Posted by: celticanglican | April 12, 2008

Does the Bible Allow for Christian Polygamy?

There are accounts in the Bible that involve men having multiple wives.  There are even groups in this day and age that believe Christians should practice polygamy.  Since men in Biblical times tended to have more than one wife, does this mean that this is God’s plan for us today? This could easily be compared to the question of slavery.  It’s mentioned in the Bible, and God allowed it. Does that mean that God necessarily condoned it? No!

Going back to Genesis (2:18-25) marriage is instituted between a man and a woman.  If polygamy had been God’s plan, certainly God could have created multiple women for Adam.  Jesus restates the institution of one man/one woman marriage (Mark 10:5- 8) Male Christian leaders in the New Testament are to have one wife (1 Timothy 3:1-3, 11-13; Titus 1:5-7)

Throughout the history of Christianity, monogamy has been the norm.  The first time polygamy was widely practiced by a group of Christian origin was in the early history of Mormonism (Latter-Day Saints). The LDS discontinued and forbade polygamy in 1890. Modern polygamy among groups professing Christianity is rare.

In the Bible, polygamy has had its share of problems (the rivalry between Rachel and Leah comes to mind, as well as the problems with King Solomon taking numerous wives).  It’s possible that the Biblical model for marriage was planned so that the problems associated with polygamy would be avoided.

Rather than a God-instituted family model, it seems that polygamy was permitted by God for cultural reasons in a time when most women were dependent on men for both safety and finances.

Categories:

« Sheesh, Who’s the Mean One Here?
Following His Voice »

Responses

The internal logic of covenant history quite clearly supports monogamy. We certainly find in the nuptial imagry of scripture that the LORD is faithfully betrothed to one people, Israel. This imagry continues with Christ as the bridegroom of one bride, the Church. So I would concur with what you write.

By: peregrinator on April 13, 2008
at 8:27 pm

Hi peregrinator,
Thanks for your comment & stopping by. You have a great blog!

By: celticanglican on April 14, 2008
at 3:24 am

I once read a Muslim convert try to make the case that early Christians practiced polygamy and that nowhere in the NT does it say that a Christian can have no more than one wife. He was making the case that Islam actually does express a preference, in writing, for havng one wife using a verse that counsels that if a man can’t take care of multiple wives equally, then it is better to have just one.

At the time, I wasn’t able to make a proper case. The limit of one is indeed implied except in one place where it says that bishops must be the husband of one wife. Unfortunately that was one verse that the convert used to “prove” that polygamy was the norm in early Christianity. I tried referring to the historical case that the Jews had largely given up polygamy and that Christians coming out of Judaism were no more likely to be polygamous than Jews were at the time. I guess I won’t bore you with more. Needless to say, its true. There isnt one place where it says “a Christian man must have only one wife” There is language describing the maritial bond in general terms such as a man and his wife. But there is no language which explicitly excludes polygamy.

All of this is to say that i am glad to see Pereginator’s comment. I knew their must be a better biblical case than the one that I managed to come up with at the time. I also feel that the one man, one wife practice of Christian history has something to do with modelling the concept of God’s faithfulness and committment in the human family.

A non-biblical argument that I like to use, is that having one wife elevates a woman above the status of a herd animal. It immensely increases her value since she is the only one. The prohibition against divorce further affirms the value of women, that they are too important and valuable to be tossed away casually. I say to anyone arguing for it that a woman has far too much dignity to be part of a herd. There are options to having multiple wives which ensure th dignty of women as individuals with a value independent of their also being wives and mothers. For just one example, Christianity made a place early on for unmarried women by creating the female religious orders. The more that I think about the more I think what a huge step for women that really was.

By: StayinAnglican on April 14, 2008
at 4:18 am

Good thoughts, Stayin. (re: monogamous relationships are better for the women) I’ve read accounts of what some women in other cultures which still practice polygamy go through due to rivalry, etc. I’m sure the rivalry between the various half/step siblings in some cases doesn’t help.
I think that women benefit overall when options such as religious orders exist.

By: celticanglican on April 14, 2008
at 8:15 pm

Leave a response






Your response:

Categories