William of Ockham, Dialogues [On "Do not swear at all"]

William of Ockham, Dialogues

In two chapters of William of Ockham's Dialogus, part 3, tract 1, book 4, written in the 1330's CE., he touches on the Dominical saying, "Do not swear at all," shown below.

3.1 Dial. 4.7

Source: William of Ockham: Dialogus. Latin Text and English Translation, edited by John Kilcullen, John Scott, George Knysh, Volker Leppin, Jan Ballweg, Karl Ubl and Semih Heinen. British Academy, 1995-2015. Online project available at: http://www.britac.ac.uk/pubs/dialogus/t31d4new.html

Student Can it be proved that those words of Christ should not be understood as the holders of that opinion understand them? [That men should not be called rabbi, master or father.]

Master It seems to some people that the answer is 'yes'. For they say that that argument and ones like it are similar to that argument on which certain heretics base themselves when they say that it is not permissible to swear for any reason because of the fact that in Matthew 5:24[sic] Christ says, "But I say to you. Do not swear at all." Just as those people have said that because of that precept of Christ no one is permitted to swear under any circumstances, so in the same way the holders of this opinion seem to say that it should not be granted in any way, because of those words by which he seems to enjoin equality on them, that Christ established any one apostle as superior to the others. But just as in some cases it is permissible to swear, notwithstanding the above words of Christ about swearing, so it is permissible to be called rabbi, master and father, notwithstanding those words of Christ by which he seems to impose a certain equality on the faithful.

3.1 Dial. 4.22

Source: William of Ockham. 'A Letter to the Friars Minor' and Other Writings, p 182 – 183. Trans: John Kilcullen. Cambridge University Press. 1995.

Christ commanded in express words, not excepting any case, that one should not swear. In Matthew 5[:34] he says, "But I say to you do not swear at all, either by heaven" etc., and afterwards, "let your speech be 'Yes, Yes, No, No' - what is more than these is from evil." Yet notwithstanding that express commandment of Christ, it is permissible on occasion to swear: Extra, De electione, Significasti; Extra, De iureiurando, Etsi Christus; and 22, q. I, Non est, where Augustine asserts that to swear is permissible on account of the weakness or incredulity of those not otherwise moved to belief.