WCF 22.7

22.7. Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

No man may vow to do anything forbidden in the Word of God, or what would hinder any duty therein commanded, or which is not in his own power, and for the performance whereof he hath no promise of ability from God. In which respects, Popish monastical vows of perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they are superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself.

Proof texts

• Acts 23:12, 14 — [12] When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. [14] They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul.
• Mark 6:26 — [26] And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.
• Numb. 30:5, 8, 12, 13
• Matt. 19:11, 12 — [11] But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. [12] For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.”
• 1 Cor. 7:2, 9 — [2] But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. [9] But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
• Eph. 4:28 — [28] Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
• 1 Peter 4:2 — [2] so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
• 1 Cor. 7:23 — [23] You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Acts 23:12, 14 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