Polygamy and the Bible The practice or condition

Polygamy and the Bible “The practice or condition of having many or several spouses, especially wives, at one time” (Random House College Dictionary, pg. 1628). “Polygamy” is a general term that can and does embrace a number of specific forms of multiple spouses; such as, polyandry (one woman and two or more men) and polygyny (one man and two or more women). A number of American Indian tribes and nineteenth Century Mormons practiced sororal polygamy (one man marrying sisters). Relative to the Bible, polygyny is the common reference (one man marrying women, Isa. 4: 1).

Polygamy and the Bible “With the sweetly titled HBO series ‘Big Love, ’ polygamy comes out of the closet. Under the headline ‘Polygamists, Unite!’ Newsweek informs us of ‘polygamy activists emerging in the wake of the gay-marriage movement. ’ Says one evangelical Christian big lover: ‘Polygamy rights is the next civil-rights battle, ’” one author writes. He continues, “Polygamy used to be stereotyped as the province of secretive Mormons, primitive Africans and profligate Arabs. With ‘Big Love’ it moves to suburbia as a mere alternative lifestyle. As Newsweek notes, these stirrings for the mainstreaming of polygamy (or, more accurately, polygyny) have their roots in the increasing legitimization of gay marriage. ”

Polygamy and the Bible 2 Pet. 3: 16 “We believe that the idea of multiple sexual partners is in no way prohibited by the teachings of the Hebrew or Christian scriptures. The ancient Hebrews, as portrayed in the Old Testament, clearly believed in multiple partnerships and this practice is nowhere condemned by God. When the New Testament scriptures are viewed as a whole, taking into account the cultural context in which they were written, it is clear that neither Jesus nor the writers of the New Testament condemned such practice…. Despite this biblical evidence, the Christian church has persistently opposed polygamous relationships and has, at times, actively persecuted families which chose to practice this lifestyle. The church has also used twisted interpretations of various scriptures in defense of its opposition to this lifestyle. ”

Polygamy and the Bible More are now aggressively teaching that the Bible sanctions polygamous practices today and some even say that polygamy is “God’s ideal state. ” If you consult Nave’s Topical Bible, you will find one section under “Polygamy” titled, “Authorized… 2 Samuel 12: 8. ” If God ever “authorized” polygamy, how could it have ever been immoral? “ 7: And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; 8: And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things” (2 Sam. 12).

Polygamy and the Bible There are indications that from early on, pagan nations freely practiced polygamy. Notwithstanding, we continue to read of men in the Bible who were manifestly monogamous (one wife only). It is evident that Adam, Noah, Job, Isaac, and Joseph (Jesus' step-father) to name some, were monogamous. After mentioning the reality of monogamy in a general milieu of pagan polygamy, I must also concede the existence of more than one wife among God’s people. Lamech, Abraham, Esau, Jacob, and Gideon all had more than one wife (Gen. 4: 19; Gen. 16; Gen. 26: 34, 28: 9; Gen. 29: 30; Judges 8: 30).

Polygamy and the Bible Even in circumstances of recorded polygamy or polygyny, we can read of domestic disturbance due to competitiveness and resentment among the women (cp. Gen. 29: 30 -34, Deut. 21: 15 -17, 2 Chroni. 11: 21). In fact, most of the unrest in the Middle East today that is having global effects can be traced back to polygamy and the resulting rivalry (Abraham, Sarai and Hagar, Gen. 16).

Polygamy and the Bible Those who contend that the Bible never negatively treats polygamy are wrong. Consider the warning given to prospective and actual kings of Israel: “ 16: But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. 17: Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold” (Deut. 17).

Polygamy and the Bible The very first marriage, Adam and Eve, in many ways serves as a prototype, if you will. Notice that God knew that it was not good that Adam be alone and God provided for Adam a “help meet” (counter part that was a complement to Adam, Gen. 2: 18). Observe how God did not simply provide another man, but for Adam God made woman, the “glory of the man” (Gen. 2: 18 ff. , I Cor. 11: 7 ff. ). Hence, same sex marriage is not part of God’s arrangement for the marriage bond (see Rom. 1: 22 ff. ). Moreover, appreciate the fact that when God instituted marriage, it was one man and one woman (Gen. 2). If polygamy is the “ideal, ” as some are teaching, why, then, did not God create Eve, Sue, Jane, etc. for Adam?

Polygamy and the Bible Some of the most beautiful teaching relative to the intimacy and duration of marriage resides in Malachi 2: “ 14: Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. 15: And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. ”

Polygamy and the Bible Just because the Bible mentions a trait or act of an individual, even a godly person, does not necessarily mean that the Bible endorsed such. The mentioning of Noah becoming drunk and disgracing himself is mentioned, but certainly not condoned (Gen. 9: 20 ff. ). I submit that God was not pleased with polygamy, an aberrant from the monogamous marriage God put in place, but that he did two things: (1). God tolerated polygamy during the maturation of his people and (2) he sought to regulate the evil practice.

Polygamy and the Bible We know that God intended for one man, one woman and that this relationship was to be for the duration (Matt. 19: 4 ff. , the only allowable cause for divorce is fornication). Yet, we also read of a divorce provision for a cause other than fornication (Deut. 24: 1 -4). This divorce concession was not given for the pleasure of flippant husbands, but was actually for the protection of the women. Thus it was relative to polygamy. God put in place monogamous marriage, but man within a short time became dissatisfied with one woman (Gen. 4: 19). Hence, God then sought to regulate the polygamous practice (Ex. 21: 10). Notwithstanding, God was never pleased with polygamy or divorce for a cause other than fornication (cp. Mal. 3: 16).

Polygamy and the Bible Polygamy is expressly denounced pertaining to the leaders of God’s people. “ 2: A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach, ” “ 6: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly” (I Tim. 3; Tit. 1). The expression "husband of one wife" (andra mias gunaikos) was provided by the Holy Spirit and must be respected. The Holy Spirit could have worded this requirement a number of ways. This construction requires marriage (present marriage), but forbids polygamy.

Polygamy and the Bible In the case of the Hebrew leaders (the kings) and in the case of the rulers of God’s people today (cp. Heb. 13: 17), having more than one wife is expressly forbidden. Why would one think such would not also follow regarding those under these men?