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D
1 Corinthians 7:2
Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
1 Thessalonians
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;
4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.
7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.
Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
1 Thessalonians
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;
4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.
7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.
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A
You know, the Old Testament never specifically condemn polygamy, but try finding something good that came out of it in the Bible. Jacob had a favourite wife and his sons by her were his favourite and we all know what happened with them. David's many wives didn't stop him from committing adultery. There was some ugly conflicts between his children of different wives (one of his sons raped one of his daughters). Solomons many wives lead him astray. I think it was good of Paul to put an end to Polygamy among Christians. But that begs the question, if the New Testament is so clear that we should only have one spouse, why this thread?
J
It is not so straight forward. St Augustine did not condemn it on the basis of scripture where he found no inherent restriction against it. He condemned it on the basis of Roman law and Roman custom. Martin Luther did not believe scripture condemned it and actually performed a marriage for a 2nd wife.
In the Old Testament polygamy was not just allowed by God, it was commanded at times. Moses had two wives even as he wrote the Laws God gave him.
In the Old Testament polygamy was not just allowed by God, it was commanded at times. Moses had two wives even as he wrote the Laws God gave him.
A
I agree, not all bad ideas are condemed in the Bible. Kind of like not everything that is legal is a good idea.
You're so funny. But it's totally true. We love discussing things that are ambiguous but we avoid the clear stuff that's really hard. Like women preachers, there's scripture for it and against it, and even once you do figure out that the Bible allows for it, you got to weigh pros and cons. But when Jesus is really clear about sheep and goats in Matthew 25, not many Chrisitans go around asking others if they think they're a sheep or a goat based on what Jesus said, because most of us constantly fall short of that. Besides, nothing gets someone on the defensive faster than "What have you done for the poor lately???" But if you ask someone's opinion on something like this, everyone's quick to give their two cents.
You're so funny. But it's totally true. We love discussing things that are ambiguous but we avoid the clear stuff that's really hard. Like women preachers, there's scripture for it and against it, and even once you do figure out that the Bible allows for it, you got to weigh pros and cons. But when Jesus is really clear about sheep and goats in Matthew 25, not many Chrisitans go around asking others if they think they're a sheep or a goat based on what Jesus said, because most of us constantly fall short of that. Besides, nothing gets someone on the defensive faster than "What have you done for the poor lately???" But if you ask someone's opinion on something like this, everyone's quick to give their two cents.
J
God is just and right in all His ways; Deut 32:4. He cannot do bad or wrong in any way. God is holy, which means He is separated from all immorality of any kind. Moreover, He is hostile toward sin. When God sees any sin or evil, it stirs His wrath and anger. Fire seems to be equated with holiness. God is called a consuming fire; Isaiah 6:3, Habakkuk 1:13, Exodus 3:2, 4,5 and Hebrews 12:29. God does not change His character. He is immutable; Psalm 102:23-28; Malachi 3:6; Numbers 23:19; James 1:17; or as Hebrews 13:8 states “He is the same yesterday, today and forever.” God is Holy. He cannot abide anything bad or wrong then or now. God's measure of acceptable is perfection.
When we question practices that God required and participated in and call them bad we call God's character into question. The slippery slope here is that as a general rule the modern Church condemns something God instituted in His law. God required polygmay in circumstances.
Duet 25:5-10 required polygamy as part of Levirate marriages.
God delivered Saul's wives to David 2Sam.12:7-8 and it is implied that God would have given more to David. God participated in the proliferation of polygamy.
There were limits on it in the law like not marrying sisters, mother and daughter. Inheritance laws in cases of multiple wive were covered. Concubines distinguished from wives were accepted and protected although differently, under Mosaic Law Ex. 21:7-11; Dt. 21:10-14.
Mosaic law was given by God to Moses. God is perfect and cannot tolerate anything less than absolute holiness. This forces us to rethink cultural values that we have today compared to God's unchanging character.
When we question practices that God required and participated in and call them bad we call God's character into question. The slippery slope here is that as a general rule the modern Church condemns something God instituted in His law. God required polygmay in circumstances.
Duet 25:5-10 required polygamy as part of Levirate marriages.
God delivered Saul's wives to David 2Sam.12:7-8 and it is implied that God would have given more to David. God participated in the proliferation of polygamy.
There were limits on it in the law like not marrying sisters, mother and daughter. Inheritance laws in cases of multiple wive were covered. Concubines distinguished from wives were accepted and protected although differently, under Mosaic Law Ex. 21:7-11; Dt. 21:10-14.
Mosaic law was given by God to Moses. God is perfect and cannot tolerate anything less than absolute holiness. This forces us to rethink cultural values that we have today compared to God's unchanging character.
J
I know there is some debate about this but, Moses married Zipporah (Midianite/Cu****e) She returns to him in Exodus as is evidenced in ch18 when Jethro(also called Ruel), Moses' father-in-law, Zipporah and their sons return to Moses. In Numbers 10:29 Jethro is still Moses' father-in-law on good terms. In Numbers 12 Aaron and Miriam complain to God about Moses' second wife, the Cu****e, and God rebukes/condemns Aaron and Miriam to the point that Miriam is given leprosy.
S
Polygamy is multiple marriage. It is never called fornication or adultery for men. Under the OT law a man who took a second wife had some restrictions.
1. not a mother and her daughter
2. not two sisters
3. all privileges and resources must still be available to the first wife
There is no scriptural prohibition. The one man and one woman model is exalted. Adam and Eve. God and Israel. Christ and the church. Elders and Deacons to be husbands of one wife.
NOTE: It was only granted to men.
1. not a mother and her daughter
2. not two sisters
3. all privileges and resources must still be available to the first wife
There is no scriptural prohibition. The one man and one woman model is exalted. Adam and Eve. God and Israel. Christ and the church. Elders and Deacons to be husbands of one wife.
NOTE: It was only granted to men.
A
its just not fair... you men get all the wives... sigh. Just ask my husband who is knowledgable in these things... who would actually want more than one wife! eieiei.
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