pastor Rick Phillips

14 Outline
Lawful Oaths [p. 1-4] I. Nature II. Propriety III. Solemnity IV. Sincerity II. Lawful Vows [p. 5] I. Exclusive recipient II. Careful performance III. Popish perversion
I.

Historical Context
Lawfulness

of Oaths Quakers & Anabaptist Left out It is a sin to refuse an oath touching anything that is good & just, being imposed by lawful authority. 1644 showed revulsion of abuse Position of Reformed Theology

Ch.23 - Paragraph 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 sworn1 and to judge the one swearing according to the truth or falsity of it.2
1: 2:

Exo. 20:7 | Deut. 10:20 | Jer. 4:2 2 Chron. 6:22, 23

Definitions
Oath:

a solemn promise made to another party in which God is called upon to act as a witness and judge. Vow: promise made directly to God
Closely

related but slightly different

Types of Oaths
What

is an assertory oath? It is an invoking God as a witness to the truth of what we declare about things past or present. Why called assertory? Because the party swearing without any promise for the future, only asserts the things to have been, or to be at present, as he then sweareth.

Types of Oaths
What

is a promissory oath? It is the invoking God as a witness to the performing of a thing for the time to come, either absolutely or conditionally Why called promissory? Because the party swearing promiseth or engageth to do something hereafter.

Scriptural Examples
I.

Sometimes civil or religious authorities would require an individual or community to confirm a plea of innocence with an oath when suspected or accused of a crime [Lev. 5:1; 6:3 | Num. 5:11-28] Exod. 22:10-11 Matt. 26:63-64

Scriptural Examples
II.

Oaths were also employed to confirm ones fidelity to his covenantal commitments and responsibilities [1 Kgs. 2:43] Eccl. 8:2 Heb. 6:16-17

Scriptural Examples
III.

Oaths verbal formulas often had: I swear by God [1 Sam. 30:15 |

Neh. 13:25]

God is witness between you and me [Gen. 31:50 | 1 Sam. 12:5 | 2 Cor.
1:23 | Phil. 1:8]

As the Lord lives [1 Sam. 14:39; 19:6;

20:3 | 2 Sam. 15:21]

May the Lord do so to me if I do not [Ruth 1:17 | 1 Sam. 3:17; 14:44 |

2 Sam. 3:35 | 1 Kgs. 2:23]

Scriptural Examples
IV.

Oaths were also often accompanied by physical gestures, such as raising ones right hand heavenward [Deut. 32:40 | Psa. 106:26 | Isa. 62:8 | Dan. 12:7 | Rev. 10:5-6] or, less commonly, placing ones hand under anothers thigh [Gen. 24:2; 47:29]

Scriptural Argument For

I.

The command not to swear vainly or falsely in Gods name assumes their lawfulness [Exod. 20:7] To use Gods name in such a way as to bring disrepute upon His character or deeds was to irreverently misuse His name. To fail to perform an oath in which His name had been legitimately uttered
[Ex. 22:10-11 | Lv. 19:12 | Dt. 6:13]

Scriptural Argument For

[cont.] was to call into question His existence, since the guilty party evidently had no further though of the God whose name he had used to improve his integrity
- John MacArthur

Scriptural Argument For

Taking the Lords name in vain refers primarily to someone taking a deceptive oath in Gods name or invoking Gods name to sanction an act in which the person is being dishonest [Lev. 19:12]. It also bans using Gods name in magic, or irreverently, or disrespectfully [Lev. 24:10-16]

Scriptural Argument For

[cont.] The Lord revealed his name to Moses [Ex. 3:14-15], and he has continued to identify himself in connection with his acts on Israels behalf [Ex. 6:2, 6-8]. Yahweh is warning Israel against using his name as if it were disconnected from his person, presence, and power.

Scriptural Argument For

II.

The command to swear only in Gods name assumes their lawfulness [Deut. 6:13; 10:20 | Lev. 19:12] The example of God himself indicates their lawfulness [Heb. 6:13-16]

III.

