lawful oaths and vows - 1689 chapter 23

8/22/2019 Lawful Oaths and Vows - 1689 Chapter 23

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LawfulOaths

&VowsTHE 1689 BAPTIST CONFESSION

CHAPTER 23


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[This chapter of] theConfessionaddresses a subject that may seem

irrelevant, if not trivial, in today's society.Why would a Christian confession of faithinclude a seven-paragraph chapter

regarding oaths and vows?While the question is notobjectionable, the very factthat so many ask it reveals howfar we as a society have fallenin our understanding of oathsand vows.

Pastor Rick Phillips


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14Outline

I. Lawful Oaths [p. 1-4]

I. Nature

II. Propriety

III. SolemnityIV. Sincerity

II. Lawful Vows [p. 5]

I. Exclusive recipient

II. Careful performance

III. Popish perversion


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Historical Context

Lawfulness of OathsQuakers & Anabaptist

Left out It is a sin to refuse an

oath touching anything that isgood & just, being imposedby lawful authority.

1644 showed revulsion of abuse

Position of Reformed Theology


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Ch.23 - Paragraph 1

A lawful oath is an element ofreligious worship in which a personswearing in truth, righteousness, and

judgment solemnly calls God towitness what is sworn1 and to judgethe one swearing according to the

truth or falsity of it.2

1: Exo. 20:7 | Deut. 10:20 | Jer. 4:2

2:2 Chron. 6:22, 23


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Definitions

Oath: a solemn promise made toanother 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


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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 withoutany promise for the future, only

asserts the things to have been, orto

be at present, as he then sweareth.


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Types of Oaths

What is apromissory oath?It is the invoking God as a witness to

the performing of a thing for the

time to come, either absolutely orconditionally

Why calledpromissory?

Because the party swearing

promiseth orengageth to

do something hereafter.


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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 acrime [Lev. 5:1; 6:3 | Num. 5:11-28]

Exod. 22:10-11

Matt. 26:63-64


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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


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Scriptural ExamplesIII. 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]


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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]


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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]


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[cont.] was to call into question His

existence, since the guilty party

evidently had no further though of

the God whose

name he hadused to improve

his integrity

- John MacArthur


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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 beingdishonest [Lev. 19:12]. It also bans

using Gods name in magic, or

irreverently, or disrespectfully [Lev.24:10-16]


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[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 disconnectedfrom his person, presence,

and power.


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II. The command to swear only in

Gods name assumes their

lawfulness [Deut. 6:13; 10:20 | Lev.

19:12]

III. The example of God himself

indicates their lawfulness [Heb.

6:13-16]


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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]


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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]

VI. 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]


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Ch.23 - Paragraph 2

People should swear by the name ofGod alone and only with the utmostholy fear and reverence. Therefore to

swear an empty or ill-advised oath bythat glorious and awe-inspiring name,or to swear at all by anything else, is

sinful and to be abhorred.3

[cont.]


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Ch.23P. 2 [cont.]

Yet in weighty and significant matters,an oath is authorized by the Word ofGod to confirm truth and end all

conflict.4

So a lawful oath should betaken when it is required bylegitimate 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.


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Their Propriety

Sinful oaths are identified and

condemned:

I. Idolatrous: those in which

invoke any one or thing exceptthe one true God as witness[Jos. 23:7 |Jer. 5:7 | Zeph. 1:5]

II. Vain: those taken flippantly fortrivial matters or with the intent

to deceive [Exo. 20:7 |Matt.

23:16-22]


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Their Propriety

III. Rash: those taken in hastewithout proper forethought or

solemnity [Num. 30:6 | Eccl.

5:2-5]

All such oaths are forbidden andcondemned by Scripture [Exod.

20:7 | Deut. 6:13 | Jer. 5:7 |Matt.5:33-37 & James 5:12]


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Two questions helpfully open up themeaning of Jesus.

1. What prarisaicperversion of Gods lawis Christ refuting?William Henderiksenclearly and accurately answers this

question: It is evident from thewords of Jesus in Matthew 5that the traditionalist had

shifted the emphasis, so thatthe Pentateuch passages nowbegan to read as follows:


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You shall not swearby thenamefalsely [Lev. 19:12]

When a man makes a vow toJehovahor swears an oath heshall not break his word [Num. 30:2]

When you shall make a vow toJehovah your God, you shall not beslack to pay it [Deut. 23:21]

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


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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 theemphasis upon keeping ones

promise, but now it was on the

phrase to the Lord. As a result, thePharisees concluded that one might

break his oath provided that he did

not swearby the Lord


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[cont.] In fact, they devoted

an entire book to distinguish

between the kinds of oaths thatcould be broken and those that

were obligatory! [cf. Matt. 23:16-22].

Thus, Jesus censure was not againstlawful oath-taking

but against sinful

oath-taking.

- Dr. Bob Gonzales


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2. What, then, does Christ forbid

bysaying. Swear not at all?

