Polygamy Vs Monogamy

[bookofjohn]

Hi guys!

Recently a Muslim friend posed this question:

"The Bible NEVER condemns Polygamy, rather we see that many characters of the Bible have more than ONE wife. And one of them is David who is termed 'a man after God's heart', clearly Polygamy is never prohibited by God... So why Christians are against polygamy?"

So why are we so against polygamy? Where in the Bible says that polygamy is not allowed?

Peace,

Bookofjohn

[Archangel]

It is through Sacred Tradition that we are taught to practice monogamy.

[MorphRC]

Pax Iesus Christi.

The Bible condones no such act. Just because it is mentioned or talked about, doesnt mean its acceptable, for instance, the Jews bragged about killing a million men, firstly do you think that really happened? Secondly do you think God would honestly allow that?

Some Biblical Help from : [url="http://www.scripturecatholic.com/divorce_remarriage.html"]Scripture Catholic[/url]

[b]Gen. 2:20-24 -[/b] we see that, from the beginning, husband and wife are joined together by God and become one body. A body cannot be dismembered and still live.

[b]Mal. 2:16 -[/b] God says "I hate divorce." These are strong words from our Lord. Divorce and remarriage violates the sacred marital covenant between a husband and a wife that has been ordained by God.

[b]Matt. 19:6 -[/b] Jesus makes it clear that it is God who joins the husband and wife together, according to His will. What God joins together cannot be dissolved because God's will is perfect and eternal.

[b]Matt. 19:9; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18 -[/b] Jesus says that whoever divorces and remarries another commits adultery. This is an offense against the natural law.

[b]Rom. 7:2-3 -[/b] again, Paul reiterates Jesus' teaching that sacramental marriage followed by a divorce and remarriage is adultery. He who commits adultery destroys himself. (Prov. 6:23). Many Protestant denominations have rejected this teaching of Jesus and His Church.

[b]1 Cor. 7:10-11 -[/b] once again, Paul gives Christ's teaching that married couples cannot divorce and remarry. This violates God's divine plan for the husband and wife.

[b]Matt. 5:31-32 -[/b] the Lord permits divorce only for "porneia." This Greek word generally means unlawful sexual intercourse due to either blood relations (also called incest) or nonsacramental unions. The Lord does not permit divorce for "moicheia" (adultery). It is also important to note that in these cases, a marriage never existed in the first place, so the Lord is not actually permitting divorce, but a dissolution of the unlawful union.

[b]Eph. 5:22-32 -[/b] Paul says that the sacramental union of husband and wife is the image of Christ and the Church. Just as Christ the Bridegroom and His Bride the Church are inseparable, so are a husband and wife also inseparable. A civil divorce cannot dissolve a sacramental marriage (between two baptized people).

[b]1 Cor. 7:12-15 -[/b] these verses set forth what the Church calls the "Pauline privilege" - two unbaptized people marry, and afterwards one of the people is baptized. If the unbaptized person decides to leave the marriage, the Christian is free to remarry (because the first marriage was not sacramental, and a union between a baptized and an unbaptized person can jeopardize the baptized person's faith).

[b]Ezra 10:1-14 -[/b] these verses support what the Church calls the "Petrine privilege" - a baptized person marries an unbaptized person. To save the baptized's faith from being jeopardized, the Pope may dissolve such a marriage pursuant to his binding and loosing authority.

[b]Rev. 19:9 -[/b] the marital union of man and woman reflect Christ's union with the Church at the heavenly marriage supper. Just as Christ and the Church have become one flesh through the Eucharist and the union brings forth spiritual life for God's children, a man and a woman become one flesh and their union brings forth physical life for the Church. This union is indissoluable.

If he tries to distort Scripture to support his perverted marital views, use these, if he stumps you with some verses, post them here Ill help out, I got 3 commentaries, including the "New Jerome Biblical Commentary 2nd Edition" one of the top 3.

Hope that helps.

Paul.

[bookofjohn]

Then why is it that during the OT times, God permitted David to have so many concubines? Isn't it clear that God allowed polygamy?

Edited May 26, 2004 by bookofjohn

[cmotherofpirl]

Did God say to David go out and marry as many women as you want?

Hardly.

