Der dritte Teil: Von der Dankbarkeit — 37. Sonntag
The Integrity of Oaths
The Catechism affirms that swearing an oath is permissible when required for the honor of God and the benefit of one's neighbor.
Is it permissible to swear an oath by the name of God? Yes, if the authority demands it or necessity requires it, in order to uphold loyalty and truth for the honor of God and the well-being of our neighbor. Because such swearing is grounded in God's Word. Therefore, people have rightly made use of it in both the Old and New Testaments.
God Alone as Witness
Swearing by creatures or saints is forbidden because an oath is a solemn appeal to God, the only one who knows the heart.
Can one also swear by the saints or other creatures? No; because in a lawful oath, I call upon God Himself as a witness that He, who alone knows the hearts, will confirm the truth and punish me if I swear falsely. But this honor belongs to no creature.
Read the original Latin
Darf man aber überhaupt bei dem Namen Gottes einen Eid schwören? Ja, wenn es die Obrigkeit fordert oder die Not es gebietet, auf diese Weise Treue und Wahrheit zu Gottes Ehre und des Nächsten Wohl zu erhalten und zu fördern. Denn solches Schwören ist in Gottes Wort begründet. Deshalb haben die Menschen im Alten und Neuen Testament zu Recht davon Gebrauch gemacht.
Darf man auch bei den Heiligen oder anderen Geschöpfen schwören? Nein; denn in einem rechtmäßigen Eid rufe ich Gott selbst zum Zeugen an, dass er, der allein die Herzen kennt, die Wahrheit bestätige und mich strafe, wenn ich falsch schwöre. Diese Ehre aber gebührt keinem Geschöpf.
Heidelberg Catechism (Heidelbergse Catechismus) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit