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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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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 hadused to improve
his integrity
- John MacArthur
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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 beingdishonest [Lev. 19:12]. It also bans
using Gods name in magic, or
irreverently, or disrespectfully [Lev.24:10-16]
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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 disconnectedfrom his person, presence,
and power.
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Scriptural Argument For
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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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]
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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]
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