Polygamy

[Bushido8000]

Thankfully, we don't abide by the world's culture, but by God's culture. In the New Testament it says one wife. When God made man and said that man should be alone, God didn't create multiple women for him (wives), but one woman (wife), Eve. I think by that statement alone we know what God prefers. Adam didn't have multiple wives, did he? Nope. It was only when the chosen people became influenced by the world's culture that they took multiple wives.

Plus, out of all the histories in the Bible, we only have a handful that had many wives. We must remember that these men were human and made choices based on their flesh, just like we do, and we shouldn't assume that because they had many wives, God was okay with it. I don't believe the Bible ever says "God is okay with many wives" or polygamy would be legal, right?



Quote taken from: Here's the Plain Truth About OLD TESTAMENT POLYGAMY

Not really. It never says anything about having only one wife. It says that you should love your wife. but this language doesn't cancel out loving your wife Teresa, while loving your wife Sandra, while loving your wife Beth. Not everyone had multiple wives. It was mostly the more wealthy that could rack up multiple wives (imagine having to support these women and their offspring). If the NT said "love your wives" then that would imply that men HAD to have more than one wife, which they didn't and often chose not to.

The only thing that changes in the Bible in terms of the acceptability of Polygamy is the culture of the Geographic region. Remember that the OT and NT are (mostly) books from different parts of the world.

 

[Bryancampbell]

Here's a question (sorry if I derailed)

If you are a former Muslim, Mormon, etc. What do you do with your multiple wives then? Is it right to divorce them or keep them?

 

[RedTent]

I think this better answers your question.

>>>> Why did God allow polygamy / bigamy in the Bible?

God didn't. The men the bible tells about chose it.

 

[LT]

Okay, I charge thee before God, turn to Matthew 19:8. Note the words referring back to the original ordination of marriage. One man, one woman.
Note also .
Also, an elder is to be the husband of one wife.
You get married to a woman. Then you marry another woman (in Utah). That's adultery, the second person. In fact, the second person relationship is only a marriage according to the law of the land. According to God's law it is not a marriage, that's why it is adultery.
Perhaps you are merely wishing it were allowed. Thoughts?

I think that what you have said represents the modern sentiment of marriage. Some of the principles date all the way back to well before Jesus' day. But, I don't think that either of those verses have anything to do with a man having 2 legal marriages at once. Divorce is an entirely different and opposing issue. Adultery is sex outside of marriage, whereas polygamy would still be within marriage.
The fact that an elder is to be the husband of but one wife is a pretty good argument. It implies that 1 wife is, at least, wiser than 2 or more, and possibly implies that this is the way God wanted marriage to be.... but that is a stretch, and hard to solidify on a logical basis.

My conscience is convinced that it is sin, but I am still seeking a solid verse for this.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

I knew a guy years ago who was married and had a concubine also.

 

[Bryancampbell]

God didn't. The men the bible tells about chose it.

In the article it says God never intended it, which I believe the bible is right in that, but there could have been numerous reasons why it happened. No where in the bible does it say it was against God in the OT.

 

[RedTent]

Not really. It never says anything about having only one wife. It says that you should love your wife. but this language doesn't cancel out loving your wife Teresa, while loving your wife Sandra, while loving your wife Beth. Not everyone had multiple wives. It was mostly the more wealthy that could rack up multiple wives (imagine having to support these women and their offspring). If the NT said "love your wives" then that would imply that men HAD to have more than one wife, which they didn't and often chose not to.

The only thing that changes in the Bible in terms of the acceptability of Polygamy is the culture of the Geographic region. Remember that the OT and NT are (mostly) books from different parts of the world.

When God created the world he also created man and woman. At that time God tells about their uniting. It says two shall become one. That is the way it is created, and the bible does not divide out the people it speaks to by Geographic region. The bible uses people who live in a certain area to show the principles that God operates the entire world by but the principles remain the same for everywhere and every culture.

We have decided to divide the bible into the way God operated before Christ lived here as a man and afterwards when Christ fulfilled certain symbols God used for training like the temple, priests, and blood. But God is God in the whole of scripture and the division is man made, not God made.

 

[Cycel]

I've never understood why a guy would put himself through the agony of having more than one wife XD Aren't we women just difficult with one of us being around? Why would a guy do that to themselves?

I think the answer is that in a patriarchal society a male's word is law. Women had few rights. In modern Western society, where we are all presumed equal, a multiple arrangement might have less success. My understanding is that in the polygamous Mormon marriages the males, once again, dominate. It's all about male control.

 

[djness]

Should a woman have more than one husband?

Here is a wise man folks. John seems to know something about the male persona.
Perfect question because the guys who are all for having a second wife never respond to this question.
Of course they don't want to be the second husband.
It's pure and simple a desire for sex with multiple women under the false pretense of ''something God allows".

