Vows
Someone objected to our reference to religious vows in a discussion about abjuration and asked:
"Christ's words are plain, and easy of understanding to those who wish to comprehend, at least in this instance. Otherwise, why would He follow up a statement such as "swear not at all" in direct connection vows and vowing with "Let your yes be yes and your no be no; all else comes from sin"?"
Jesus does not connect swearing with vows and vowing.
This connection is done by translators and people who are confused about what Christ was saying.
There is so much deception out there it is easy to be fooled and deceived.
The confusion concerning the words of Christ is clear.
Matthew 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
The word we find in the Greek translated oath is ὅρκος, Horkos from Greek mythology personifies the curse that will be inflicted on any person who swears a false oath. The word horkos is always translated oaths in the King James Bible and most other Bibles. A few translations put the word vow there but there is another word translated vow in the New Testament that does not mean oath.
Some people would still like to think this word horkos should be vow and not oath but that would just create confusion and has in the past done much harm.
We see this word numbered in Strong's Concordance as 3727 ~orkov~ horkos \@hor'-kos\@ from herkos (perhaps akin to horion meaning boundary and erkos meaning fence, enclosure); it appears 10 times as oath. And is defined as “that which has been pledged or promised with an oath.”
It is the binding of your deeds by oath that is objected to by Christ.
Here is an audio program on the subject:
<mp3player width="300">http://www.hisholychurch.net/kkvv/9thfolder/13-06-25-vowofabjuration.mp3</mp3player> Download
The idea that there is something wrong with vows or that Jesus made some sort of prohibition against them because people wish to mistranslate words has done great damage.
When a man and women take vows as Husband and Wife are they sinning against Christ?
All they are saying is yes, we take each other as Husband and Wife, before witnesses.
Today the word vow is defined “a solemn promise, pledge, or personal commitment: marriage vows.” But in the Bible it is translated from a word that means prayer.
These little deceptions can go a long way to confuse the whole world. We have shown this a hundred times and more in our writings. Sophistry like this leads many people astray and has kept people from becoming doers of the word.
Some translations use the word vow instead of oath in Matthew 5:33 but this leads to confusion since there is another word for vow which appears in the biblical text in Acts 18:18 where we see that Paul took a vow, Acts 21:23, and in James 5:15 where the word is translated prayer.
The word we see for vow is euche or euchomai which means a prayer to God, a vow, what you desire or intend to do. It is the word from which you get eucharistos or Eucharist.
Other words like proseuche translated prayer 36 times or proseuchomai which is the word pray almost 90 times.
The word euche translated vow is clearly not the same as word horkos translated oath but some people want to imagine that they can use these words interchangeably. They do the truth and Christ a disservice and if they continue in this they are bearing false witness.
We have seen how translators can translate five different words into the same English word and the same Greek word into five or more different English word. If you couple this practice with the truth that English words can have many different definitions then you should clearly see without some reference to original texts that you are opening the door to confusion and even lies. There should be a consistency in translating and the use of words in translations and especially in formulating your own conversations about Christ's doctrines.
So the word vow can mean several things. Matrimony is established with vows publicly announced before witnesses and God is not the same as Marriage vows as established by the authority of the State which fences a husband and wife under the authority of the State.
By not examining the meaning of words and the purpose and spirit of the original authors including their choice of words we are dissembling the Gospel of Christ and equivocate over the meanings of His words by worshiping what we want to believe is true rather than accepting the truth of what Christ actually said. We are leading people astray and are fenced in by our own personal interpretation and prejudice.
Don't be led astray by bad translations and other tools of sophistry.
A vow, as used with the translation of the the Greek word eucho and used in the Bible, is a prayer.
- Acts 18:18 "And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow <euche>."
- Acts 21:23 "Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have <euche> a vow on them;"
- James 5:15 "And the prayer <euche> of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
A vow is a statement, not an oath.
When Jesus said in Matthew 6:9 "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."
He did not use the word deomai which is translated pray and means to want, lack 2) to desire, long for.
Nor did he use the word erotao translated ask, beseech, pray, desire, and intreat and defined "to question."
Nor did he use the word parakaleo translated pray but means "to call to ones side".
The word pray in Matthew 6:9 was translate from proseuchomai... pros meaning "to the advantage of" and eucho meaning "to pray to God".
Origin of the word VOW is the Middle English vowe, from Anglo-French vou. It is from Latin votum, from neuter of votus, past participle of vovēre to vow; akin to Greek euchesthai to pray, vow or the Sanskrit vāghat meaning the one who chooses to sacrifice.
There is a pray that asks for something and one that states that you wish to do something. The latter is a vow, vou, votum, from neuter of votus, past participle of vovēre ; akin to Greek euchesthai to pray God.
It has no relation to the word horkos which means oath an is false to connect and suggest that Jesus did.