Chapter 28

1We Christians ought not to swear by the names of false gods, mention their names with our lips, bow down before them, or fear them. Whoever does these things and serves false gods shall be far from God, the giver of life. They are not gods, but the work of human hands and spirits of Satan. For God said concerning the children of Israel, “They have forsaken me and sworn by strange gods, and they have provoked me to anger by their gods.”

2In the Scriptures, everyone who worships and serves false gods or swears by their names is accounted despised, hateful, and impure. Not only these, but also astrologers and magicians who practice superstition, are so accounted. [Do not serve them or worship them.]

3Moreover, it is said, “When you regard the heavens, do not worship the sun, the moon, or the stars.” Elsewhere it is said, “Do not walk in the way of the nations, nor learn their works, nor fear the signs of heaven.” The sun, moon, and stars were created to give light to humanity, not to be worshiped.

4In the wilderness Israel bowed down before the idol, the molten calf, and they also worshiped the stars and the sun, as Ezekiel says: “They made beasts that cannot speak into gods for themselves.” In the same way, the Egyptians worshiped many other gods, including the god with a dog’s face. In Judah they worshiped gods of gold and silver, as God says through the prophet: “The gods of the nations are gold and silver, the work of human hands. They have mouths but do not speak; they have eyes but do not see; they have ears but do not hear; they have noses but do not smell; they have hands but do not handle; they have feet but do not walk; nor do they speak with their throat, and there is no breath in their mouths. May all who make them, and all who trust in them, become like them.”

5Behold, then, beloved brothers, you have heard what God says: all who worship idols and bow down to the sun, the moon, and the stars are evil and defiled. But Christians who love God ought not to swear by the sun, the moon, the stars of heaven, or the earth. Our Master has commanded us never to swear by anything.

6Behold, then, let our words be prudent, for our Lord says, “Do not swear by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King; neither shall you swear by your head.” For the foolish Jews swear by their heads. He has commanded that the words of the faithful should be one: either “Yes, yes,” or “No, no”; whatever is more than these is evil.

7Whoever swears falsely transgresses the law and honors the false gods as though they were the truth, since God has made them err in the blindness of their hearts and in the evil of their deeds, so that they do what is unseemly.