[h=3]2 Timothy 3:6[/h]New International Version (NIV)

6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires,

 

[4enlightment]

Modern society abhors the thought of polygamy, but I don't see a Biblical context for it being unlawful. Does anyone have any verses that condemn polygamy?
I know I am going to get flack from this... but I feel like it is a topic that needs to be aired out. Many of the patriarchs had multiple wives, or at least children from multiple women: Jacob, David, Solomon, etc...

I do not support this behavior. I'm just bringing it up. I believe in equal rights for women.

Matthew 19:8Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.

Matthew 19:5and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?

1 Corinthians 6:16Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”

 

[Cycel]

In the article it says God never intended it, which I believe the bible is right in that, but there could have been numerous reasons why it happened. No where in the bible does it say it was against God in the OT.

Wouldn't that be because polygamy was simply part of the culture at that time and so the Bible reflects society as it existed. Are there not laws in the Old Testament governing this, as well as slavery? Those who wrote the Bible simply composed it to reflect their belief that the deity they worshiped sanctioned the cultural rules they lived by. Makes sense, yes? But then, that's the secular approach that I take. Oh, it holds true for warfare as well. Ancient Bronze Age and Iron Age armies spared no one, and so the OT reflects this in Yahweh's commands to the Israelites to kill everyone. Again, the Bible reflects the culture of the time.

 

[Tintin]

God never approved of polygamy. Polygamy was a practice. The Bible gives us a description of their lifestyle. But, that description isn't a prescription on how to live life. God instituted the biblical model of marriage with Adam and Eve.

If only people understood this in regards to the whole Bible when they say it's a violent, misogynistic etc. book. Well, duh. It's describing human history and how humanity is sinful and needs a saviour. It's not prescribing sin as ideal and glorifying it.

 

[4enlightment]

Wouldn't that be because polygamy was simply part of the culture at that time and so the Bible reflects society as it existed. Are there not laws in the Old Testament governing this, as well as slavery? Those who wrote the Bible simply composed it to reflect their belief that the deity they worshiped sanctioned the cultural rules they lived by. Makes sense, yes? But then, that's the secular approach that I take. Oh, it holds true for warfare as well. Ancient Bronze Age and Iron Age armies spared no one, and so the OT reflects this in Yahweh's commands to the Israelites to kill everyone. Again, the Bible reflects the culture of the time.

Moses had lightened the load of their duties because of the rough life they have had. They were hard to the core and wouldn't follow a God that is trying to take away their life. So Moses created some laws to slowly wean them from their ways and getting them to fear God. In those times they'd listen to the one with the big stick, because they had that tribal mentality and which it is like that to this day. That is why in the beginning God Was letting the people know that He is the big Man on the block, because if He would have shown His weak side, they would had walk all over Moses. So Moses let them kept some of their traditions, but under certain conditions.

1 Corinthians 3:2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.

Leviticus 25:17Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the Lord your God.

Mark 12:30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

Matthew 23:12For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

 

[megaman125]

Modern society abhors the thought of polygamy, but I don't see a Biblical context for it being unlawful. Does anyone have any verses that condemn polygamy?
I know I am going to get flack from this... but I feel like it is a topic that needs to be aired out. Many of the patriarchs had multiple wives, or at least children from multiple women: Jacob, David, Solomon, etc...

Just because they had multiple wives doesn't mean they were right in doing so.

 

[mystdancer50]

Not really. It never says anything about having only one wife. It says that you should love your wife. but this language doesn't cancel out loving your wife Teresa, while loving your wife Sandra, while loving your wife Beth. Not everyone had multiple wives. It was mostly the more wealthy that could rack up multiple wives (imagine having to support these women and their offspring). If the NT said "love your wives" then that would imply that men HAD to have more than one wife, which they didn't and often chose not to.

The only thing that changes in the Bible in terms of the acceptability of Polygamy is the culture of the Geographic region. Remember that the OT and NT are (mostly) books from different parts of the world.

Actually, it says one wife many times in the NT. Never does it say many wives. Always refers to one wife.

 

[Married_Richenbrachen]

I knew a guy years ago who was married and had a concubine also.

Lol. What country was that in? Did the concubine mind being just a concubine? I suppose it's a little funny to me, but probably was also sad for her.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

Lol. What country was that in? Did the concubine mind being just a concubine? I suppose it's a little funny to me, but probably was also sad for her.

The US (not utah). He was/is a believer, too. He didn't have her when we parted ways, but a friend said he was introduced to her. He said when the husband and wife walked off, the concubine followed behind them. Weird. He was weird. I remember him talking about having concubines when I knew him. He obviously went ahead and got one.

 

[Bryancampbell]

^^this is funny

 

[leonardronaldo]

Ephesians 5
25 Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it,

Can a man give his life twice or more? lol

 

[mystdancer50]

Ephesians 5
25 Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it,

Can a man give his life twice or more? lol

I guess I am missing your point here...what are you saying?