Polygamy in the Bible

[LUKE2447]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

I've been waiting for the answer too........the only one I've gotten so far is that Jesus has many wives....multi membered bride.

This goes to your failure to understand that the NT is not to point to SIN it was already pointed to in the LAW! He did not have to rewrite what sin was and polygamy is not one of them. The "SCRIPTURES" are the OT and they instruct. Considering that the NT does not forbid polygamy to everyone you cannot say anything changed. Also why would it when God told be to do it and clearly allowed it, was that not the purpose of the law to point out sin? If you say polygamy is a sin you call God a sinner. The only reason the church changed was actually to do Gentile and Roman/pagan influence into the church.

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by LUKE2447

This goes to your failure to understand that the NT is not to point to SIN it was already pointed to in the LAW! He did not have to rewrite what sin was and polygamy is not one of them. The "SCRIPTURES" are the OT and they instruct. Considering that the NT does not forbid polygamy to everyone you cannot say anything changed. Also why would it when God told be to do it and clearly allowed it, was that not the purpose of the law to point out sin? If you say polygamy is a sin you call God a sinner. The only reason the church changed was actually to do Gentile and Roman/pagan influence into the church.

This logic is so incredibly flawed, I'm almost speechless.

First, let me clarify, are you saying that there is nothing in the OT that God allowed that He now does not allow?


If so, when Paul commanded every man to love his "WIFE" as Christ loved the "CHURCH", singular, not plural, that Paul was in direct defiance to God?

[LUKE2447]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

This logic is so incredibly flawed, I'm almost speechless.

First, let me clarify, are you saying that there is nothing in the OT that God allowed that He now does not allow?


If so, when Paul commanded every man to love his "WIFE" as Christ loved the "CHURCH", singular, not plural, that Paul was in direct defiance to God?

?? incredibly flawed? Your argument make no sense at all. You fail to grasp the basic principle that God is not going to call SIN what he told people was OK to do and gave legislation on how to act within such relationships. God does not change what is sin is always sin. God is not going to say well it wasn't sin then but it is now. You make God inconsistent. Especially when he never said it was sin. Yet somehow you want to make it sinful now.

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by LUKE2447

?? incredibly flawed? Your argument make no sense at all. You fail to grasp the basic principle that God is not going to call SIN what he told people was OK to do and gave legislation on how to act within such relationships. God does not change what is sin is always sin. God is not going to say well it wasn't sin then but it is now. You make God inconsistent. Especially when he never said it was sin. Yet somehow you want to make it sinful now.

So, is it a sin to murder someone?

God established cities of refuge on the OT for people to flee to if they killed someone, and as long as they stayed there, they were safe.

Is that how we should operate in 2008?

Come on, Brother, you should be a bit more adept at the Word that this!

Jesus, Himself, taught and said, "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

39But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

He also said "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Now, if you believe that Jesus was God manifest in the flesh, you have to believe that He (God) changed some rules! And, He was still God. And He wasn't a liar. And He didn't vacillate.

So, polygamy WAS accepted and approved in the OT, but I don't find ANY scripture in the NT where God sanctioned multiple wives, only you guys and your misinterpreted sheen of scripture wrapped around your flimsy philosophy.

And, I say that in the nicest possible way!

[LUKE2447]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

So, is it a sin to murder someone?

God established cities of refuge on the OT for people to flee to if they killed someone, and as long as they stayed there, they were safe.

Is that how we should operate in 2008?

Come on, Brother, you should be a bit more adept at the Word that this!

Jesus, Himself, taught and said, "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

39But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

He also said "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Now, if you believe that Jesus was God manifest in the flesh, you have to believe that He (God) changed some rules! And, He was still God. And He wasn't a liar. And He didn't vacillate.

So, polygamy WAS accepted and approved in the OT, but I don't find ANY scripture in the NT where God sanctioned multiple wives, only you guys and your misinterpreted sheen of scripture wrapped around your flimsy philosophy.

And, I say that in the nicest possible way!

You still miss the point he SAID and gave DEEPER meaning to the understanding of God's will. Yet Jesus never said anything about polygamy. In the NT you never fine abolishment of polygamy. Thus you are putting words in his mouth.

Also the reference to hating your enemies is not in the Torah but in rabbinical teaching.

Also your point on Jesus saying concerning Eye for an eye etc... Jesus point was that grace and mercy viewed through love are the greater way. Thus he brought deeper understanding to the people. As Jesus said you neglect the weightier matters of the law. Justice mercy and faith.

Mat 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others

Yes, one could take eye for any eye but that was not the whole means by which one should look at the situation but through grace and mercy and love. Jesus himself gives retribution for evil deeds. Things should be done through the eyes of love and mercy and forgiveness as we would want to treat ourselves. The law of retribution still stands but the deeper meaning by how we conduct ourselves is made known through long lasting patience, and mercy. Otherwise retribution could never take place,as Christ himself could not judge as you make judgment impossible and Jesus in the end would contradict his own word. Jesus did not come to abolish but to make the law more revealed or full!

