NAME: CHISALA CHRISPINE.

ID#: 2022024 DATE: 01/05/2023

Topic

Oath taking in The Bible: Is It Biblical for a Christian to make an oath?

Research gap

Whereas Jesus made an apparent prohibition of taking oaths in Matthew 5:34, Christians are often

called upon by the laws of the land to make Oaths before they can testify or take up an office of

trust. Some reject to oath on account of the apparent prohibition that Jesus made in Matthew 5:34,

others choose to do secrecy of affirmation in lieu of taking oath. By making that statement in

Matthew 5:34, Did Jesus abolish every form of oath taking? This research takes a closer look at

Matthew 5:34 and analyses it in the context of the general teaching of the bible on oath taking in

order to determine what Jesus exactly meant.

Research questions

1. Did people make oaths in bible? And if they did, what were the reasons for making them?

2. What did Jesus mean when he said “But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for

it is the throne of God” Matthew 5:34

3. Is it biblical for a Christian today to make an oath when called upon to testify?

4. What counsels did Ellen White provide on oath taking?