Is taking an oath biblical

[placebofactor]

In the Old or the New Testament, is the taking of an oath Biblical? Oaths to the defense of country or family.

I served in the Marines and had to take an oath of loyalty to protect my country. I was comfortable with it because I loved my family, friends, and fellow Americans. And because the Flag represents them all, I salute it.

Your thoughts:

[1213]

In the Old or the New Testament, is the taking of an oath Biblical? Oaths to the defense of country or family.

I served in the Marines and had to take an oath of loyalty to protect my country. I was comfortable with it because I loved my family, friends, and fellow Americans. And because the Flag represents them all, I salute it.

Your thoughts:

In the Bible it is said:

But I say to you, Do not swear at all, neither by Heaven, because it is God's throne; nor by the earth, because it is the footstool of His feet; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. But let your word be Yes, yes; No, no. For whatever is more than these is from evil.
Matt. 5:34-37

I think that means, no oaths, but I am sure people can twist that to mean anything they want it to mean.

[placebofactor]

In the Old or the New Testament, is the taking of an oath Biblical? Oaths to the defense of country or family.

I served in the Marines and had to take an oath of loyalty to protect my country. I was comfortable with it because I loved my family, friends, and fellow Americans. And because the Flag represents them all, I salute it.

Your thoughts:

In the Bible it is said:

But I say to you, Do not swear at all, neither by Heaven, because it is God's throne; nor by the earth, because it is the footstool of His feet; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. But let your word be Yes, yes; No, no. For whatever is more than these is from evil.
Matt. 5:34-37

I think that means, no oaths, but I am sure people can twist that to mean anything they want it to mean.

1213, your comments do hold water: I did a little research and made a comparison, found it rather interesting.

Following is the oath that Hitlers SS had to take? It was a solemn pledge of personal loyalty to Adolf Hitler, rather than to the German state or military institutions. It reflected the SSs role as an elite force deeply tied to Nazi ideology and Hitler himself. The following was the SS oath in English.

"I swear to you, Adolf Hitler, as Fhrer and Chancellor of the German Reich, loyalty and bravery. I pledge to you and to the leaders you appoint, absolute allegiance until death. So help me God."
The key elements of that oath:

The oath was directed to Hitler personally, not to Germany or its constitution. It promised unconditional obedience: SS members vowed to follow orders without question, even unto death. What was the religious invocation? The phrase So help me God added a sacred weight to the pledge.

Following is the oath I took when I enlisted in the Marines. It was my solemn promise to serve with honor and uphold the Constitution. Here's the official wording:

"I, [name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

Now let's compare the Marine Oath with. Jesus' words in Matthew 5. "But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these (comes from the evil one.)"

The Marine Oath is a legal and civic commitment, not a religious one, though it ends with So help me God, which may be interpreted as a personal invocation of divine support.
So, 1213 I will give you this, I guess So help me God could have been left out. Swearing by things outside my control, like heaven or our own head, implies a power I dont possess.

[1213]

...So, 1213 I will give you this, I guess So help me God could have been left out. Swearing by things outside my control, like heaven or our own head, implies a power I dont possess.

Thanks, interesting post. I agree that some oaths are better than others. But, to me the words "Do not swear at all" means, better not swear at all. But, I am not going to judge people who swear.

[placebofactor]

[Replying to 1213 in post #4]

Have you ever asked yourself, what is the psychological impact of oath-taking? how loyalty pledges differ across regimes? or even how propaganda reinforces that sense of duty?

Oaths arent just ceremonial; theyre psychologically binding. Once someone publicly commits to a belief or action, theyre more likely to align their behavior with that commitment to avoid internal conflict. Taking an oath often strengthens group belonging. It signals loyalty and shared values, which boost cohesion. They often invoke higher powers (So help me God) or sacred symbols, adding emotional gravity and a sense of accountability.

Studies have shown that people who take formal pledges, even simple ones, are more likely to follow through on their promises.

We need to consider military recruits, judges, or even wedding vows; the act of swearing publicly creates a psychological contract thats hard to break.

How oaths are to be taken in different parts of the world and under different leaders.
In the U.S., the Pledge of Allegiance is recited in schools to foster patriotism.

In North Korea, loyalty pledges are directed toward the ruling Kim family and are reinforced through ritual and surveillance.

In India, the national pledge emphasizes unity in diversity and civic responsibility.

[1213]

[Replying to 1213 in post #4]

Have you ever asked yourself, what is the psychological impact of oath-taking? how loyalty pledges differ across regimes? or even how propaganda reinforces that sense of duty?...

Not much. But, by what I see, the oaths doesn't seem to work very well, at least not on the highest positions.

[placebofactor]

[Replying to 1213 in post #6]

1213, Here's an interesting situation: Question, "Did Jesus answer upon an oath to a question put to him by a high priest?"

He did. According to Matthew 26:63, Jesus was placed under oath by the high priest Caiaphas during His trial. The verse reads: The high priest said to him, I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.

This moment is significant because the high priest invoked divine authority to compel Jesus to speak.

Jesus had remained silent until this point, fulfilling Isaiah 53:7, He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Under oath, Jesus affirmed His identity, saying:

Matthew 26:64, You have said so. But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming in the clouds of heaven."

Why this matters: Jesus response was a direct claim to divinity, referencing Daniel 7:13"14 and Psalm 110:1.

His answer under oath became the basis for the charge of blasphemy, leading to His condemnation by the Sanhedrin. So yes, Jesus did respond under oath, and that moment became a turning point in His trial.

[1213]

[Replying to 1213 in post #6]

1213, Here's an interesting situation: Question, "Did Jesus answer upon an oath to a question put to him by a high priest?"

He did. According to Matthew 26:63, Jesus was placed under oath ....

Sorry, I don't think other person can put someone else speaking under oath. I think person swears only if he says so, and Jesus didn't say so.

Why this matters: Jesus response was a direct claim to divinity, referencing Daniel 7:13"14 and Psalm 110:1.

I don't think sitting next to God makes one God, especially when Jesus says there is only one true God who is greater than him.

[placebofactor]

[Replying to 1213 in post #6]

1213, Here's an interesting situation: Question, "Did Jesus answer upon an oath to a question put to him by a high priest?"

He did. According to Matthew 26:63, Jesus was placed under oath ....

Sorry, I don't think other person can put someone else speaking under oath. I think person swears only if he says so, and Jesus didn't say so.

Why this matters: Jesus response was a direct claim to divinity, referencing Daniel 7:13"14 and Psalm 110:1.

I don't think sitting next to God makes one God, especially when Jesus says there is only one true God who is greater than him.

1213, good morning. When you read these things in the Bible, you have to take yourself back 2000 years. Put yourself under the law as Jesus was, and he was to answer to the highest authority in Israel, the High Priest. He said to Jesus, "I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you be the Christ, the Son of God."

When he said, "I adjure you," it means, "I demand that you testify on oath." Who else in the Bible has ever sat on the right side of God? Well, anyway, if you think Jesus is an angel, that's your decision.