Day 37 • Question 101
101
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
1
and
was
therefore
rightly
used
by
saints
in
the
Old
and
the
New
Testament.
2
Footnote 1
Deuteronomy 6:13
It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.
Deuteronomy 10:20
You shall fear the LORD your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear.
Jeremiah 4:1-2
"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, 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."
Hebrews 6:16
For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation.
Footnote 2
Genesis 21:24
And Abraham said, "I will swear."
Genesis 31:53
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,
Joshua 9:15
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 Samuel 24:22
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
And the king swore, saying, "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my soul out of every adversity, 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."
Romans 1:9
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you
2 Corinthians 1:23
But I call God to witness against me--it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth.