Having multiple wives
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B
NO
1) Multiple hits on the wallet
2) Multiple hits on the ears
...
4) harder to work out exactly WHO screwed up your finely tuned settings and great background picture on the puter.
...
MrM
1) Multiple hits on the wallet
2) Multiple hits on the ears
...
4) harder to work out exactly WHO screwed up your finely tuned settings and great background picture on the puter.
...
MrM
Yeah, not to mention all those iPhones ringing and sorting iTexts to Skype numbers and stuff...
It's true that polygamy was not condemned in the OT, and it even seems that maybe it could be necessary sometimes, for example to fulfill the command to raise up children in your deceased brother's name or whatever (if I understand that correctly). HOWEVER....
The truth is:
With the exception of KINGS, it wasn't common. And even in the cases of men of God who did, it wasn't even their desire or plan.
Look here:
Abraham: one wife........ even though he was very wealthy, and powerful, ONE WIFE, all the way into his old age. It was only when his one wife pushed her maid servant on him (in an effort to try make God's promise happen) did he have another wife. It's kinda remarkable and notable that he didn't before that (despite all his wealth and power, all the way into his old age) and was apparently very much a "one-woman man".
Isaac: one wife, Rebekah
Jacob: He only wanted one wife. He worked 7 years for that one woman, and was tricked into marrying another, and had to agree to work 7 more years to have the one he wanted. Then the other two were given by his two wives to compete with each other in bearing children. Which, actually worked out for God's plan to form the twelve tribes of Israel, and fulfill God's promise to make his grandfather Abraham into a great nation. But really and truly it was that one that he wanted, and worked 14 years total just for her.
Joseph: Wasn't it one wife?
Prophets: one wife (if any).
Since many pages of the OT are covering the lives of kings, it's easy to get the impression that polygamy was normal for men of God but it wasn't. I remember when I first got saved and started reading the OT I kinda got the impression that polygamy was common and normal for men of God (and it kinda made me entertain the idea !). But it wasn't, except for kings. It's the people who wanted that, not God. He warned them that a king would take their money, their daughters, etc.... God wanted to be their king, but they wanted to be like the other nations, so he gave them what they wanted, a "king" modeled after the other nations, with the harem and the whole shebang.
Anyway...........
There is also a passage in the NT, in the character qualifications for an overseer/elder/pastor in 1 Tim 3. The whole context is godly character, which should be exemplified in a church leader. Interestingly, in this list of godly character traits, it also says "a man of one woman" (or "husband of one wife"). So, we have to acknowledge that it must be a good thing, to be a man of one wife. Darn! (Just kidding.)
The OP here gives an example of an ungodly man and asks the question "How did this change for Christians?". I think the example given is really misleading and I really don't think much has changed, in the sense that we see men of God being or trying to be a "man of one woman" even in the OT and in the NT it's clearly written that this is a good thing.
Having said that, it can still happen. Example, muslim man has three wives and gets saved. I wouldn't tell him to divorce any of his wives and he has a duty to all of his children.
The truth is:
With the exception of KINGS, it wasn't common. And even in the cases of men of God who did, it wasn't even their desire or plan.
Look here:
Abraham: one wife........ even though he was very wealthy, and powerful, ONE WIFE, all the way into his old age. It was only when his one wife pushed her maid servant on him (in an effort to try make God's promise happen) did he have another wife. It's kinda remarkable and notable that he didn't before that (despite all his wealth and power, all the way into his old age) and was apparently very much a "one-woman man".
Isaac: one wife, Rebekah
Jacob: He only wanted one wife. He worked 7 years for that one woman, and was tricked into marrying another, and had to agree to work 7 more years to have the one he wanted. Then the other two were given by his two wives to compete with each other in bearing children. Which, actually worked out for God's plan to form the twelve tribes of Israel, and fulfill God's promise to make his grandfather Abraham into a great nation. But really and truly it was that one that he wanted, and worked 14 years total just for her.
Joseph: Wasn't it one wife?
Prophets: one wife (if any).
Since many pages of the OT are covering the lives of kings, it's easy to get the impression that polygamy was normal for men of God but it wasn't. I remember when I first got saved and started reading the OT I kinda got the impression that polygamy was common and normal for men of God (and it kinda made me entertain the idea !).
But it wasn't, except for kings. It's the people who wanted that, not God. He warned them that a king would take their money, their daughters, etc.... God wanted to be their king, but they wanted to be like the other nations, so he gave them what they wanted, a "king" modeled after the other nations, with the harem and the whole shebang.Anyway...........
