Required reading
Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge (Vol 3) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 19 by reading up to the heading '8. The fourth commandment'.
My summary
Now we turn to the third commandment.
Firstly Hodge broadly defines the third commandment as one which 'forbids not only perjury, but also all profane, or unnecessary oaths, all careless appeals to God, and all irreverent use of his name.'
Hodge then teaches us about oaths. They may be assertatory or promissory, and both kinds appeal to God as a witness. He then goes on to speak of their lawfulness.
A smaller section is dedicated to vows which are 'essentially different from oaths, in that they do not involve any appeal to God as a witness, or any imprecation of his displeasure. A vow is simply a promise made to God.' Hodge then gives some thoughts on the lawfulness of vows.
What grabbed me
I was interested in Hodge's teaching on what to do when you have made an oath to do something that is sinful: 'No oath is obligatory which binds a man to do what is unlawful or impossible. The sin lies in taking such an oath, not in breaking it. The reason of this rule is, that no man can bring himself under an obligation to commit a sin. Herod was not bound to keep his oath to the daughter of Herodias when she demanded the head of John the Baptist. Neither were the forty men, who had bound themselves with " an oath of execration " to kill Paul.'
Far better to be guilty of breaking an oath, than to keep the oath and commit even greater sin.
Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 19 by reading up to the heading '9. The fifth commandment'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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