Dear new Christian, I noticed that you married to more than one woman. Are you legally married to them, or just living with these women? Normally, Christians do not have more than one wife; however, if this is a legal arrangement, you are obligated to support each of them and treat them equally.
The problem that you have created by marrying more than one woman is not unforgiveable; but it is not an ideal situation under the best of circumstances. I really hope that you have made every effort to bring them to Christ. Paul’s advice to someone in a complicated situation in 1 Corinthians 7: 20 was, "Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called." In that chapter, you will notice that there are several conditions listed, including marriage, and I suppose that would include multiple marriages.
However, the bottom line in all of this is that this is between you and God; but under no circumstances are you to kick a poor woman out into the street simply because you have several wives. So, I leave this up to the grace of God, and I believe that you can live a success Christian life; but you should not encourage others to take more wives. God allows only one wife for a Christian, unless you have already married others.
Now, please understand that not everyone will agree with my position on this, particularly Western Christians or those heavily influenced by Western Christians; however, since you are already in the situation, you must accept the facts and God's grace to carry you through.
Please write to me the first ideas that come to your mind on how you can know God's plan for each day of your life. I look forward to helping you discover in the Bible God's answers for your life. I believe this will be an exciting journey for you - and I will be glad to walk along with you.
May I encourage you to find a church in your city to attend. When you celebrate your relationship with Jesus with other Christian brothers and sisters, you will be encouraged to continue on your new journey.
As I close for now, let me encourage you with these words from the Bible: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Discovering this new life you have in Christ will be the best journey you have ever been on - and it has a guaranteed happy ending! And I believe you will find that God's plan for each day of your life now is very satisfying.
May you know the joy of God's love for you,
Monday, March 01, 2010
Polygamy: a missionary's response
This is a response given to a new Christian seeking counsel on polygamy.
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POLYGAMY IN THE BIBLE By Rounard Siegneur
ReplyDeleteThe Biblical truth concerning “polygamy” (the taking of multiple wives) has been clearly misunderstood by the modern Church. Our western understanding of this bible subject matter, has left many confused and often times even hurt. The question “What Does The Bible Really say About Marriage” has never been more important to the body of Christ than now. God is not the author of strife and confusion. God created male and female. God gave us the institution of marriage. God does all things well. We believe God has given his people a very clear word in this matter within the pages of the bible. God is moving his people into divine unity in all truth so that he may return for a glorified bride.
With this in mind, it is our intention to demonstrate that God approved of, and encouraged “polygamy” in both the Old & the new testaments! The taking of plural wives is consistent with God's law on marriage. A polygamist who accepts Christ today is not in sin and has no need to repent. He would not have to give up his his plural wives to please God. The modern Church has been taught the traditions of man in this matter and has failed to rightly divide and understand the will and plan of God in biblical marriage. What does the bible actually say?
Why did God allow Jacob to take four wives and bless him in it? Why didn't God correct Jacob and tell him polygamy was unacceptable? God gave explicit laws prohibiting all sexual sins including incest, bestiality, homosexuality, & adultery but not polygamy. God gave laws to sanction and regulate polygamy in his word when he could have outlawed it. Why? We will answer that question as we proceed.
God Blessed Leah by reopening her dead womb after she gave her handmaiden to Jacob as an additional wife. God cannot and does not bless sin.
Gen 30:17 And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.
Gen 30:18 And Leah said, God hath given me my hire (reward), because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.
Many of the bibles notable men of God, had multiple wives with Gods blessings and approval. God himself gave King David king Saul's wives when he took the kingdom from Saul giving it to David. God cannot cause a man to commit sin. God does not give tainted or impure gifts to his people.
Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
2Sa 12:7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
2Sa 12:8 And I(GOD) gave thee (DAVID) thy master's house, and thy master's “WIVES” into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
2Sa 12:9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
2Sa 12:10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
Notice that the sword is sent for adultery and murder not polygamy.
David was not confronted with the sin of “polygamy.” David was confronted with ADULTERY and MURDER! God does not both bless sin and help a man to commit sin. Polygamy was not the sin God judged David for. It was not sin.
To be Continued...
POLYGAMY IN THE BIBLE By Rounard Siegneur
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What laws did Moses Give allowing and regulating polygamy? God is not double minded. Why give laws to sanction and regulate the taking of multiple wives if it is sin?
Deu 21:15 If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:
Deu 21:16 Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:
Deu 21:17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.
If polygamy is a sin and a reproach to God, this is a great time for Moses to simply state, “thou shalt have only one wife and not take multiple wives.
Many believe Moses had two wives himself. The daughter of Jethro the Midianite priest, and the Ethiopian woman whom Aaron and Miriam spoke against. God should also have instructed Jacob not to take or accept multiple wives if God considered polygamy a sin, because Jacob was setting an example to his seed in righteousness.
Jacob did not hesitate to accept both Rachel and Leah, and later their two handmaidens, and God blessed these marriages and the fruit of their individual “one flesh” unions, with 12 sons who are the twelve tribes of Israel.
Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
The twelve gates of the City of New Jerusalem are named for these twelve sons of Jacob. This was preordained from the foundations of the world. Would God mar that righteous City with an eternal testimony to polygamy if polygamy is sin?
Is God double minded. Is God a respecter of persons?
Exo 21:7 And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.
Exo 21:8 If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.
Exo 21:9 And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.
Exo 21:10 If he take him another wife (that is one in addition to the one he just accepted as a servant for a debt owed); her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish. Exo 21:11 And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money.
This law is given to Moses from God in the matter of taking fellow Hebrew servants. The male who is taken as a servant is allowed to go out free in seven years. The female who is sold as a servant never goes out free, unless the man who takes her as his servant/wife, fails to fulfill his marital duty as a husband to her providing her food, clothing and conjugal duties. He is allowed to take additional wives beside her, but is still obligated to fulfill his role as husband to her if he does so.
Many men in Israel had multiple wives and God never addresses this practice as sin. God could have strictly forbidden it in his laws by Moses as he did other things such as incest, homosexuality, & bestiality.
1Sa 1:1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
1Sa 1:2 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
We see that the prophet Samuel's father had multiple wives. We never see God confronting this practice as sin. We see God participating in polygamy and giving laws to govern it.
To be Continued
POLYGAMY IN THE BIBLE By Rounard Siegneur
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God himself represents himself in analogy as married to two women who both play the harlot, and he gives one of them a bill of divorce. God cannot represent himself as a sinner or committing any act that he defines as sin. God is instructing his people in righteousness, not sin.
Eze 23:1 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
Eze 23:2 Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:
Eze 23:3 And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.
Eze 23:4 And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare (GOD) sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.
Jer 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
GOD IS OUR RIGHTEOUS EXAMPLE. HE CANNOT REPRESENT SIN AS RIGHTEOUS. God gave us his examples of what he considers righteous in his word.
1Co 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
1Co 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1Co 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
1Co 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
1Co 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
1Co 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
1Co 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
1Co 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
1Co 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
God had no problem correcting those who fell into sin and especially sexual sin. They fell in the wilderness. God is setting boundaries for his people in righteousness. He gave us his pattern and examples of righteousness in the old testament.
Not only can we see from the scriptures provided above that God does approve of, and encourage polygamy, God himself portrays himself as a polygamist to his people providing a deeper revelation of is polygamous relationship to his collective bride the church. There is only one Church and therefore one bride, but she is composed of many souls. The scriptures teach that no man can serve two masters. Wives are bound by the law to one husband while he lives, but there is no such law in scripture obligating the man to one wife while she lives. Why no law against polygamy when there are numerous laws for every kind of sexual sin?
Why do both God and Christ (Ten Virgins) portray themselves as polygamous in analogy if polygamy is a sin as many teachers of the word would have us to believe?
The husband is a type of Christ while the bride is a type of the church. Jesus is also portrayed as polygamous in the parable of the ten virgins. The father and the son have portrayed themselves in scripture as polygamous. They set the standard for righteous example in the word of God, the BIBLE. This demonstrates that biblical polygamy is consistent with God's law on marriage. So now we are beginning to see that God does encourage and promote polygamy in his word.
To Be continued
POLYGAMY IN THE BIBLE By Rounard Siegneur
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What about the many arguments that have been based on scripture that are commonly used to make polygamy a sin?
What about God's original design of one man and one woman in the garden of Eden? Didn't Jesus himself refer to this truth in addressing the matter of divorce in the new testament?
Mat 19:3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
Mat 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
Mat 19:5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Mat 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Mat 19:7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
Mat 19:8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
Mat 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
Mat 19:10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
In Mark 10:6 & Mathew 19 Jesus is addressing the subject matter of divorce for any cause. Jesus sis not addressing polygamy. The scribes and pharisees were attempting to trap him in the matter of divorce. Jesus was telling them that God created male and female as well as the institution of marriage. Jesus is not saying that the institution of marriage is only between one man and one woman. This is a tradition of man. We have already seen where God gave laws to sanction and regulate polygamy and blessed those involved in it. We speak more about this scripture later. Buts let's focus on the garden of Eden for a moment;
It is commonly argued that God gave mankind his original intentions for humanity with his creation example. Monogamists like to point out that God only made one wife for Eve, as if this truth is meant for us to understand God does not want us to have more than one wife. This line of reason has several inherent flaws. God “kick started” the human race with two people, but God did not leave things the way he started them. Since God did not create two women and since God did not create any other people other than Adam & Eve, and place them in the garden, all of humanity descends directly from Adam & Eve. This means that Adam's sons married Eve's daughters. This is incest. Is incest now our creation example? God did not leave things the way he started them .