There is also a passage in the NT, in the character qualifications for an overseer/elder/pastor in 1 Tim 3. The whole context is godly character, which should be exemplified in a church leader. Interestingly, in this list of godly character traits, it also says "a man of one woman" (or "husband of one wife"). So, we have to acknowledge that it must be a good thing, to be a man of one wife. Darn!
(Just kidding.)The OP here gives an example of an ungodly man and asks the question "How did this change for Christians?". I think the example given is really misleading and I really don't think much has changed, in the sense that we see men of God being or trying to be a "man of one woman" even in the OT and in the NT it's clearly written that this is a good thing.
Having said that, it can still happen. Example, muslim man has three wives and gets saved. I wouldn't tell him to divorce any of his wives and he has a duty to all of his children.
Last edited:
B
...hmm...? Interesting indeed.
I've never thought about what's the biblical standing for a polygamist Muslim converting to Christianity... Would that not be similar to the conversion of a married atheist (for sake of random example) with mistresses?
Under US Family law, the atheist would be legally married to one woman, and the "other woman" would be like the Muslim's "other wives." The Christian guidelines in such case would be that the atheist remain married to one woman, but he would need to dismiss all the mistresses.
Would that not apply to any polygamist Muslim converting to faith in Christ?
I've never thought about what's the biblical standing for a polygamist Muslim converting to Christianity... Would that not be similar to the conversion of a married atheist (for sake of random example) with mistresses?
Under US Family law, the atheist would be legally married to one woman, and the "other woman" would be like the Muslim's "other wives." The Christian guidelines in such case would be that the atheist remain married to one woman, but he would need to dismiss all the mistresses.
Would that not apply to any polygamist Muslim converting to faith in Christ?
It's true that polygamy was not condemned in the OT, and it even seems that maybe it could be necessary sometimes, for example to fulfill the command to raise up children in your deceased brother's name or whatever (if I understand that correctly). HOWEVER....
The truth is:
With the exception of KINGS, it wasn't common. And even in the cases of men of God who did, it wasn't even their desire or plan.
Look here:
Abraham: one wife........ even though he was very wealthy, and powerful, ONE WIFE, all the way into his old age. It was only when his one wife pushed her maid servant on him (in an effort to try make God's promise happen) did he have another wife. It's kinda remarkable and notable that he didn't before that (despite all his wealth and power, all the way into his old age) and was apparently very much a "one-woman man".
Isaac: one wife, Rebekah
Jacob: He only wanted one wife. He worked 7 years for that one woman, and was tricked into marrying another, and had to agree to work 7 more years to have the one he wanted. Then the other two were given by his two wives to compete with each other in bearing children. Which, actually worked out for God's plan to form the twelve tribes of Israel, and fulfill God's promise to make his grandfather Abraham into a great nation. But really and truly it was that one that he wanted, and worked 14 years total just for her.
Joseph: Wasn't it one wife?
Prophets: one wife (if any).
Since many pages of the OT are covering the lives of kings, it's easy to get the impression that polygamy was normal for men of God but it wasn't. I remember when I first got saved and started reading the OT I kinda got the impression that polygamy was common and normal for men of God (and it kinda made me entertain the idea !). But it wasn't, except for kings. It's the people who wanted that, not God. He warned them that a king would take their money, their daughters, etc.... God wanted to be their king, but they wanted to be like the other nations, so he gave them what they wanted, a "king" modeled after the other nations, with the harem and the whole shebang.
Anyway...........
There is also a passage in the NT, in the character qualifications for an overseer/elder/pastor in 1 Tim 3. The whole context is godly character, which should be exemplified in a church leader. Interestingly, in this list of godly character traits, it also says "a man of one woman" (or "husband of one wife"). So, we have to acknowledge that it must be a good thing, to be a man of one wife. Darn! (Just kidding.)
The OP here gives an example of a ungodly man and asks the question "How did this change for Christians?". I think the example given is really misleading and I really don't think much has changed, in the sense that we see men of God being or trying to be a "man of one woman" even in the OT and in the NT it's clearly written that this is a good thing.
Having said that, it can still happen. Example, muslim man has three wives and gets saved. I wouldn't tell him to divorce any of his wives and he has a duty to all of his children.
The truth is:
With the exception of KINGS, it wasn't common. And even in the cases of men of God who did, it wasn't even their desire or plan.
Look here:
Abraham: one wife........ even though he was very wealthy, and powerful, ONE WIFE, all the way into his old age. It was only when his one wife pushed her maid servant on him (in an effort to try make God's promise happen) did he have another wife. It's kinda remarkable and notable that he didn't before that (despite all his wealth and power, all the way into his old age) and was apparently very much a "one-woman man".