Scriptural Argument For

IV.

The example of many Old Testament saints indicates their lawfulness: I. Abraham [Gen. 24:2-3] II. Jacob [Gen. 47:30-31] III. Joseph [Gen. 50:25] IV. Elijah [1 Kings 17:1] V. Nehemiah [Neh. 5:12; 13:25] VI. Ezra [Ezra 10:5]

Scriptural Argument For

V.

The law of Moses required oaths in certain situations [Num. 5:19-22| 1 Kng. 8:31 | Ex. 22:11 | Lv. 5:1; 6:3]

The prophets predictions indicate their lawfulness [Isa. 45:23; 65:16] VII. Christs example indicates the lawfulness of oaths [Matt. 26:62-64] VIII.Pauls example indicates their lawfulness [Acts 18:18 | Rom. 1:9 | 2 Cor. 1:23 | Phil. 1:8]
VI.

Ch.23 - Paragraph 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. 3 [cont.]

Ch.23 P. 2 [cont.]
Yet

in weighty and significant matters, an oath is authorized by the Word of God to confirm truth and end all conflict. 4 So a lawful oath should be taken when it is required by legitimate authority in such circumstances. 5
3:

Matt. 5:34, 37 | James 5:12. 4: Heb. 6:16 | 2 Cor. 1:23. 5: Neh. 13:25.

Their Propriety
Sinful oaths are identified and condemned:
I.

II.

Idolatrous: those in which invoke any one or thing except the one true God as witness [Jos. 23:7 | Jer. 5:7 | Zeph. 1:5] Vain: those taken flippantly for trivial matters or with the intent to deceive [Exo. 20:7 | Matt. 23:16-22]

Their Propriety
Rash: those taken in haste without proper forethought or solemnity [Num. 30:6 | Eccl. 5:2-5] All such oaths are forbidden and condemned by Scripture [Exod. 20:7 | Deut. 6:13 | Jer. 5:7 | Matt. 5:33-37 & James 5:12]
III.

Two questions helpfully open up the meaning of Jesus.

1. What prarisaic perversion of Gods law is Christ refuting? William Henderiksen clearly and accurately answers this question: It is evident from the words of Jesus in Matthew 5 that the traditionalist had shifted the emphasis, so that the Pentateuch passages now began to read as follows:

You shall not swear by the name falsely [Lev. 19:12]

When a man makes a vow to Jehovah or swears an oath he shall not break his word [Num. 30:2] When you shall make a vow to Jehovah your God, you shall not be slack to pay it [Deut. 23:21]

Summary: You shall not break your oath, but shall keep the oaths you have sworn to the Lord.

as indicated by the context, Jesus is condemning Pharisaic casuistry and misuse of the Law... they shifted the emphasis from the integrity of the oath to the formula of the oath. No longer was the emphasis upon keeping ones promise, but now it was on the phrase to the Lord. As a result, the Pharisees concluded that one might break his oath provided that he did not swear by the Lord

[cont.] In fact, they devoted an entire book to distinguish between the kinds of oaths that could be broken and those that were obligatory! [cf. Matt. 23:16-22]. Thus, Jesus censure was not against lawful oath-taking but against sinful oath-taking.
- Dr. Bob Gonzales

2. What, then, does Christ forbid by saying. Swear not at all? He condemns all vain or frivolous use of euphemisms for Gods name in oaths in order to secure credit for our words, while avoiding the obligation of absolute honesty. Jesus, therefore, is not even talking about taking a legal or religious oath in the name of God

[cont.] He is speaking of informal oaths using euphemisms for the name of God. Hence, Quakers and Anabaptist who refused to take oaths or vows in court on the basis of this passage were taking it completely out of context. Those who draw similar conclusions from such passages are guilty of the same error.

