Marriage Equality for Billings, MT Man, Two Wives

[Aquila]

It should be noted that the Roman Empire banned polygamy before the time of Christ. So, monogamy was the ideal in NT times by virtue of Roman law. There were pockets of polygamy tolerated within Jewish Palestine. But the Roman authorities didn't permit it for Roman citizens.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Aquila

It should be noted that the Roman Empire banned polygamy before the time of Christ. So, monogamy was the ideal in NT times by virtue of Roman law. There were pockets of polygamy tolerated within Jewish Palestine. But the Roman authorities didn't permit it for Roman citizens.

You are contradicting your teaching. If Paul is admonishing that ministers only have one wife, and the Roman law prohibited polygamy, why wouldn't Paul a Roman citizen understand that there was no other way for these people under Roman law to behave?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

You are contradicting your teaching. If Paul is admonishing that ministers only have one wife, and the Roman law prohibited polygamy, why wouldn't Paul a Roman citizen understand that there was no other way for these people under Roman law to behave?

Those in Judea were often a troublesome bunch. There were pockets of Jewish men who had more than one wife. The Romans looked at this like it was barbaric and primitive. No doubt, Paul's admonishment for leaders in the church to be monogamous was to not only reflect the spiritual realities of Christ and His bride (singular) but it no doubt brought a stronger witness to the Roman world than polygamy would have.