Isaac: one wife, Rebekah
Jacob: He only wanted one wife. He worked 7 years for that one woman, and was tricked into marrying another, and had to agree to work 7 more years to have the one he wanted. Then the other two were given by his two wives to compete with each other in bearing children. Which, actually worked out for God's plan to form the twelve tribes of Israel, and fulfill God's promise to make his grandfather Abraham into a great nation. But really and truly it was that one that he wanted, and worked 14 years total just for her.
Joseph: Wasn't it one wife?
Prophets: one wife (if any).
Since many pages of the OT are covering the lives of kings, it's easy to get the impression that polygamy was normal for men of God but it wasn't. I remember when I first got saved and started reading the OT I kinda got the impression that polygamy was common and normal for men of God (and it kinda made me entertain the idea !).
But it wasn't, except for kings. It's the people who wanted that, not God. He warned them that a king would take their money, their daughters, etc.... God wanted to be their king, but they wanted to be like the other nations, so he gave them what they wanted, a "king" modeled after the other nations, with the harem and the whole shebang.Anyway...........
There is also a passage in the NT, in the character qualifications for an overseer/elder/pastor in 1 Tim 3. The whole context is godly character, which should be exemplified in a church leader. Interestingly, in this list of godly character traits, it also says "a man of one woman" (or "husband of one wife"). So, we have to acknowledge that it must be a good thing, to be a man of one wife. Darn!
(Just kidding.)The OP here gives an example of a ungodly man and asks the question "How did this change for Christians?". I think the example given is really misleading and I really don't think much has changed, in the sense that we see men of God being or trying to be a "man of one woman" even in the OT and in the NT it's clearly written that this is a good thing.
Having said that, it can still happen. Example, muslim man has three wives and gets saved. I wouldn't tell him to divorce any of his wives and he has a duty to all of his children.
it in all actuality is more prevalent that even i thought. i worked for three brothers from Pakistan for about 5 years,they were muslin. they emigrated to the u.s. because of turmoil in their nation,money,safty ect.. they were polite people, never disrespectful to me.
there customs were far different,they do not have separate bank accounts. there were three brothers oldest,middle,youngest. they lived in three townhouses with their family members whom came to the u.s. at the same time,sisters,aunts,daughters sister in laws,nieces ect. and other family members. at times they would come to the businesses with their wife others with their niece,others with their sister in laws.
they women they came with would look around the buesness and not speak much,the single men would try to ask them to lunch,movies ect. but they would never go with them. the three brothers explained to them in their culture it was important to not become "Americanized as to our customs" so for the most part the men would just stop asking them out.
now in the u.s. it is not legal to have more than one wife. now imagine yourself filling out the emigration paperwork,,,who is wife #1?,="wife",,,who is wife #2?="sister-in-law",,,wife 3 is "niece",,,,and see they cannot go out with you on a date,but by law if you file a will they can inherit your house-hold.,,any time you are in a fix as to the law if you have duel citizenship you can go to Pakistan and transfer any legal matters there and resolve them.
there customs were far different,they do not have separate bank accounts. there were three brothers oldest,middle,youngest. they lived in three townhouses with their family members whom came to the u.s. at the same time,sisters,aunts,daughters sister in laws,nieces ect. and other family members. at times they would come to the businesses with their wife others with their niece,others with their sister in laws.
they women they came with would look around the buesness and not speak much,the single men would try to ask them to lunch,movies ect. but they would never go with them. the three brothers explained to them in their culture it was important to not become "Americanized as to our customs" so for the most part the men would just stop asking them out.
now in the u.s. it is not legal to have more than one wife. now imagine yourself filling out the emigration paperwork,,,who is wife #1?,="wife",,,who is wife #2?="sister-in-law",,,wife 3 is "niece",,,,and see they cannot go out with you on a date,but by law if you file a will they can inherit your house-hold.,,any time you are in a fix as to the law if you have duel citizenship you can go to Pakistan and transfer any legal matters there and resolve them.
Doesn't it go both ways? What if the woman wants multiple husbands? All this will be an issue going forward as the sodomites push for same sex marriage.
There are practical benefits of a man having multiple wives. More family income. More labor for the housework. Greater security for the offspring. Not my cup of tea but your mileage may vary..
For the cause of Christ
Roger
There are practical benefits of a man having multiple wives. More family income. More labor for the housework. Greater security for the offspring. Not my cup of tea but your mileage may vary..
For the cause of Christ
Roger