Jumpstarter 6 of 10

Direct Answer Augustine assumes people are often unwilling to believe without extra guarantees, so oaths become a “necessary” tool for persuasion; Bercot presents the apostolic-age posture as taking Jesus’ command straightforwardly, without carving out necessity-based exceptions.

Support from Transcript:

• Jesus’ command is quoted as direct: “do not swear at all,” and Bercot calls it “a straightforward commandment.”
• Bercot says “the early Christians took it literally,” indicating their assumptions favored simple obedience.
• Augustine says swearing is not “good” but “necessary,” and should be used when “men [are] slow to believe… unless they are assured by an oath.”
• Augustine reframes “whatsoever is more than these comes from evil” to mean if compelled to swear, it is due to others’ “infirmity.”
• Bercot interprets Augustine’s effect bluntly: Jesus’ command becomes “a mere suggestion… unless someone insists that you do.”
• The chapter’s larger critique is that Nicene theologians “didn’t hesitate to contradict his very words,” implying Augustine’s assumptions are out of step with apostolic Christianity.