God created Adam and Eve to eat fruits & vegetables, not meat. We now eat meat. Adam and Eve were naked and they were not ashamed of their nakedness until after the fall..... Things changed after the fall. Adam and Eve begin to eat meat. Adam and Eve begin to cover their nakedness with clothing. Incest was outlawed when Moses gave Israel the law. Leviticus 18 makes incest sin. God gave Moses laws sanctioning and regulating polygamy. God did not leave things the way he started them in creation. We have already seen where God gave Moses laws to sanction and regulate polygamy. We have seen where God blessed polygamy and rewarded people with and in polygamy (David & Leah) We have seen where both God and Jesus portray themselves as polygamous in scripture.
To be Continued
POLYGAMY IN THE BIBLE By Rounard Siegneur
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There is one instance where a man is actually required to become polygamous in the Old Testament. In raising up seed after his dead brother.
Deu 25:5 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her.
Deu 25:6 And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.
Notice that this scripture does not state that this requirement is only required of a surviving single brother. What if the only surviving brother is already married, does this scripture release him from the obligation to raise seed up for his dead brother? NO!!!
This law is proof that God actually commands a man into polygamy in some instances.
Now we may proceed into the “ONE FLESH” common misunderstanding of scripture. The Bible clearly says two not three or four will become one flesh. Doesn't this rule show that God only meant for a man to have one wife? We have seen that God himself gave laws to sanction and regulate polygamy and we know God is not double minded. Something is wrong here in what we think the bible is teaching us on what “one flesh” actually means. Does the bible teach us what it actually means? Let's look!
1Co 6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
1Co 6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
1Co 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 1Co 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Ask yourself this question; in the above scripture where a man becomes one flesh with a harlot, does this only apply to single men or both married and single men?
If you state that it only applies to the single man, you are essentially saying that a married man can join himself to a harlot without becoming one flesh with her. The idea that a man may have “ONLY” one “ONE-FLESH” relationship is a tradition of man and a diabolical lie from hell. A man is one flesh with any woman he joins himself to in sexual intimacy with her. Sexual intimacy is what constitutes the state of becoming one flesh.
To Be Continued
POLYGAMY IN THE BIBLE By Rounard Siegneur
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This is how that both the single man and the married man become one flesh with a harlot if they have sexual union with her. Jacob was one flesh with Rachel, Leah, Bilah & Zilpah. The twelve tribes of Israel come form these “four” one flesh relationships that Jacob entered into.
A man can only be one flesh with one woman at a time. It is physically impossible for him to be sexually joined to two women at the same time. But he can be on flesh with one woman at one moment and turn around and be one flesh with another in the next moment. Is there a spiritual parallel for this?
Joh 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Joh 17:21 That they all may be ONE; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Jesus is ONE with every individual born again Christian. And we are all one body though we are many members. Having multiple wives does not destroy the one flesh union that a man has with each wife any more than Jesus being one with each believer destroys his one body relation with his collective church. We have been taught traditions and lies. A man may become one flesh with an animal in bestiality and it is a heinous sin. Sexual intimacy is what constitutes becoming “one flesh” and this is why both a single man or a married man can be joined to a harlot and become one flesh/body with her.
Marriage is type or figure of, Christ and his Church, and we have demonstrated that both a monogamous marriage and a polygamous marriage portray that union between Christ and his Church. God and Christ portray themselves in scripture as polygamous in their Holy Union with their people.
The teaching of polygamy does not destroy the teaching of Christ and his Church, it helps to clarify and define it. What is destroyed is erroneous traditions of men in misapplication of scripture. Both Godly and ungodly men practiced polygamy in the scripture.
Polygamy is not for everyone.
Many of God's people practice “monogamy only” but some also practice celibacy. All three are acceptable to God.
What about pain and strife often experienced in polygamy?
Look at the failure rate of marriage in general today and more specifically look at the failure rate in Christian marriages. Pain and strife in marriage does not nullify the plan of God in the institution of marriage for both polygamous and monogamous marriages.
1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Jealousy, envy, strife, competition, hatred, deception are all part and parcel to the carnal human nature and those flaws exist in monogamy and immature Christianity. We are all espoused to Christ according to Paul and these things exist in the Church.
The hurt caused by jealousy strife and competition has been one of the biggest arguments against any Godly righteousness in anything associated with polygamy, and yet God used it and blessed it in his word. Human nature is bent towards the perversion or misapplication of anything that should be Holy and righteous. Monogamous marriage has it perversions and abuses. Women and children have suffered terrible abuses in bad marriages. God wants every marriage to be Holy and productive. When we look at scripture and see the hurt created by polygamy, we do not see God taking that initiative to condemn it, and lead his people out of any association with it.
To Be Continued
POLYGAMY IN THE BIBLE By Rounard Siegneur
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Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. God did confront Jacob over this. God closed Rachel's womb and opened Leah's, because Jacob was not equal in his love for these two wives.
