Marriage Equality for Billings, MT Man, Two Wives

[Aquila]

Please note, women were essentially "property" in the OT. When it comes to "biblical marriage", I've always found this chart interesting:

[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

The only prohibition to "polygamy" in the NT is found with regards to elders/overseers and deacons/servants:

1 Timothy 3:2
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

1 Timothy 3:12
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

We also see a reference in Titus regarding elders/overseers:

Titus 1:6
If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

I believe that this is because God's perfect will is monogamy. It should be noted that as the church expanded into foreign lands where polygamy was legal, men with multiple wives were welcomed into the church, as were their wives and children. However, these men were prohibited from serving in leadership and were encouraged to teach their children to live monogamously.

So, the church has never really condemned polygamists as being outside of the scope of the Gospel. They are just unable to serve in ministry. Monogamy was to be introduced as a philosophy for the next generation. Monogamy reflecting one Lord and one faith (church).

Husband of one wife meant the ministry had to be married, not only married but have children.

[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.