John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 6:16

"For men swear by the greater: and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation." — Hebrews 6:16 (ASV)

For men, etc. This is an argument from the less to the greater. If credit is given to man, who is by nature false, when he swears—and for this reason, because he confirms what he says by God’s name—how much more credit is due to God, who is eternal truth, when He swears by Himself?

Now he mentions several things to commend this declaration. First, he says that men swear by the greater; by which he means that those who lack due authority borrow it from another. He adds that there is so much reverence in an oath that it suffices for confirmation and puts an end to all disputes where the testimonies of people and other proofs are lacking. Then is He not a sufficient witness for Himself, to whom all appeal as a witness? Is He not to obtain credit for what He says, who, by His authority, removes all doubts among others? If God’s name, pronounced by a human tongue, possesses so much superiority, how much more weight ought it to have when God Himself swears by His own name? This covers the main point.

But here, in passing, two things are to be noticed: first, that we are to swear by God’s name when necessity requires, and second, that Christians are allowed to make an oath, because it is a lawful remedy for resolving disputes. God in express words commands us to swear by His name; if other names are blended with it, the oath is profaned.

For this, there are especially three reasons: first, when there is no way of bringing the truth to light, it is not right, for the sake of verifying it, to turn to anyone but God, who is Himself eternal truth; second, since He alone knows the heart, His own office is taken from Him when, in hidden matters about which people can form no opinion, we appeal to any other judge; and third, because in swearing we not only appeal to Him as a witness but also call upon Him as an avenger of perjury if we speak falsely.

It is no wonder, then, that He is so greatly displeased with those who swear by another name, for His own honor is thus disparaged. The fact that different forms are often used in Scripture does not contradict this truth. For they did not swear by heaven or earth as though they ascribed any divine power to them, or attributed to them the least portion of divinity, but by this indirect protestation, so to speak, they had regard for the one true God.

There are indeed various kinds of protestations. The chief one is when we refer to God as a judge and directly appeal to His judgment seat. Another is when we name things especially dear to us, such as our life, our head, or anything of this kind. The third is when we call creatures as witnesses before God. But in all these ways, we swear properly by no other than by God.

Therefore, those who contend that it is lawful to associate dead saints with God, attributing to them the right of punishing, betray their impiety no less than their ignorance.

Furthermore, this passage teaches us, as has been said, that an oath may be lawfully used by Christians. This ought to be particularly observed, because of fanatical people who are inclined to abolish the practice of solemn swearing which God has prescribed in His Law. For certainly, the Apostle speaks here of the custom of swearing as a holy practice and approved by God. Moreover, he does not speak of it as something formerly in use, but as something still practiced. Let it then be used as a help to find out the truth when other proofs are lacking.