SD 23.1
Savoy Declaration
23.1. Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
A lawful oath is a part of religious worship, wherein the person swearing in truth, righteousness and judgment, solemnly calleth God to witness what he asserteth or promiseth, and to judge him according to the truth or falsehood of what he sweareth.
Proof texts
- 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.
- Exod. 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.
- Lev. 19:12 — [12] You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.
- 2 Cor. 1:23, 2 Chron. 6:22, 23 — [23] But I call God to witness against me — it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. [23] But I call God to witness against me — it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth.
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Deut. 10:20 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?