Gen 29:30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
Gen 29:31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
Jacob never did correct this shortcoming and God took Rachel in an early death. You can almost hear God saying to Jacob through this move, if you cannot love Leah as much as you love Rachel, maybe you can show Leah the love she deserves if Rachel is no longer in the equation. God could have changed his mind on polygamy but it was not polygamy that was unrighteous. It was man's attitude that was unrighteous.
Marriage is a type of God's relationship with his people. God is no respecter of persons. God's favoritism is based on our obedience/disobedience and our commitment to fully submit to, and follow him in all things. We each may have his divine favor as we love him with all of our hearts and display our love in the lives we live in our relationship with him. Jacob's favoritism was not based on righteousness. It was based in carnality. It was without a just cause. Jacob was not spiritually mature in dividing his love between his wives. This weakness exists in monogamy too, but does not display itself in the same way because there is only one wife. But how many married men fight the temptation to love other women they are not married to. More homes fail because of infidelity than any other cause. It is the nature of a man to desire more than one woman. We have been taught this desire is sin. Yet God not only allowed it, he helped men to live it, he gave laws to regulate it, and he represented himself as polygamous in his Holy Marriage to his people. His love is perfect.
Mormon Polygamy is not bible based polygamy. It is abusing women and children. Mormonism is a cult. It teaches many lies that are not taught in the bible. It teaches that the man may become like Adam populating his own future world, eventually evolving into his own god. He adds wives and fathers children, so they may help him populate his own future world in his next life. They marry relatives and boot their young men out of their compounds so they can have all the women. This is not the polygamy God gave us as example in his word. Solomon perverted polygamy. We think it is more righteous to forbid polygamy exclusively, as if we can instruct God in righteousness.
Our righteous God wants us to get our marriages right in monogamy or polygamy. Spiritual maturity is to receive no offense, and love our neighbor as ourselves. Love receives no evil. Jealousy is not of God. Our righteous God is a jealous God who will have no other God's before him. But he does not want his people to be jealous of each other. Husbands are to demonstrate the pure impartial love of God to their families including WIVES and children in plural marriages. Remember the law addressed to the man with two wives who loved one and hated the other?
Deu 21:15 If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:
Deu 21:16 Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:
Deu 21:17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.
God could have outlawed polygamy, but he chose to instruct his people in proper hearts and attitudes in polygamy. God is all wise and righteous.
To be continued
POLYGAMY IN THE BIBLE By Rounard Siegneur
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Since the enemy has used the catholic Church to blind the truth of polygamy to the Church of the living God, we do not teach its validity and the righteous rules God intended to govern it. Many who practice polygamy are not spiritually mature and they give the world a poor example of true biblical polygamy. God calls all of his children into spiritual maturity in all things. If this truth had not been hidden from the church and if it had been the normality, God's people would have had greater opportunity to attain unto greater spiritual maturity in their relationships, IN HONOR PREFERRING ONE ANOTHER IN ALL THINGS, beginning within the family home unit.
The absence of polygamy does not reinforce the absence of jealousy strife and competition. The fruits of the spirit are developed in the thick of adversity. You do not possess the fruit of love until you have learned to love the unlovely. You do not possess the fruit of peace and joy until you can have them in the midst of the greatest storms of life. Jacob failed to end the competition in his home because he failed to become spiritually mature in his love dispersed equally between his wives.
Why I am so determined and so passionate about defending this biblical truth to God's people? It is because the devil has cheated Gods people out of the greater maturity and success of Christian homes where the Godly seed is sewn and harvested. Satan has limited the spiritual maturity of a greater spiritual harvest, of Godly seed refined in richer soil.
Many Christian men have no spiritual fortitude to lead a successful Christian home today. If he is the kind of man who desires to do so, his wife is the kind of woman who must usurp authority over him in her jealous insecurity. She can demand his subservience at risk of everything he has. She has no motivation to seek his favor in humble submission to his authority. Polygamy reinforces patriarchy which is the divine plan of God for God's people. It teaches and instructs God's people in biblical submission to God's divine authority structure.
There is a very interesting application regarding God in his marriage to the two women Aholah & Aholobah that bares sharing to help us understand God's great love in his Holy union with his people.
Aholah is the northern kingdom of Israel whom God gave a bill of divorce and scattered into the earth. God in his great love has redeemed Aholah and bought her back. Many scriptures deal with the subject of God bringing the lost scattered house of Israel back to Israel the nation.
Ezekiel 37 and other scriptures dealing with the restoration of Israel have never been more clear than today. There is only one body of Christ. The Church had its earliest beginning at Mt Sinai where the assembly was called an Holy Convocation. The Hebrew words mean the same thing as the Greek word for "Church". Called Out Ones. We gentiles joined them. The New Covenant was for the two houses of Israel Aholah & Aholabah) and extended to the gentiles, who by the way are the lost ten tribes of Israel, (Aholah). Israel and Judah are the two sisters Aholah and Aholibah.
Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
To be Continued
POLYGAMY IN THE BIBLE By Rounard Siegneur
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The reason the Gentile age is closes, aside from Israel retaking Jerusalem in 1967, is because God is beginning to restore the two houses of Israel and make them one in the land again. This revelation is a moving love story of the glory and love of God who is married to his people. The wife that God gave a bill of divorce so many years ago is being remarried under the New Covenant. This story compares to the periodical son. God receives repentant Aholah and puts a clean wedding gown on her, and places his ring back on her finger. The wife that was dead to him has come home. She no longer desires the bed of her whoredom's in embracing other false gods. So hopefully you have a glimpse of why I am so passionate about this subject matter and why I defend biblical polygamy so fiercely.
Jer 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:
Jer 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Jer 16:14 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
Jer 16:15 But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.
Jer 16:16 Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.
Jer 16:17 For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.
Many think this has already happened. But they forget the promise God gave to Abraham Isaac & Jacob concerning multiplying their seed as the stars of the skies and the sand of the seashore. This second greater exodus has not yet occurred. most of them (us) do not yet know who they are, but God will reveal it very soon. The modern Church has not yet received this revelation. They are waiting for a secret catching away, unaware that they are one with Israel.
Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
To Be Continued
POLYGAMY IN THE BIBLE By Rounard Siegneur
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God has presented himself as married to two sisters. They bare him sons and daughters. This is speaking of a righteous seed. God has always desired to multiply a righteous seed in the earth. His people are his seed. Polygamous marriages help to multiply a righteous seed in the earth when they are founded on God's righteous principals. Marriage is the family institution that God has created to procreate his righteous seed in the earth. God has chosen both monogamous and polygamous marriages, to represent his Holy Union with his people and produce a righteous seed in the earth. Satan has sought to destroy the righteous seed of god in the earth. Satan opposes Biblical polygamy because it helps to bring a righteous seed to spiritual maturity and multiplies this seed in the earth. Divorce destroys the work of God in the family unit killing the righteous seed god is desiring to bring forth. This is why God hates divorce. Jesus addressed this issue when confronted by the scribes and pharisees about lawful grounds for divorce. God divorced Aholah for spiritual adultery. Jesus told them that sexual infidelity was the only just cause for divorce.
Mat 19:3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
Mat 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
Mat 19:5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Mat 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Mat 19:7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
Mat 19:8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
Mat 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, “EXCEPT” it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
Mat 19:10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. Mat 19:11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
Mat 19:12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
They asked Jesus about putting away a wife for ANY or EVERY CAUSE. Jesus explained that God created men and women and the institution of marriage. God did not intend for men to divorce their wives under any condition, with the exception of sexual sin. Under the law, the guilty were stoned to death. If the man put her away justly and married another wife because his first wife had commuted some sex sin, he was not an adulterer. Adding wives was not committing fornication under the law. We see God giving David additional wives. God cannot cause a man to commit sin. God did not make an exception for David. The man who unjustly puts his wife away causes her to commit adultery if she marries another man based on this law;
Rom 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
Rom 7:3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
To be Continued
POLYGAMY IN THE BIBLE By Rounard Siegneur
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If I cause my brother to sin, his sin will be laid at my charge. If a man causes his wife to sin by unjustly putting her away, that man becomes guilty of the sin he forced her into by putting her away. He forfeits any opportunity to add a future wife because he has not dealt righteously with the wife of his youth.
Mal 2:11 Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.
Mal 2:12 The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.
Mal 2:13 And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.
Mal 2:14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
Mal 2:15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
God used four wives who were the wives of Jacob's youth, to create a Godly seed.
Jacob did not put one of them away. In Mathew 19 & Mark 10 Jesus was addressing the putting away of a wife for ANY or EVERY reason!!! Jesus was not resending the righteousness of polygamy in his response to the scribes and pharisees in the matter of divorce and remarriage. He was not addressing polygamy. Jesus kept the law of Moses and said this about keeping the law;
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
The law bound a woman to one husband while he lived. It did not bind a man to one wife while she lived. Jesus did not change that law. He would not mince words on a salvation issue regarding the law of marriage.
To Be Continued
POLYGAMY IN THE BIBLE By Rounard Siegneur
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Doesn’t the New testament teach us that a godly man should only have one wife?
1Ti 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
The Greek word for “ONE” “MIA” is also translated as “FIRST” or “A” throughout new testament scripture. We do not believe Paul took this one scripture to reverse what God had already established as righteous in his eternal word. Paul cannot now be telling the Church that Godly men must restrict themselves to only one wife in this scripture. The more accurate meaning of this scripture is that the Bishop or deacon should have “A” wife so he can have a track record of keeping his own home in order.
