First all thank you for your respectful tone in your disagreements you and I agree on a lot but there are going to be these areas we will disagree on. how about jealousy with the wives? It's showing us that only royal figures had many wives. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point 1. Jesus' mention of divorce would simply be due to the fact that divorce is the contextual subject matter under discussion. It is important to realize that the apostle Paul condemns their conduct and orders the Corinthians to remove the man from among them (1 Corinthians 5:2). 27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: In response to one of our articles on same-sex marriage, Jim G. from the U.S. wrote to us: Homosexuality is clearly sinful and an abomination per God ( Lev 18:22, 20:13, Rom 1:26-27 , 1 Cor 6:9-11, 1 Tim 1:8-10 ). It is important to note that the prohibition started in Deuteronomy 17:14 and that it is directed against the king. how do they balance it all? While I value going to the original Hebrew sometimes the language of the text is clear enough: And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. The problem here is that the words own are actually two different words in Greek, heautou and idios. Jeremiah 9:23-24. . God does sometimes regulate things that He does not necessarily approve of. God never condemned polygamy, but rather he regulated it which means he approved of it. All Rights Reserved. Is polygamy biblical? This is a transcript of Joel Kims and W. Robert Godfreys answers given during our 2021 National Conference, and has been lightly edited for readability. Yes, Scripture records acts of polygamy and concubinage among Old Testament saints. We are the Bride of Christ and although we persist in infidelity and divided affection, Christ loves us with an undivided and faithful love (Eph. Moses had two wives as well. Is it still a violation of Gods moral law? Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covetWherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Romans 7:7 & 12. Also, most English versions which read but one wife, or only one wife will note (in the extremely fine print) that those words were added based on the scholars interpretation of what they thought it meant. God used the life and ministry of Hosea to graphically illustrate this behavior, calling him to marry a prostitute and have children to demonstrate the great whoredom [of the people] by forsaking the Lord (Hosea 1:2). What About Polygamy in the Bible? | Answers in Genesis What are the references to polygamy in the Bible? In any area of marriage, Biblically speaking the husband has the final word. Throughout Jesus' earthly ministry, the religious. To find out what covetousness is we need to look back to the 10 commandments and specifically the 10 commandment: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbours. So, God created woman from man, establishing His plan and purpose in our creative and relational imaging of Him as man and woman, becoming one flesh, naked and unashamed (Gen. 2:24-25). Individual instructors or editors may still require the use of URLs. Why did God allow polygamy / bigamy in the Bible? Let's take a look at what Jesus says. Question: Why did God allow polygamy in the Old Testament Specifically I wanted to understand what parts of our human nature(and even more specifically our male and female natures) are by the design of God, and which ones come from our sin nature corrupting of the Gods original design. I find it fascinating that our society tolerates men having a wife, and then sleeping around with different women making no commitment as husband to them and there is nothing illegal about this lifestyle. Answer The question of polygamy is interesting in that most people today view polygamy as immoral while the Bible nowhere explicitly condemns it. It seems to me that if that were true, anything but polygamy would be cruel for men and that decans, pastors, etc, should not have to be the husband of only one wife.. God called him My Servant (Job 1:8). Why did God allow polygamy in the Bible? The prophet's message of rebuke to David was, essentially, "You have many wives and still you're not satisfied, and you have to go an steal the one woman that this one person has," Gentry said, underscoring the recurring theme that polygamy yields turmoil. The recorded actions of Old Testament men and women does not mean that God approves of their sin. Polygyny cannot go too far or many men will not be able to get even one wife. If you believe that polygamy is not allowed by God anymore then you can take that stand against your husband, but in the end he may take a second wife anyway(a spiritual wife, not one on paper). There are not enough extra women for many men to have two wives, even if no man has more than two. Also, note how Ephesians 5:22-33 speaks of the relationship between husbands and wives. Throughout the Old Testament and especially in the major and minor prophets, Israels relationship with God is illustrated as a marriage. The Bible consists of 66 books written by around 40 authors over a period of 1,500 years, all under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. My own family, my own country, my own language (Luke 2:3, Acts 13:36, Romans 14:4, Titus 2:9 and everyones personal favorite 1 Peter 3:5). No such passage exists about polygamy. He