1689 23.1
1689 London Baptist Confession
23.1. Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
A lawful Oath is a part of religious worship, wherein the person swearing in Truth, Righteousness, and Judgement, solemnly calleth God to witness what he sweareth; and to judge him according to the Truth or falseness thereof.
Proof texts
- Exodus 20:7 — [7] “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
- Deuteronomy 10:20 — [20] You shall fear the LORD your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear.
- Jeremiah 4:2 — [2] and if you swear, ‘As the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:22, 23 — [22] “If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath and comes and swears his oath before your altar in this house, [23] then hear from heaven and act and judge your servants, repaying the guilty by bringing his conduct on his own head, and vindicating the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness.
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Exodus 20:7 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 4 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WCF 22.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- BC 9.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?