Gregory Palamas, The Decalogue of Christian Law, 3
Written 14th Century CE.
Source: Gregory Palamas. “The Decalogue of Christian Law,
3.” Translated by Fr. Nicholas Palis from the Greek Book “Voice of the Fathers”
Volume 3, pp. 141-158, The Sacred Paracletos Monastery, Oropos, Attica, 2003; Edited
by Irene Maginas. Available online at: denver.goarch. See PG 150:1093 for Greek text.
3. You shall not take
the name of the Lord your God in vain You shall not use the
name of the Lord your God in vain (Ex. 20:7), making a false oath because of
any earthly thing, or fear of someone, or out of shame, or for your own gain.
Breaking an oath is a denial of God.
So don’t make any oath
at all. Completely avoid making an oath because from oaths comes breaking of
oaths, which estranges man from God and makes the oath-breaker a law-breaker.
If you always say the truth, people will believe you as if you were taking an
oath.
And if it ever happens
that you take an oath — something you should pray doesn’t happen — so long as it is
for something in agreement with the divine law, perform it as lawful, but
consider yourself to blame for making the oath. With charity, petitioning,
mourning and physical hardship, seek mercy from Christ, Who said that you
should make no oaths at all (Matt. 5:34). Again, if you took an oath for
something illegal, be careful not to fulfill it because you took an oath, so
that God does not number you with the prophet-killing Herod, who, in order not
to break his oath, beheaded the Precious Forerunner (Matt. 14:7-12). Better to
break that illegal oath, make a law for yourself never again to make an oath,
and seek God’s mercy, using the above medicines even more laboriously, together
with tears.
