Polygamy in the Bible

[Tyk]

Originally Posted by Rico

This is hilarious! You guys really do pick and choose what's convenient for you, don'tcha? When it's convenient to use OT to back your precious standards, you scream OT scriptures at the top of your lungs. When the OT contradicts your position, you demand NT scriptures and will only accept NT scriptures. The scriptures aren't there to be used at your convenience and ignored when it isn't convenient.

That was kind of my point in my last post... sheesh...

You said it better.

[LUKE2447]

Originally Posted by Rico

This is hilarious! You guys really do pick and choose what's convenient for you, don'tcha? When it's convenient to use OT to back your precious standards, you scream OT scriptures at the top of your lungs. When the OT contradicts your position, you demand NT scriptures and will only accept NT scriptures. The scriptures aren't there to be used at your convenience and ignored when it isn't convenient.

Well Rico.... you know my stance on the OT it should be studied deeply and applied through the leading of the Spirit as it has much application today.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Stop! Don't you see what you just said here? If you have even one shread of honesty in your body. You will explain what you mean by IDEAL UNION.

Polygamy brought with it jealousies and strife. It is ideal that a home be in harmony and peace. This is more easily achieved in monogamous marriages. A leader in the church was to have his home ruled well, his children in subjection, and a good report without. Polygamy doesn’t facilitate this very easily. We see how polygamy brings jealousies and strife throughout the Old Testament. However, it was NEVER condemned as “sin”.

Roman Law in the fist century plural marriage was illegal, Paul was a Roman citizen. Paul stated that he never offended in the law of the Jews or the Romans. Roman Law forbid plural marriage, and the Gospel shows Jesus and one Bride, Adam and one wife is the first mention, and therefore sets the perfect example of man and subjected wife. If the man is the head, then the wife is his singular body. One God and One Temple, that Temple is the one Body. Biblical doctrine, and proven by the whole Bible. If a man has more than one wife he will die in his sins.

Very true. It should be noted that many radical groups who broke with Rome and practiced polygamy anyway. That’s why there is some debate between theologians on this subject. It would have been criminal for Paul to allow for polygamy and Paul admonished Christians to obey every ordinance of man. I think it’s fair to ask, if Roman hadn’t banned polygamy…would Paul have set such standards with church leaders? Is Paul keeping church leaders in compliance with Roman law to maintain propriety…or is Paul condemning God, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sampson, David, Solomon, and most of the land owners of Israel as sinners destined for a devil’s Hell because they had a hand in polygamy?

That again is making a doctrine out of could-be and might-be, your argument is based on conjecture.

No. Paul specifically set the standard for Church leaders. It’s there in black and white. Paul doesn’t mention laity or those who are not bishops or deacons. Now Paul’s statement clearly would preclude divorced bishops and polygamous bishops. You bring up a good point. Paul’s standard also would be ensuring that church leadership remains compliant with Roman law.

Roman Law forbade plural wives, and Paul is writing to Gentile churches, so why would Paul teach on something that is prohibited in Asia Minor?

To keep them compliant with Roman law in a day when ascetic groups who deplored Rome’s rulership were in rebellion to Roman law. One of Paul’s concerns is that these leaders keep a good report with those who were outside the church.

Are you confused? Aquila, stop you are making no sense.

Example for what? If the Bible accepts plural wives and you say, then why the example? This doctrine is shot in the head.

Abraham wasn’t an adulterer. Neither was David…until he took Uriah’s wife. Though both had polygamous marriages. If polygamy is a “sin”…you have to admit that those who died before returning to monogamy died “in sin” and are currently burning in Hell.

But you do bring up a point to consider. Roman law didn’t allow for polygamy. So Paul’s statements should be viewed in that historical context. Paul was big on admonishing Christians to obey the ordinances of man and honoring Roman authority. So it would stand to reason that Paul would admonish monogamy without strictly condemning polygamists like the Patriarchs and the Kings of ancient Israel as you’re doing.

We'll never know how Paul would have dealt with this had Rome not outlawed polygamous marriages.

[Aquila]

It's also interesting to note that a Pagan nation like Rome imposed monogamy by law....where as God's Law in ancient Israel allowed for polygamy and God blessed men with "wives". Hmmmm

[DividedThigh]

not with anyone in particuliar in mind i just wonder sometimes if this polygamy discussion has something to do with wishful thinking on some peoples part, lol, that cracks me up, two women one man, yeah, that would work not, or even more women, come on, ticket to disaster, lol

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by DividedThigh

not with anyone in particuliar in mind i just wonder sometimes if this polygamy discussion has something to do with wishful thinking on some peoples part, lol, that cracks me up, two women one man, yeah, that would work not, or even more women, come on, ticket to disaster, lol

Again, God's Law allowed for it, regulated it, and God also blessed men with wives. The NT even praises men who were polygamous as men of great faith.

The reason polygamy wouldn't work today is our culture...not polygamy itself.

Here's something interesting to note. Roman law imposed monogamy on the Roman population. As a result Rome began to see what is known as "serial monogamy"...this is when a man marries, divorces, marries, divorces, several times over. In a way...this is what is happening in the U.S. The divorce rate isn't this high in nations that allow polygamy.

So does polygamy really not work....or is imposed monogamy leaving a wake of divorce in America as it did in ancient Rome?

...just a thought.

[DividedThigh]

i just think it is funny, i am a one woman man, very happy, lol

[Apocrypha]

this has been a fun thread.

it seems like the women bailed out when history and the scripture didn't fit into the 20th and 21st centuries as well as they hoped.

i'll check out now on it though, i think the point has been proven scripturally and historically.

[DividedThigh]

fun is right, funny is the man who thinks he would want two of these modern, lol, women yelling at him, lol

Aquila, you are definitly making the point about Romans Laws against Polygamy..... Even while this was the law,, many of the Jews still practiced it.. because THEIR RELIGION allowed for it..... So I am wondering. who is the better example for us to follow? Pagan Rome or Gods original Bride, Yisrael?