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by LUKE2447

You still miss the point he SAID and gave DEEPER meaning to the understanding of God's will. Yet Jesus never said anything about polygamy. In the NT you never fine abolishment of polygamy. Thus you are putting words in his mouth.

Also the reference to hating your enemies is not in the Torah but in rabbinical teaching.

Also your point on Jesus saying concerning Eye for an eye etc... Jesus point was that grace and mercy are the greater way. Thus he brought deeper understanding to the people. As Jesus said you neglect the weightier matters of the law. Justice mercy and faith.

Mat 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others

Yes, one could take eye for any eye but that was not the whole means by which one should look at the situation but through grace and mercy and love. Jesus himself gives retribution for evil deeds. Things should be done through the eyes of love and mercy and forgiveness as we would want to treat ourselves. The law of retribution still stands but the deeper meaning by how we conduct ourselves is made known through long lasting patience, and mercy. Otherwise retribution could never take place,as Christ himself could not judge as you make judgment impossible and Jesus in the end would contradict his own word. Jesus did not come to abolish but to make the law more revealed or full!

Thanks for your response, I'll withdraw from the conversation at this point, since I see we're on two different wavelengths.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by LUKE2447

You still miss the point he SAID and gave DEEPER meaning to the understanding of God's will. Yet Jesus never said anything about polygamy. In the NT you never fine abolishment of polygamy. Thus you are putting words in his mouth.

Also the reference to hating your enemies is not in the Torah but in rabbinical teaching.

Also your point on Jesus saying concerning Eye for an eye etc... Jesus point was that grace and mercy viewed through love are the greater way. Thus he brought deeper understanding to the people. As Jesus said you neglect the weightier matters of the law. Justice mercy and faith.

Mat 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others

Yes, one could take eye for any eye but that was not the whole means by which one should look at the situation but through grace and mercy and love. Jesus himself gives retribution for evil deeds. Things should be done through the eyes of love and mercy and forgiveness as we would want to treat ourselves. The law of retribution still stands but the deeper meaning by how we conduct ourselves is made known through long lasting patience, and mercy. Otherwise retribution could never take place,as Christ himself could not judge as you make judgment impossible and Jesus in the end would contradict his own word. Jesus did not come to abolish but to make the law more revealed or full!

Bro...I think Evang.Benincasa makes a great point. Paul doesn't condemn polygamy... but he does admonish that church leaders have one wife...which was in accordance to Roman law. Had Rome not banned plural marriages Paul may not have needed to ensure that church leadership abide by the ordinances of Rome to maintain a good report to those who were outside the church.

[LUKE2447]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Bro...I think Evang.Benincasa makes a great point. Paul doesn't condemn polygamy... but he does admonish that church leaders have one wife...which was in accordance to Roman law. Had Rome not banned plural marriages Paul may not have needed to ensure that church leadership abide by the ordinances of Rome to maintain a good report to those who were outside the church.

Yes, BUT polygamy in itself was not banned. If anything it was more of a restraint due to conditions like today in the USA. Why would I teach to continue in it with the present laws and enviroment? I wouldn't but it does not mean I make it a sin or say it is wrong. Just not the proper situation to condone considering the circumstances.

Also personaly I don't think "one" as said before is ONE but "first" as the text makes more sense that way.

[Apocrypha]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

So, is it a sin to murder someone?

God established cities of refuge on the OT for people to flee to if they killed someone, and as long as they stayed there, they were safe.

Is that how we should operate in 2008?

Come on, Brother, you should be a bit more adept at the Word that this!

Jesus, Himself, taught and said, "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

39But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

He also said "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Now, if you believe that Jesus was God manifest in the flesh, you have to believe that He (God) changed some rules! And, He was still God. And He wasn't a liar. And He didn't vacillate.

So, polygamy WAS accepted and approved in the OT, but I don't find ANY scripture in the NT where God sanctioned multiple wives, only you guys and your misinterpreted sheen of scripture wrapped around your flimsy philosophy.

And, I say that in the nicest possible way!

The City of Refuge in a given area was made for people that committed a accidential death. The law taught that if a man committed murder he had no protection from the city. They dragged him out and killed him.

The City of Refuge was there to protect innocent but unlucky people from a blood avenger from the wronged family, clan or tribe when it was time to "get even".

[LUKE2447]

Originally Posted by erikwebster

The City of Refuge in a given area was made for people that committed a accidential death. The law taught that if a man committed murder he had no protection from the city. They dragged him out and killed him.

The City of Refuge was there to protect innocent but unlucky people from a blood avenger from the wronged family, clan or tribe when it was time to "get even".

That would be correct!