Isidore of Pelusium, Ep. lib. 1, Epist. 155.

Isidore of Pelusium, Ep. lib. 1, Epist. 155.

Written c. 430-450

Source: [PG 78: 285-288] Translation mine.

155 – To Theophilus Nauclero

On not demanding an oath

If you are of our flock, and are ordered under the good shepherd, deny the nature of wild beasts, and follow his voice that orders “Do not swear at all.” 

But, not to swear is also not to demand an oath of another. 

Now, should you wish not to swear, neither should you demand an oath of another, for two causes; either because the one who is asked proves true, or on the contrary they lie: If this one usually speaks the truth, they will absolutely speak truth before an oath; but if they are a liar, with lies they will swear. 

Therefore, it is not necessary to demand an oath from either.

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Greek

Latin

ΠΝΕ. - ΘΕΟΦΙΛῼ ΝΑΥΚΛΗΡῼ Περί τοῦ μὴ ὁρκίζειν.  Εἰ τῆς ἡμετέρας ὑπάρχεις ἀγέλης, καὶ ὑπὸ τὸν καλὸν τάττῃ ποιμένα, τἠν τῶν θηρίων φύσιν καί ὁμοίωσιν ἅρνησαι, καί τῇ φωνῇ αὐτοῦ ἀκολούθησον, μὴ ὀμόσαι ὅλως κελεύοντος. Τὸ δὲ μὴ ὀμόσαι, μηδὲ ἀπαιτῆσαι ὅρκον ἐστίν. Εἰ γἀρ μὴ βούλει ὀμόσαι, μηδὲ παρʹ ἑτέρων ὅρκον ἀπαίτει διὰ δύο ταύτας αἰτίας· ἢ τὸ ἐπαληθεύειν τὸν ἐπερωτώμενον, ἢ τὸ ἐναντίον τὸ ψεύδεσθαι. Εἰ γἀρ ἀληθεύει συνήθως ό ἄνθρωπος, καὶ πρὸ τοῦ ὅρκον πάντως ἀληθεύει· εἰ δὲ ψεύστης ἐστὶ, καὶ ὀμνύων ψεύδεται. Οὐ χρή οὖν ὅρκον ἀπαιτεῖν διʹ ἀμφότερα.

CLV. - THEOPHILO NAUCLERO De non extorquendo juramento. Si nostri gregis es, ac sub bono illo pastore censeris, ferarum naturum ac similitudinem abjura, atque ipsius voci obtempera, qui, ne omnino jures, prohibet. Porro non jurare, ne jusjurandum quidem ab alio exigere est. Nam si jurare minime vis, ne ab aliis quidem, ut jurent, extorque, idque duplici de causa: nimirum aut quia very studiosus est qui interrogator; aut contra, quia libenter mentitur. Si enim ille vera loqui solet, omnino etiam nullo interposito jurejurando vera loquentur: si autem mendax est, jurans etiam mentietur. Quapropter duplici hoc nomine jusjurandum haudquaquam exigendum est.