1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of “A” wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
Many languages use the word for the number “one” also as the article “A”. The translators of the KJV bible were still under a large influence of Roman Catholic theology when they translated this scripture. Rome introduced the teaching that polygamy was sin, not God or his word. If one simply refuses to deviate on the correct translation of the word “MIA”, Paul is not saying all Christians must refrain themselves to only one wife. We do not believe Jesus or Paul changed the law of God regarding the lawfulness of plural marriage. It is not rightly dividing scripture. All scripture must harmonize. Jesus nor Paul sought to change the law especially regarding marriage. If they were to mean to change the law, it would be spelled out in unmistakable terms. For example;“ The law permitted a man to have more than one wife but now I say that a man may only have one wife while she lives.” purely fiction. This was never taught to the new testament church.
In fact ,the New Testament does teach the Church who is eligible to marry without sinning to do so in 1 Cor 7: 27, 28, & 39
1Co 7:27 Art thou bound unto a wife? (married man) seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? (unmarried man) seek not a wife.
1Co 7:28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry (unmarried woman), she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
1Co 7:39 The wife (married woman) is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead (widow), she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
The scripture verses above teach the Church that;
A married man may take an additional wife.
A single man may take a wife.
A virgin may take a husband.
A widow may take a husband.
Verse 28 is directed at both the married man and the unmarried man, then extended to virgins, and lastly to widows. We have been taught traditions rather than the pure word of God. This is rightly dividing ALL scripture on biblical marriage.
To be continued
POLYGAMY IN THE BIBLE By Rounard Siegneur
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When we search the word of God, rightly dividing the word, we see that God never dealt with polygamy as sin. God named every sex sin man may commit, and gave laws to forbid them. There is no where in the bible that God forbids the taking of multiple wives. The bible does teach us that polygamy will go into the millennial reign of Christ on the earth;
Isa 4:1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.
Isa 4:2 In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.
Isa 4:3 And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:
Isa 4:4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.
Isa 4:5 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.
Isa 4:6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.
Who are we to judge what God has called righteous in his word?
WHO ARE WE TO TELL ANYONE THAT IT IS A SIN WHEN GOD HIMSELF HAS SAID NO SUCH THING?
Rom 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Our government sanctions same sex marriages and abortions on demand, but refuses to recognize biblical polygamy. Our government is not holding up the righteous standard of God by disallowing polygamy. Satan is behind this lie to kill a righteous seed in the earth. It is time for the Church of God to awake. The Satanic Muslim army is practicing polygamy to multiply their seed in the earth. They borrowed this truth from God, who used it to multiply a righteous seed in the earth starting with Jacob and his four wives. Satan has made it illegal for God's real people in order to destroy the Godly seed in the earth. But God is sitting things straight and revealing truth to his people by his Holy Spirit. Traditions and lies must ultimately bow to the truth of God himself. THY WORD OH GOD IS TRUTH.
Rounard Siegneur
Dear Rounard, no I don’t think I read your original article, I simply responded by giving my position as a missionary on plural marriages.
ReplyDeleteSo, allow me to go in depth a little more.
First of all a couple of observations. In Nepal we were faced not with polygyny, but rather polyandry. What do you suggest in those cases? And, do you have a Biblical defense for your position.
Now, secondly, it is interesting that well into the 2nd century AD, and most likely into the first part of the 3rd century that polygamy was not practiced by early Christians—with the exception of a small group of cultist during Tertullian’s time that followed a fellow called Hermogenes—who mixed, incidentally, mixed Stoicism.
Monogamy was clearly supported by Justin Martyr (103–165); Tertullian (ca. 160 – ca. 220 A.D.); and Irenaeus (2nd century AD – c. 202); although, Jews were allowed to practice polygyny (although most did not) well into the 11th century by Rabbi Gershom.
Now, I do know that some of the church reformers did admit that they found no scriptural grounds to forbid more than one wife; none that I know of practiced what they preached—perhaps because it was not only impractical but also illegal. Conforming to the legal prohibitions against plural marriage was justified on the basis of Romans 14:1-4—
1Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
I also know that the Lutheran Church in Liberia has allowed plural marriages for some—although, I think this is restricted to those who entered into the Christian faith already married to more that one wife. We, in the Assemblies of God, have basically “unofficially” taken the same position.
Continued . . .
Continued part two:
ReplyDeleteNow, if I were venturing a guess, most probably the Federal Government will push the issue off on the States and each state will have to either proscribe the practice or legalize it on a state by state basis. I say this because we live in an egalitarian society and there is a movement (although, certainly a small one, at that) to legalize the practice; and, of course, even a reality show that is currently chronicling a family that is in a polygamous relationship. Whether this will extend to polyamory—or an open marriage, I don’t know. Perhaps. Who knows?
Now for a little take on what I have observed, having lived in a polygamous society for many years overseas, and from what I have read about the practice here.
Most of the time the husband has a favorite and that favorite’s children usually get preferential treatment. Resulting, many times, in neglect or just outright abuse to some of the other wives’ children. I could elaborate this point, but for the sake of time, I will not. The bottom line is that many times it results in creating all kinds of psychological problems for the second wives and their children. That’s the practical side. Financially, it is also a burden.
