Biblical View On Secret Oaths And Communications
An oath is a solemn appeal to divine authority to confirm an assertion, serving as an ultimate ratification in disputes [1, 5]. The binding nature of an oath is directly related to the authority invoked, with appeals to God's name being the most binding [1]. Both God and Christ are depicted as taking oaths in scripture [2].
The Bible records oaths being used for various purposes:
- Confirming Covenants Oaths were used to solidify agreements between parties [3]. God himself made promises to Abraham with an oath, swearing by himself because there was no greater authority [12].
- Deciding Controversies In legal contexts, oaths served to resolve disputes [3].
- Pledging Allegiance Oaths were taken to pledge loyalty to rulers [3].
- Binding to Duties Individuals would bind themselves to sacred duties or specific actions through an oath [3].
While oaths are permitted and even used by God, Christ, and Paul [2], Jesus's instruction in Matthew 5:34, "Swear not at all," is generally understood to refer to casual or unnecessary swearing in everyday conversation, rather than prohibiting all oaths, especially those required in legal or solemn contexts [2, 12]. The purpose of an oath is to produce conviction of truth, satisfy others of sincerity, and end controversy [11].
Regarding secret communications, the Bible acknowledges that God reveals "secret things" to His prophets [10]. God's "secret" (or "covenant") is for those who fear Him, to cause them to know it [4]. This concept of revelation involves God bringing to light that which was previously hidden [8]. While God communicated through various means, including audible voices, angels, and visions, dreams are generally distinguished from prophetic visions, with the understanding being asleep during dreams [9, 10].
The concept of "secret" can also refer to profound spiritual truths, such as the mystery concerning Christ and the church [7]. In a more practical sense, a "gift in secret" is said to pacify anger [6]. The Bible also records instances of secret oaths, such as King Zedekiah swearing secretly to Jeremiah to protect him from his princes [13]. This particular oath was made secretly for the king's honor and out of fear of his officials [13].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Oath — The principle on which an oath is held to be binding is incidentally laid down in (Hebrews 6:16) viz. as an ultimate appeal to divine authority to ratify an assertion. On the same principle, that oath has always been held most binding which appealed to the highest authority, as regards both individuals and communities. As a consequence of this principle, appeals to God's name on the one hand, and to heathen deities on the other, are treated in scripture as tests of allegiance. (Exodus 23:13; 34:6; 29:12) etc. So also the sovereign's name is sometimes used as a ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Oath — A solemn appeal to God, permitted on fitting occasions (Deut. 6:13; Jer. 4:2), in various forms (Gen. 16:5; 2 Sam. 12:5; Ruth 1:17; Hos. 4:15; Rom. 1:9), and taken in different ways (Gen. 14:22; 24:2; 2 Chr. 6:22). God is represented as taking an oath (Heb. 6:16-18), so also Christ (Matt. 26:64), and Paul (Rom. 9:1; Gal. 1:20; Phil. 1:8). The precept, "Swear not at all," refers probably to ordinary conversation between man and man (Matt. 5:34, 37). But if the words are taken as referring to oaths, then their intention may have been to show "that the proper sta”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Oaths — The lawful purpose of, explained -- Heb 6:16. Antiquity of -- Ge 14:22; 24:3,8. Used for Confirming covenants. -- Ge 26:28; 31:44,53; 1Sa 20:16,17. Deciding controversies in courts of law. -- Ex 22:11; Nu 5:19; 1Ki 8:31. Pledging allegiance to sovereigns. -- 2Ki 11:4; Ec 8:2. Binding to performance of sacred duties. -- Nu 30:2; 2Ch 15:14,15; Ne 10:29; Ps 132:2. Binding to performance of any particular act. -- Ge 24:3,4; 50:25; Jos 2:12. Judicial from of administering -- 1Ki 22:16; Mt 26:63. Often accompanied by raising up the hand -- Ge 14:22; Da 12:7; Re 10:”
- Psalms “Psalms 25:14 (YLT) — The secret of Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> for those fearing Him, And His covenant--to cause them to know.”
- Hebrews “For men indeed swear by a greater one, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. -- Hebrews 6:16”
- Proverbs “A gift in secret pacifies anger; and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath. -- Proverbs 21:14”
- Ephesians “Ephesians 5:32 (BBE) — This is a great secret: but my words are about Christ and the church.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Revelation — An uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. God has been pleased in various ways and at different times (Heb. 1:1) to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been committed to writing. (See WORD OF [532]GOD.) The Scriptures are not merely the "record" of revelation; they are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate presevation and propagation of the truth. Revelation and inspiration differ. Rev”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Dreams — The Scripture declares that the influence of the Spirit of God upon the soul extends to its sleeping as well as its waking thoughts. But, in accordance with the principle enunciated by St. Paul in (1 Corinthians 14:15) dreams, in which the understanding is asleep, are placed below the visions of prophecy, in which the understanding plays its part. Under the Christian dispensation, while we read frequently of trances and vision, dreams are never referred to as vehicles of divine revelation. In exact accordance with this principle are the actual records of the ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prophets — God spoke of old by -- Ho 12:10; Heb 1:1. The messengers of God -- 2Ch 36:15; Isa 44:26. The servants of God -- Jer 35:15. The watchmen of Israel -- Eze 3:17. Were called Men of God. -- 1Sa 9:6. Prophets of God. -- Ezr 5:2. Holy prophets. -- Lu 1:70; Re 18:20; 22:6. Holy men of God. -- 2Pe 1:21. Seers. -- 1Sa 9:9. Were esteemed as holy men -- 2Ki 4:9. Women sometimes endowed as -- Joe 2:28. God communicated to His secret things. -- Am 3:7. At various time and in different ways. -- Heb 1:1. By an audible voice. -- Nu 12:8; 1Sa 3:4-14. By angels. -- Da 8:15-”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 45: as the design of an oath is to produce conviction of the truth, to satisfy others of our sincerity and fidelity, and to make an end of controversy, it is evident that circumstances may arise in private life, or in the intercourse of a man with his fellow-men, when an oath may be of the greatest importance. If we risk a great deal on the fidelity or veracity of a man, we have a right to bind him by the solemnity of an oath; or if it is of great importance that others should confide in our veracity or fidelity, it may be right to give them ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 44: “when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself;” ( Heb. 6:16 , 13 ). 26. The Anabaptists, not content with this moderate use of oaths, condemn all, without exception, on the ground of our Saviour’s general prohibition, “I say unto you, Swear not at all:” “Let your speech be Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil,” ( Mt. 5:34 ; James 5:12 ). In this way, they inconsiderately make a stumbling-stone of Christ, setting him in opposition to the Father, as if he ”
- Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 38:16: So Zedekiah the king swore secretly unto Jeremiah,.... The king not only gave the prophet his word, but also annexed to it his oath, that his life should be in no danger, either from him or his princes; this oath was made secretly, both for the honour of the king, he swearing to a subject, and that it might not be known by the princes, and for fear of them: saying, as the Lord liveth, that made us this soul; or "these souls", as the Targum: here a superfluous word, is used; which, as the Jews observe, is one of the eight words which are written, but not read: he ”