Ch.23 - Paragraph 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 illadvised, false, and empty oaths, and because of them this land mourns.6
6:

Lev. 19:12| Jer. 23:10.

Ch.23 - Paragraph 4
An

oath is to be expressed in the plain and ordinary meaning of the words, without any ambiguity or mental reservation.7
7:

Ps. 24:4.

Oaths: Sincerity
Contra-Pharisee Politicians

spinsters

is is Liberal pastors/theologians confessing adherence to evangelical doctrinal standards after they reinterpret Taxpayers justifying fudging cause of the phrase to the best of my knowledge and belief.

The taking of an oath with secret intention of double meaning, not disclosed to others, or with mental reservations, whereby the mind silently voices dissent from part or all of what is being sworn, is a sin of enormity.
- G. I. Williamson

14 Outline
Lawful Oaths [p. 1-4] I. Nature II. Propriety III. Solemnity IV. Sincerity II. Lawful Vows [p. 5] I. Exclusive recipient II. Careful performance III. Popish perversion
I.

Ch.23 - Paragraph 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.8 However, Roman Catholic monastical vows of perpetual single life,9 professed poverty, 10 and obedience to monastic rules, are by no means steps to higher perfection. [cont.]

Ch.23 P. 5 [cont.]
Instead,

they are superstitious and sinful snares in which Christians may not entangle themselves.11
8: 9:

Ps. 76:11 | Gen. 28:20-22. 1 Cor. 7:2, 9. Eph. 4:28.

10:

11:

Matt. 19:11.

Popish Perversions Against

Imposed

celibacy, see Matt. 19:11 | 1 Cor. 7:2, 9 | 1 Tim. 3:2; 4:1, 3 Imposed poverty, see Exod. 20:15 | Acts 5:4 Unquestioned submission to ecclesiastical authority, see Acts 4:19, 20; 5:29

Both are solemn promises. Both are divinely sanctioned. Thus much of what was said before applies to vows as well. They ought to be made religiously and kept faithfully The purpose of the oath is conformation. The purpose of the vow is commitment
- Sam Waldron

Practical Lessons
The

right place of oaths Oaths are not only valid, but when wisely and solemnly employed, they can bring glory to God and promote good among men Child evangelism/commitments Honesty and Integrity Image of God / Christ-likeness

The Bible and Confession require absolute honesty and unflinching commitment from those employing oaths and vows, especially those in positions of leadership. Those of us who have taken wedding vows or pledged commitment to a local church need to reflect upon the high demands under which we have placed ourselves. Too often, professing Christians quietly qualify their promises with all sorts of

[cont.] secret conditions and provisos. As a result, the marriage vow or church covenant loses much of its binding force. Christian leaders also need to take seriously their ministerial oaths and vows It is little wonder, writes G. I. Williamson, that the spiritual condition of the churches is low, when it has become accepted practice to swear deceitfully, and that on the part of the shepherds of Israel. Dr. Bob Gonzales

Such a trivializing of vows ought to cause us great sadness. God certainly does not treat our vows, or our breaking of them, lightly. This is why David, in Psalm 15:4, holds up the man who swears to his own hurt and does not change.This chapter is a summons to be a truth-telling and truth-loving people. Indeed, our salvation is based on an oath, as it were. Because there is no one higher than he, God swears by none other than himself that we will be saved (cf. Heb 6:17-18). Indeed, Jesus was the man of Psalm 15:4

[cont.]whom David spoke of. Unlike us, Jesus swore to his own hurt--his massive suffering--and did not change, keeping his promise of salvation all the way up Calvary's bloody hill. Now, in resurrection glory, he call us, his beloved bride, to be a people whose word can be trusted. He calls us to be a people who faithfully keep our lawful oaths and vows. We can only do so in union with him and by doing so, we show the world a faithful Savior who always keeps his word of salvation to all those who trust him. R. Phillips

Lawful Oaths &Vows

THE 1689 BAPTIST CONFESSION CHAPTER 23