WCF 22.6

22.6. Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

It is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone: and that it may be accepted, it is to be made voluntarily, out of faith, and conscience of duty, in way of thankfulness for mercy received, or for the obtaining of what we want; whereby we more strictly bind ourselves to necessary duties; or to other things, so far and so long as they may fitly conduce thereunto.

Proof texts

• Ps. 76:11 — [11] Make your vows to the LORD your God and perform them; let all around him bring gifts to him who is to be feared,
• Jer. 44:25, 26 — [25] Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: You and your wives have declared with your mouths, and have fulfilled it with your hands, saying, ‘We will surely perform our vows that we have made, to make offerings to the queen of heaven and to pour out drink offerings to her.’ Then confirm your vows and perform your vows! [26] Therefore hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by my great name, says the LORD, that my name shall no more be invoked by the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, ‘As the Lord GOD lives.’
• Deut. 23:21, 22, 23 — [21] “If you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. [22] But if you refrain from vowing, you will not be guilty of sin. [23] You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God what you have promised with your mouth.
• Ps. 50:14 — [14] Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High,
• Gen. 28:20, 21, 22 — [20] Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, [21] so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God, [22] and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”
• 1 Sam. 1:11 — [11] And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
• 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.
• Ps. 132:2, 3, 4, 5 — [2] how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, [3] “I will not enter my house or get into my bed, [4] I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, [5] until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Ps. 76:11 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 8 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. BC 9.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. 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