WCF 22.5
Westminster Confession of Faith
22.5. Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
A vow is of the like nature with a promissory oath, and ought to be made with the like religious care, and to be performed with the like faithfulness.
Proof texts
- Isa. 19:21 — [21] And the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the LORD and perform them.
- Eccles. 5:4, 5, 6
- Ps. 61:8 — [8] So will I ever sing praises to your name, as I perform my vows day after day.
- Ps. 66:13, 14 — [13] I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will perform my vows to you, [14] that which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Isa. 19:21 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?
- BC 9.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- BC 9.2 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
BC 9.1 · BC 9.2 · 1689 23.1 · 1689 23.2 · 1689 23.3 · 1689 23.4 · 1689 23.5 · SC60 8.1 · IAR 6.12 · SHC 10.1 · SHC 10.2 · SD 23.1
Leader's notes
A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): Section I. — A lawful oath is a part of religious worship, wherein, upon just occasion, the person swearing solemnly callett God to witness what he asserteth or proniiseth ; and to judge hiii; according to the truth or falsehood of what he .^weareth.'^ Section II. — The name of God only is tliat by which men ought to swear, and therein it is to be used with all holy fear and reverence :' therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and dreadful name, or to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be abhorred.* Yet as, in matters of weight and moment, an oath is warranted by the word of God under the…
An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): These sections relate to the nature, the matter, and the obligation of a vow. A vow is a solemn promise made to God, and may be either personal or social. Although a vow is " of the like nature with a promissory oath," yet they admit of being distinguished. In an oiith, man is generally the party, and God is invoked as the witness ; in a tow, God is both the party and the witness. A vow is to be made to God alone; and, therefore, to make vows to saints departed, as Papists do, is superstitious and idolatrous. Vows ought to be entered into voluntarily, and in the exercise of faith, or in dependence upon the grace of…