And, finally, you know as well as I do that much of the case for and against Christian polygamy is argumentative, and therefore arbitrary. I must admit, however, that I am still curious as to why this is such a big issue with you. Are you as persistent on other scriptural matters? Just wondering.
One closing comment. Now, I know we Protestants like to reaffirm from time to time, as we recently did in the church that I attend, that our message will continue to rest on the infallible Bible—without reservation, and that we embrace the bible as our inerrant guide in faith and practice; which, of course, ignores tradition. However, I think a strong argument can be made that historically we have never embraced plural marriages, and on the strength of that alone, I think that the argument can be uses (as Paul did on another issue) that,
“if any man seem to be contentious [on the issue], we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. 1 Corinthians 11: 16
Rounard, I’ve got to be honest with you, there are humteen zillion people out there who feel that they are “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15); but are, however, coming up with conflicting views. Now, I think for any argument to be persuasive, we must also take into consideration the position of the early church, and also the tradition that followed.
Blessing—Jim
P.S. I hope to comment on the use of Biblical languages in establishing doctrine, particularly as it relates to prepositions. This will have to come later when I have a little more time, however.
Greetings Jim
ReplyDeleteIt has been somewhat difficult for the modern Church to be fully aware of exactly what the position of the early Church was in every area, such as the taking of plural wives. That subject was not clearly addressed in black and white. But we must also remember that first century believers were reading the Old Testament because the New Testament was not yet written. They would be very familiar with Old Testament views on these matters and may not have required the attention to detail that our modern culture could greatly benefit from. Jesus preached truth and taught it to his disciples.
One of the biggest hindrances Jesus faced in expounding truth was the traditions of the Pharisees who were always challenging him. Consider the following scriptures;
Mar 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Mar 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Mar 7:10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
Mar 7:11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
Mar 7:12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
Mar 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Monogamy only, is a tradition of the modern Church handed down by Rome.
2Th 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
Jesus said that these teachers had laid aside the commandments of God in keeping their own traditions. Where do we find the commandments of God. Where did these first century believers find the commandments of God? Remember the words of Jesus concerning the law (instructions) they had received;
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Paul told Thessalonian Christians to stand fast and HOLD the TRADITIONS that had been deliverd to them by word or epistle. The practice of taking plural wives was established through out Israel's history as a people and regulated within their law; the law that Jesus did not come to change.
Continue below
Continued from above:
ReplyDeleteThe young man in the Corinthian Church who had taken his father's wife, was not in a relationship with his own mother. It would most probably have been his mothers sister wife, one of at least two wives belonging to his father. He was in sin to do so and was rebuked for his sinful behavior and required to repent.
1Co 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
1Co 5:2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
1Co 5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
1Co 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
This man was guilty of the sin that Reuben had committed in taking one of his father's wives. But this man had moved in with her. Absalom also committed this sin when attempting to take the throne from his father David.
Gen 49:3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
Gen 49:4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch. The only true way to know the position and tradition following the early Church, is to know what God has recorded in his word from Genesis to Revelations. Can anyone show us where the taking of plural wives was specifically named as sin in the word of God. We have shown numerous scriptures where God blessed it, gave laws to regulate it, and even represented himself as involved in it with Aholah & Aholibah. God cannot commit sin. All sexual sins have been named and forbidden in the bible, but not taking plural wives.
This is the position and tradition of the word of God regarding the taking of plural wives in its biblical entirety. We must be careful not to call something sin that God himself has treated as righteous in his word. We must be very cautious is speaking for God in rebuking, correcting and exhorting the body of Christ. We want to speak the things that agree with what he has said in his word. There are many who are desiring to rightly divide the word of truth. Not everyone who desires to do so, is correctly diving the word in every area of the word of God. We are instructed to study the word of God. We must do so with Holy fear and reverence for the truth of God's word. Lives are at stake.
Blessings
Rounard Siegnuer
What the Bible says about Marriage:
ReplyDeleteThe Bible clearly gives God's intent for marriage and sexuality. God created our bodies for Him, not so that we can do with it whatever we want. God's will is that no one would use their body in any way contrary to His plan.
"The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body." [I Corinthians 6:13] "Therefore, honor God with your body." [I Corinthians 6:20]
God's Plan for sexuality and His definition of marriage:
When asked about marriage and divorce, Jesus said,
"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." [Matthew 19:4-6; see also Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:31]
God defines marriage as a man LEAVING HIS FATHER AND MOTHER and uniting to his wife, so that TWO become one flesh.
God created the first marriage relationship:
God made Adam, but said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." [Genesis 2:18]
Why polygamy is not God's Will or intention for human sexual relationships:
It’s for sure; you can only leave your parent's household once! So, it seems reasonable to assume that Jesus had this in mind when he answered question on divorce. Notice that God's definition of marriage involves a man "leaving his father and mother" to be united to his wife. Once a man has left his father and mother's authority and household to marry, he cannot leave that household again! This means that when a man first marries a woman, he does so upon leaving his parent's authority.
