Michael Wuk: Necessity over doctrine: religious authorities and oath-taking in Late Antiquity

Originally formulated within a non-Christian framework, the common practice of oath-taking underwent a religious shift in alignment with the increasing pervasiveness of Christianity in later Roman societies. However, oath-taking was forbidden by religious law. As many, from average citizens to the emperor, continued to swear oaths regardless, individuals in positions of higher spiritual authority were placed in an awkward position where they had to choose between acquiescing with society’s demands or complying with their religious scruples. The purpose of this paper is to examine how various late antique bishops and ascetics dealt with this choice between necessity and doctrine.

            In some cases, demands to swear were ignored. At the second Council of Constantinople, Basil, bishop of Seleucia, stated that he was forbidden from taking an oath of honesty. However, many of his peers capitulated immediately and Basil himself took oaths later in the course of proceedings. In other contexts, certain monks circumvented the prohibition to comply with society, performing a similar yet distinct practice. But in many cases, ecclesiastical authorities fully utilised this forbidden ritual without apparent concern.

            These different reactions raise several questions. Were there contexts in which swearing was less acceptable ? Were certain ecclesiastical roles more prohibited from oaths than others? How did some sidestep the Biblical embargo on the practice? Through analysis of several incidents in which spiritual authorities were forced to take oaths or refuse to comply, I will examine the dilemma of choice in which late antique bishops, priests, and ascetics often found themselves.