Moses' Wife or Wives

[edjen01]

Originally Posted by LUKE2447

No what is amusing is you think Paul is going to teach that the OT was wrong in instruction in righteousness and that somehow the patriarchs where sinners and God was sinning by giving more wives. The Word is the ultimate authority, what you failed to understand in my point is YOUR interpretation in not the authority. If you can show me where polygamy is a sin please do. If you can show me where God ripped Israel for polygamy among the other sins and chastised Moses, Abraham, David and others for having more than one wife then please do so.

The scriptures you quoted say nothing about it being a sin but regulation in the church of being a "elder" "deacon" "overseer" of the church. The Word "one" can mean "first" which would be that adultery was not an issue and he was true and faithful to his original pledge. Some say that with this in mind.

Mal 2:14 But you say, "Why does he not?" Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.
Mal 2:15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.
Mal 2:16 "For the man who hates and divorces, says the LORD, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless."

Otherwise don't disregard or dishonor your first love who is old for your new wife but honour the wife of thy youth. The point of vs 16 would be concerning having the one "first" wife in which he would have been FAITHFUL and not faithless in doing that which is right.


It also could be that he is saying he should at least be married. If he is bringing restriction to the eldership or other positions notice it is distinct from others in the church of he was to bring up the issue. This in reality makes little since as the patriarchs and leaders of whole nations had more than one wife. Also many believe Paul is setting a standard among the Romanized gentiles who did not agree with polygamy thus due culture they would nto give offense to others in the same culture. It wouldn't have been a heavenly mandate but one of no offense to others. I don't agree with the above but it is one point of mention. There are many other views. Search it out yourself with a open mind and DO NOT WAR SCRIPTURE with SCRIPTURE! God clearly never called it a sin when he had ample time and opportunity to do so but never does. Now all of a sudden it's a sin? That makes God contrary to holiness and truth. As he can only speak truth and to say and do what he did, it would now be contrary for it only now, through Pauls words be sin.

God is consistent no matter our bias! A link has already been given on this. Do the research!

sir....i assume you are a sir....i have done the research. Nowhere in my post do I claim my interpretation/opinion to be the authority....you did that. Nowhere in my post do I say that polygamy is a sin...or do I claim that St.Paul says that polygamy is a sin...or that the patriarchs our sinners....you did that. Since in this thread it was written...not by you...that the Bible is silent concerning having one wife...I simply showed that it is not.

I asked for your explaination of St.Paul's writings concerning this issue. You answer by talking about God ripping Israel?...a quote from Malachi?...that the Greek word for "one" could mean "first"?...and that St.Paul could be setting up a standard for Romanized Gentiles? I truely am lost!!....but I'll try to respond.

I cannot show you where God chastised lots of OT people for lots of stuff they did...doesn't mean it didn't happen. Regarding the actions of the patriarchs...I never read where we are to "do what they did"..."live how they lived"...but rather I see multiple examples of how they failed to up hold the commands God gave them. My point being...I do not think we are suppose to be like Abraham, Moses, David, etc... So using them as an example...i.e..."they did it so we can do it" does not stand up to good reason.

as for Malachi...i'll check out the context and get back with you.

concerning the Greek word "one"....I think that it can also mean just "one"...imagine that.

as for St.Paul showing Roman Gentiles a standard...I don't think Timothy...or Titus...were in Rome when they recieved thier letters. I think Paul would've put that in his letter titled "Romans".

I don't believe St.Paul was simplying saying you need to be married...because then he would be contradicting himself.

I believe that St.Paul meant exactly what he said...that these people should have only one wife. And I believe he wrote this being fully aware of Moses, David, etc...as he was a master of Hebrew law/history/culture. So clearly the rules/guidlines had changed....as St.Paul would have believed that Moses would qualify to be an elder/overseer/deacon.

Lots of rules/guidlines changed from the OT to the NT....so this isn't "waring scripture with scripture"....and to say that God is consistent does not mean that rules do not change. they do...He doesn't.