is connecting the 10th commandment(thou shalt not covet) to the 7th commandment(thou shalt not commit adultery). The Whole Bible The truth is that the story of polygamy in the Old Testament is, well, a problem. It so utterly ridiculous. Wives could sleep with wives, or sleep with their husband. Question: "Why did God allow polygamy / bigamy in the Bible?" Answer: The question of polygamy in the Bible is an interesting one in that most people today view polygamy as immoral while the Bible nowhere explicitly condemns it. In biblical times it was common to find the custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time. . As to Ephesians 5, I love that God designed marriage to a model of his relationship with his people. The biblical history shows that these men might have had faith in God, but that does not mean they were men of morality or that all their actions were moral, he said. Jesus, as we have seen, affirms the goodness of Gods design for monogamy in Mark 10. In the same way while Christ often refers to his Church in the singular in the New Testament, he also refers to his Church in the plural much the same way God referred to Israel and Judah when he speaks of the 7 Churches in the book of Revelation. Nathan told the king a parable about a man who had many sheep and a poor man who had only one sheep. So while most men are polygynous in their nature, that does not mean all men should were able to act on that polygynous nature by taking multiple wives. Another is Jacob's relationship with two wives, which was not a wonderful arrangement as the Bible shows how it brought about all kinds of trouble, he said. 21:2-4). From the beginning, divorce was not Gods intention for marriage, but He regularized and tolerated it in Moses to a greater extent than He would in the new covenant because of the hardness of the peoples hearts. Like Jonah, we want God to act now and intervene within this sinful world to prevent injustice and pain, failing to recognize that He did through His Son, providing a means for salvation, sanctification, justification, and glorification according to His timing and purposes, calling us to strengthen our hope as we wait with patience for the culmination of His plan (Isa. The actual Hebrew states, And not shall he multiply to himself wives . Was polygamy asin God overlooked in the Old Testament but he finally got rid of in the New Testament? In Matthew 19:8 Jesus gives us a peek into that idea when He says regarding divorce, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.. 4 67 67 comments Best Add a Comment _AppleSauce_ 7 yr. ago It's not allowed. This is part of the conversation where switch to the topic of polygamy: Lucy started by quoting a statement I am made: men are naturally polygynous as God designed them. Can you please provide verse and chapter for us? Gods pattern for the family is monogamous marriages. Noah, the man who believed God (Hebrews 11:1) and built an ark in order to escape the worldwide flood, also had only one wife (Genesis 6:18, 8:16). How long has your husband believed that polygamy is approved by God and when did he start talking to you about it? Seth, his wife, Jen, and their two middle school children enjoy outdoor activities, reading together as a family, board games, and meeting people through Jens pottery business at galleries and festivals. Furthermore, He expects us to live better and more purely than what was tolerated in the old covenant. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, The Whole Bible Why do Christians condemn POLYGAMY? While it is true that the phrase fathers wife refers to a woman who is not his mother, it is an error to conclude that the two were married. Johannine Writings General Epistles Recently I had a little debate about this issue in another forum with a Christian woman when we were discussing the subject of men looking at women. Two, three, ten, twenty, one hundred, or one thousand wives? Wisdom Literature Lexham Press 10 min read May 14, 2021 Yes, polygamy in the Bible existsbut what did Jesus think about it? I say all this to say, from the OT to NT the concept of a man being married to more than one wife, and having a distinct relationship with each of his wives does not break the model of what God intended marriage to be. Some of the most notable saints did not have multiple wives. But there was no sin in his marriage to her as God did not condemn marriage to siblings or half-siblings until many centuries later in the law of Moses. We can learn many things about the character of God, as well as us as his creations through the Old Testament. (NASB) 1 Timothy 3:2. Susan said: . I stumbled on this article in my search for help. Emadi noted examples of rivalry and brokenness within the polygamous relationships described in detail in the Old Testament as evidence that the Bible was warning against the practice. The first man recorded in scripture that had more than one wife was Lamech. Iron sharpens iron. catholicism church-history early-church morality polygamy Share Isaac, Abrahams promised son, had only one wife, Rebekah (Genesis 49:31). In fact, he specifically said not to have more than one wife because, in part, they can turn a person's heart away from God. Much of the Old Testament, however, is the documented history of God's covenantal relationship with his people. