Transcript Polygamy and the Bible “The practice or condition of having many or several spouses, especially wives, at one time” (Random House College Dictionary,

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 thee 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: 18ff., I
Cor. 11: 7ff.). Hence, same sex marriage is not part of
God’s arrangement for the marriage bond (see Rom. 1:
22ff.). 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: 20ff.). 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: 4ff., 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?