HC 101

Q101. But may we swear an oath by the Name of God in a godly manner?

Yes, when the government demands it of its subjects, or when necessity requires it, in order to maintain and promote fidelity and truth, to God's glory and for our neighbour's good. Such oath-taking is based on God's Word and was therefore rightly used by saints in the Old and the New Testament.

Proof texts

• Deut. 6:13 — [13] It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.
• Deut. 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.
• Jer. 4:1-2 — [1] “If you return, O Israel, declares the LORD, to me you should return. If you remove your detestable things from my presence, and do not waver, [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.”
• Heb. 6:16 — [16] For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation.
• Gen. 21:24 — [24] And Abraham said, “I will swear.”
• Gen. 31:53 — [53] The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac,
• Josh. 9:15 — [15] And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.
• 1 Sam. 24:22 — [22] And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
• 1 Kings 1:29-30 — [29] And the king swore, saying, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my soul out of every adversity, [30] as I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ even so will I do this day.”
• Rom. 1:9 — [9] For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you
• 2 Cor. 1:23 — [23] But I call God to witness against me — it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Deut. 6:13 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 11 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WSC Q39 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WSC Q45 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q39 · WSC Q45 · WLC Q91 · WLC Q100 · WCF 19.1 · 1689 19.1