Gen 2:24
Wherefore a man shall leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they shall be two in one flesh.


Wife is not plural.

[MorphRC]

[quote name='bookofjohn' date='May 25 2004, 10:39 PM'] Then why is it that during the OT times, God permitted David to have so many concubines? Isn't it clear that God allowed polygamy? [/quote]
Pax Iesus John

John dont fall into that thinking. I told you above, just because something is in the Bible, such as monogamy, doesnt means its acceptable. If we go by that thinking, then God permits millions of Christians to be slaughtered by Muhammadians, He permits the famines, floods etc. Dont look at it that way Brother, that always leads to Atheism.

Pax Iesus
Paul

[bookofjohn]

[quote name='MorphRC' date='May 26 2004, 12:49 PM'] Pax Iesus John

John dont fall into that thinking. I told you above, just because something is in the Bible, such as monogamy, doesnt means its acceptable. If we go by that thinking, then God permits millions of Christians to be slaughtered by Muhammadians, He permits the famines, floods etc. Dont look at it that way Brother, that always leads to Atheism.

Pax Iesus
Paul [/quote]
hehe. Just trying to be the devil's advocate.

Anyway, anymore Bible verses to back that up?

In the Bible, there isn't the 11th commandment: "Thou shalt have one wife" but just "Do not commit adultery"... Surely, God would have warned David if polygamy wasn't allowed..?

Opinions? Would like to hear from fellow evangelical brothers & sisters.

[MorphRC]

[quote name='bookofjohn' date='May 26 2004, 12:10 AM'] hehe. Just trying to be the devil's advocate.

Anyway, anymore Bible verses to back that up?

In the Bible, there isn't the 11th commandment: "Thou shalt have one wife" but just "Do not commit adultery"... Surely, God would have warned David if polygamy wasn't allowed..?

Opinions? Would like to hear from fellow evangelical brothers & sisters. [/quote]
Pax Iesus Brother John

The commandment: Thou Shall not commit Adultery.

Polygamy comes under this commandment, also Thou shall not covet thy neighbors wife. Ignore the masculine sense, this applies to marriage also, since no two people can live with one husband or vice versa, this is also an important commandment.

You might also want to mention that Muslim men that have 2 or more wifes, actually dont house the wifes in the same house, due to attitudes, jealously etc.

Pax Iesus
Paul

[Katholikos]

The Scriptures do not directly say: "Men can have only one wife at at time." Or, "Thou shalt not practice polygyny." It is logically [i]deduced[/i], however, from the Scriptures MorphRC has quoted.

But "Thou shalt not practice polygamy" has been the unbroken teaching of the Catholic Church since it was founded by Christ. Where the Church learn this? From Christ and the Apostles!

(Polygyny is one husband with two wives or more simultaneolusly; polyandry is one wife with two husbands or more simultaneolusly; polygamy is plural marriage--either polygyny or polyandry.)

The lack of a direct Scriptural prohibition caused Martin Luther (interpreting the Scriptures infallibly for himself and others) to conclude that he could find "no Scriptural basis" for forbidding polygyny -- and he specifically approved the bigamous marriage of Phillip, Landgreave of Hesse. He sent his co-conspiritor in the Deformation, Philip Melanchthon, and another of his cohorts, to witness the bigamous marriage. Unfortunately for Luther, the new bride's mother couldn't keep her mouth shut, and it became common knowledge.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is only a little of the truth about the "Great Reformer" and hero of Protestantism.

Ave Cor Mariae, Likos

Edited May 26, 2004 by Katholikos

[Katholikos]

Jesus said "Because of the hardness of your hearts, Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so." Mt 19:8, Mk 10:5.

From the beginning, polygyny also "was not so." The fact that polygyny was practiced by the Jews doesn't mean that God approved of it. "The Old Testament may be described as the literary expression of the religious life of ancient Israel" [i]Introduction to the OT, RSV[/i]. It is the story of the Jews' understanding of God as it developed and changed over time. It is not a textbook in Judaism. Do you know of any Jews who practice polygyny now?

Only the Mormons and Muslims teach that God wants men to have plural wives -- and you'll notice that the same privilege does not extend to women with plural husbands.

Hmmmmm.

JMJ Likos