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point The facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/biblicalgenderroles, But the Christian polygamists I know that have entered the lifestyle have done so with the consent of their first wife.. Another example of how God did not endorse the practice of many wives is when King David was confronted by the prophet Nathan in 2 Samuel 12. Jesus abolished divorce and remarriage among His people, which had been tolerated among the Israelites. Why Was There Polygamy In The Old Testament Of The Bible? It is also important to notice in 1 Corinthians 5:7-13 that the apostle calls the situation immoral and concludes with this comment, . range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed Ever since I was a young man I have always been fascinated by three subjects theology, history and human nature. Does the Bible Forbid Polygamy? - genevaninstitute.org And God blessed them. 6:5), awaiting the celebration of this glorious union at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 5 Things Your Teen Has Questions about but Is Too Afraid to California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house. Minor Prophets It is important to remember that the Bible records many acts of both sin and righteousness. I think our culture has done a great deal to shame men, to mock their visual nature or to imply that their more polygamous design is somehow sinful. Jacob also had two wives: Rachel and Leah (Gen. 29:30). For the record, Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. And adultery was the greatest property crime a man could commit in violating another mans property. As Israel disobeyed God and pursued the beliefs and practices of other cultures, the judges and prophets preached against the unfaithfulness of the people, vividly calling their idolatry adultery and infidelity. Philip_Schwartzerdt 7 yr. ago 5:17-21) in place of dependence on God, death to our sinful self, and glory to God (Gal. It is important to note that later God encouraged the Israelites to use horses in battle (1 Samuel 8:11). Gods Plan for Marriage: Dealing with Old Testament Polygamy, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The Truth About Polygamy. And God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth. The expanded narrative is provided in Genesis 2, amplifying this creation mandate and mans role. (NASB) Matthew 19:4-5. Specifically, the word Mia that was translate to one. Outline Christianity portal v t e Polygamy is "the practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time." [1] Polygamy has been practiced by many cultures throughout history. It appears that God was prohibiting something else. But again I draw your attention to the fact that the same God who created Adam and Eve also gave Moses commands allowing men to take more than one wife if that were a violation of his model he would not have allowed it. A dozen men cannot make a woman reproduce any more than one man can. The Psalmists and the prophets frequently struggled to understand Gods timing and plan, frustrated with the seeming success of the wicked (Ps. (NASB) 1 Corinthians 5:1. In the first passage, it is important to notice that Jesus illustration was about two people (male and female) becoming one flesh. Please see Blue Letter Bible's Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. Christian Polygamy? (Part 1) - Christian Worldview Press It is interesting to note that the word translated as covet in Romans 7:7 that I just showed you is translated as lust in Matthew 5:28 so this illustrates the point that they are in fact interchangeable. How come your passages about regulation of polygyny speak to husbands who only love one of their wives and hate the other(s) and forbid husbands from failing to provide for wives who have fallen out of favor because their husbands married other wives? Prophets The fact is that God could have created two sets of couples so that incest would not have to occur just as he could have created more wives for Adam. In the New Testament the Church is often referred to in the singular, but other times it is referred to in the plural (churches). To ask Ligonier a biblical or theological question, email ask@ligonier.org or message us on Facebook or Twitter. Did he contradict it? . While Genesis 2:24 is describing what marriage is, rather than how many people are involved, theconsistent use of the singularis used. Emadi wrote that when the Bible speaks of the polygamous relationships of various Old Testament figures, it is simply describing the relationships and not endorsing them. Why did God allow polygamy in the Old Testament? : r/TrueChristian Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a of on 07/20/2018. I cant seem to find it anywhere. What biblical evidence is there for God allowing polygamy? Even then, isn't it kinda eh to suggest that God's laws change with the times? I can certainly find no proof God designed men that way. Perhaps she was the daughter of another one of Terahs wives from a previous marriage. Cookie Notice: Do we have a good Christian polygamy definition? Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. It was not permitted in the Old Testament, and was, in fact, prohibited from the beginning. Surely, God did not approve of the rape of Tamar by Amnon (2 Samuel 13).
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