Article 26

About the swearing of oaths, we confess this: the people of the Old Testament were permitted to swear in various ways by the name of the Lord, either by lifting up their hand toward heaven, or by putting it on the thigh of someone. This was done in various ways, and through human contrivance many abuses were brought into the practice, so that they would swear by heaven and earth, by Jerusalem, by their head, the temple, the gold of the temple, the altar, and the sacrifice. Because of this the Lord Christ, who had come from God and had been sent to execute judgment and righteousness, being the only lawgiver, completely abolished and forbade all the swearing named above, whether permitted or pretended, and in its place directed all His hearers and followers only to yes and no, which is so in truth.

And we also find that the high apostles of Christ, as obedient sheep of their only Shepherd, followed the doctrine of Christ in this matter. So all believers are bound in duty to follow this doctrine of Christ and the course of His apostles obediently, putting away all lying, and dealing only in truth, and so testifying in all true matters, whether before the authorities or however the case may be, only with yes for what is yes, and with no for what is no, without adding anything more; and to keep these few words, small in sound but great and strong in meaning, as inviolable as an oath, and so show themselves to be obedient followers of Christ and His apostles.

About the rejection and abolishing of the ancient custom of swearing, and how Christ commanded yes and no in its place, read: "Again, you have heard that it was said by those of old time, You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord. But I say to you, Do not swear at all; neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your words be, Yes, yes; No, no; for whatever is more than these comes of evil." Matthew 5, verses 33 to 37; Matthew 23, verse 21.

"But above all things, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath; but let your yes be yes, and your no, no; so that you do not fall into condemnation." James 5, verse 12.

"When I was therefore of this mind, did I act lightly? Or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, so that with me there should be yes, yes, and no, no? For all the promises of God in him are yes, and in him Amen." Second Corinthians 1, verses 17 and 20.