He condemns all vain or frivoloususe of euphemisms for Gods name

in oaths in order to secure credit for

our words, while avoiding theobligation of absolute honesty.Jesus, therefore, is not even talking

about taking a legal or religious oathin the name of God


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[cont.]He is speaking of informaloaths using euphemisms for the

name of God. Hence, Quakers andAnabaptist who refused to take

oaths or vows in court on

the basis of this passagewere taking it completelyout of context. Those who

draw similar conclusionsfrom such passages are

guilty of the same error.


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Ch.23 - Paragraph 3

Whoever takes an oath authorized by

the Word of God should consider withdue gravity the seriousness of such a

weighty act and to affirm nothing in itexcept what one knows to be true.For the Lord is provoked by ill-

advised, false, and empty oaths, andbecause of them this land mourns.6

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


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Ch.23 - Paragraph 4

An oath is to be expressed in the

plain and ordinary meaning of thewords, without any ambiguity or

mental reservation.7

7: Ps. 24:4.


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Oaths: Sincerity

Contra-Pharisee spinsters

Politicians is is

Liberal pastors/theologians

confessing adherence toevangelical doctrinal standardsafter they reinterpret

Taxpayers justifying fudging cause

of the phrase to the best of my

knowledge and belief.


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The taking of an oath with secret

intention of double meaning, not

disclosed to others, or with mentalreservations, whereby the mind

silently voices dissent from

part or all of what is beingsworn, is a sin of enormity.

- G. I. Williamson


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14Outline

I. Lawful Oaths [p. 1-4]

I. Nature

II. Propriety

III. SolemnityIV. Sincerity

II. Lawful Vows [p. 5]

I. Exclusive recipient

II. Careful performance

III. Popish perversion


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Ch.23 - Paragraph 5

A vow must not be made to any

creature but to God alone. Vowsshould be made and performed with

the most conscientious care andfaithfulness.8 However, RomanCatholic monastical vows of

perpetual single life,9

professedpoverty, 10 and obedience tomonastic rules, are by no means

steps to higher perfection. [cont.]


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Ch.23P. 5 [cont.]

Instead, they are superstitious and

sinful snares in which Christians maynot entangle themselves.11

8: Ps. 76:11 | Gen. 28:20-22.

9: 1 Cor. 7:2, 9.

10: Eph. 4:28.11: Matt. 19:11.


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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 5:4Unquestioned submission to

ecclesiastical authority, see Acts

4:19, 20; 5:29


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Both are solemn promises.

Both are divinely sanctioned.

Thus much of what was said

before applies to vows as well.

They ought to be madereligiously and kept faithfully

The purpose of the oath is

conformation. The purpose of the

vow is commitment

- Sam Waldron


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Practical Lessons

The right place of oaths

Oaths are not only valid, but

when wisely and solemnly

employed, they can bring glory toGod and promote good among

men

Child evangelism/commitments

Honesty and Integrity

Image of God / Christ-likeness

Th Bibl d C f i i


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The Bible and Confession require

absolute honesty and unflinching

commitment from those employingoaths and vows, especially those in

positions of leadership. Those of us

who have taken wedding vows orpledged commitment to a local

church need to reflect upon the high

demands under which we haveplaced ourselves. Too often,

professing Christians quietly qualify

their promises with all sorts of

[ t ] t diti d


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[cont.] secret conditions and

provisos. As a result, the marriage

vow or church covenant loses muchof its binding force. Christian leadersalso need to take seriously their

ministerial oaths and vows It is littlewonder, writes G. I. Williamson, that

the spiritual condition of the churches

is low, when it has become acceptedpractice to swear deceitfully, and

that on the part of the shepherds of

Israel. Dr. Bob Gonzales

S h t i i li i f ht t


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Such a trivializing of vows ought tocause us great sadness. God certainlydoes not treat our vows, or our breaking ofthem, lightly. This is why David, in Psalm15:4, holds up the man who swears to hisown hurt and does not change.This

chapter is a summons to be a truth-tellingand truth-loving people. Indeed, oursalvation is based on an oath, as it were.

Because there is no one higher than he,God swears by none other than himself thatwe will be saved (cf. Heb 6:17-18). Indeed,

Jesus was the man of Psalm 15:4

h D id k f U lik


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[cont.]whom David spoke of. Unlikeus, Jesus swore to his own hurt--hismassive suffering--and did not change,keeping his promise of salvation all the wayup Calvary's bloody hill. Now, inresurrection glory, he call us, his beloved

bride, to be a people whose word can betrusted. He calls us to be a people whofaithfully keep our lawful oaths and vows.

We can only do so in union with him and bydoing so, we show the world a faithfulSavior who always keeps his word of

salvation to all those who trust him.R. Phillips


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LawfulOaths

&VowsTHE 1689 BAPTIST CONFESSION

CHAPTER 23

lawful oaths and vows - 1689 chapter 23

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