If he were to subsequently marry another woman, he would not be leaving his parent's authority again, and thus would not fulfill the definition of marriage as outlined in Matthew 19 and Genesis 2:24.
God gives us only two other circumstances where a man can marry another woman:
1) If his wife dies [see Romans 7:2-3]
2) If his wife commits adultery [see Matthew 19:8-9]
Continued . . .
Examples in Scripture:
ReplyDeleteAdam and Eve:
God created Adam, and provided for him a single wife. He did not provide multiple wives for him, nor do we have any evidence that Adam ever had another wife. This original marriage relationship powerfully exposes God's intent for mankind's marriage relationships.
Noah:
Called a "preacher of righteousness" [2 Peter 2:5], Noah was the only family head who was spared during the destruction of the Great Flood. He had but one wife.
Job:
God called Job "My servant". Though Job was very rich and considered "the greatest man among all the people of the East", he had only one wife.
Isaac:
The child of the promise had but one wife, Rebekah.
Moses:
Of all the Old Testament saints, Moses was the closest to God. He spoke to God face to face as a man speaks with his friend [Exodus 33:11]. Moses is also regarded as the greatest of the Old Testament prophets. God Himself even singled out Moses as a special prophet since He spoke to him face to face rather than revealing Himself in visions [Numbers 12:6-8]
Moses had only one wife, Zipporah [Exodus 2:21]
Joseph and Mary:
The Lord's earthly parents are a prime example of a monogamous relationship.
Scriptural monogamy:
"Each man should have his own wife (singular word), and each woman her own husband (singular word). [I Corinthians 7:2]
God's standard of monogamy for Christians is an absolute requirement for anyone who wants to be a deacon in the church: "A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well." [I Timothy 3:12]
Questions answered:
What about the Old Testament practice of polygamy?
The practice of polygamy is clearly found in the Old Testament. Abraham, Jacob, David, and Solomon are prime examples of Old Testament saints who practiced polygamy. But it must be clearly stated that just because they had multiple wives, doesn't make it right! At no time does God condone or place His "seal of approval" upon the polygamous practices of these men. In fact, God warned Solomon well in advance to NOT practice polygamy:
Moses' instruction to Solomon generations in advance:
Deuteronomy 17:14-20 is God's warning against the polygamist practices of Solomon. After stating that the king [Solomon] is not to get riches from Egypt, nor to amass silver or gold, Moses says, "He must not take many wives" [Deut 17:17].
Polygamy brought problems!:
• Abraham's household was fractured because of jealousy between Hagar and Sarah.
• Jacob also endured spousal rivalry.
David's adulterous tendencies was his downfall, as he approached Bathsheba.
• Solomon's many wives were a snare to him and drew him into idol worship.
Why didn't God providentially stop polygamy, or outright rebuke these men for practicing it?
This question has plagued many readers when considering the issue of polygamy. The fact is that many other sins of the patriarchs went unmentioned by God. Abraham's half-lies about his wife Sarah's relationship to him, Lot's selfishness in choosing the better land, Jacob's scheming, David's lies in the land of the Philistines, and many more sins went unmentioned in a specific manner by God.
God expects each man and woman to examine his or her own heart and life and to compare it with Scripture diligently to determine if his or her actions and motives are pure and right. We should not expect a word from the Lord on each and every thing we do. Sometimes, even chronic sins remain in a saint who has not become acutely aware of his sinful behavior.
In summary, the lack of a specific rebuke by God is in no way to be taken as an acceptance or condoning by Him of the behavior.
Continued . . .
Mat 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
ReplyDeleteMat 19:5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Mat 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Isaac & Rebecka sent Jacob from home to find a suitable wife. Jacob was only seeking one wife as far as we know. But he took two wives and ended up taking four. I do not think Jesus was saying a man can only take one wife when he leaves father andmother's home. Jesus was saying that a man reaches an age to leave his father and mother, He finds a wife or in jacobs case four wives and he cleaves to each one of them. Because Jesus spoke in the singular, wile responding to those who had asked him about lawful grounds for divorce, does not mean that Jesus was saying a man could not have more than one wife when leaving mother and father. We have bible evidence to the contrary and the Old testament is our exampple of what God requires of his people.
1Co 6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
1Co 6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
1Co 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
In the scripture above regarding becoming one bodly with an harlot, does this just apply to single men, or does it apply to both single and married men? Was jacob one flesh with each of his four wives? This is exactly what I refer to when I speak of rightly dividing the word. We have to allow the word to interpret the word when it is possible.
Solomon was not commanded to avoid polygamy. All of Israels kings were commanded not to multiply wives, horses, silver and Gold. They could have SOME of these. Solomom took wives of other pagan nations who caused him to serve other Gods. This is where Solomon disobeyd God.
Deu 17:15 Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.
Deu 17:16 But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
Deu 17:17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
Blessings
Rounard Siegnuer