Gregory Thaumaturgas on Oaths

Gregory Thaumaturgas on Oaths

Metaphrase on Ecclesiastes

Written c. 265-282 CE.

Metaphrase on Ecclesiastes, 39

Source: Saint Gregory (Thaumaturgus). St. Gregory Thaumaturgus: Life and Works, p.139. Translated by M. Slusser. Catholic University of America Press, 1998.

One must always pay close attention to the words of the king, but by all means avoid an oath, especially one made in the name of God.

C.f. Eccl. 8:2 (NRSV):  Keep the king’s command because of your sacred oath.

Metaphrase on Ecclesiastes, 44

Source: Saint Gregory (Thaumaturgus). St. Gregory Thaumaturgus: Life and Works, p.141. Translated by M. Slusser. Catholic University of America Press, 1998.

For when the unjust and the good, the one who commits perjury and the one who completely avoids an oath, could hope to reach the same end, the false impression may arise that all are treated alike when they die. But now I know that these were fool’s opinions, both erroneous and misleading.

C.f. Eccl. 9:2 (NRSV):  Everything that confronts them is vanity, since the same fate comes to all, to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to those who sacrifice and those who do not sacrifice. As are the good, so are the sinners; those who swear are like those who shun an oath.

Testimony of Others

 

Basil of Caesarea, Letter 207

To the Clergy of Neocaesarea

Source: Basil of Caesarea. 1955. Fathers of the Church, Volume 28 : Letters, Volume 2 (186-368), p. 84-85. Translated by Agnes C. Way. Baltimore, MD, USA: Catholic University of America Press.

But these things did not exist, it is said, in the time of the great Gregory [Thaumaturgas]. But neither did the litanies of which you now make use. And I do not say this to denounce you; in fact, I have prayed that all of you might live in tears and in continual penance. For we also do nothing else but offer up supplications for our sins, except that we appease our God, not so much with human words, as you do, but with the sayings of the Spirit. Whom do you have as witnesses that these things did not exist in the time of the wondrous Gregory, you who certainly have not preserved any of his practices until now? Gregory did not cover his head at prayer. In fact, how could he, since he was a true disciple of the Apostle, who said: 'Every man praying or prophesying with his head covered, disgraces his head,' and 'A man indeed ought not to cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God. He avoided oaths, that pure soul, worthy of fellowship with the Holy Spirit, being satisfied with 'yes' and 'no' because of the command of the Lord, who said: 'But I say to you not to swear at all.'

c.f. Vita of Gregory Thaumaturgas, by Gregory of Nyssa: Saint Gregory (Thaumaturgus). St. Gregory Thaumaturgus: Life and Works, p. 48. Translated by M. Slusser. Catholic University of America Press, 1998.,