Polygamy in the Bible?

[KeilanS]

What is the Bible's stance on polygamy? Does it actually say anywhere that we are only to have one spouse? And what about the people in the old testament with multiple wives (King Solomon comes to mind, his wives numbered in the hundreds).

[Leonard]

The Bible 0NLY forbids polygamy for Christian Bishops.

However, EVERY example of a polygamous marriage in the Bible, shows a LOT of family problems..........

I mean, a man with two wives also has two (shudder) Mothers-in-Law!

[Guest Noah18]

What is the Bible's stance on polygamy? Does it actually say anywhere that we are only to have one spouse? And what about the people in the old testament with multiple wives (King Solomon comes to mind, his wives numbered in the hundreds).

In some cases in the Bible the Lord does command a few to have multiple wives. I think thats the point here, The Lord has to Command such things. If it is not commanded, it is adultery. When God commanded it, it was for the use of having children or more children.

[Leonard]

What is the Bible's stance on polygamy? Does it actually say anywhere that we are only to have one spouse? And what about the people in the old testament with multiple wives (King Solomon comes to mind, his wives numbered in the hundreds).

In some cases in the Bible the Lord does command a few to have multiple wives. I think thats the point here, The Lord has to Command such things. If it is not commanded, it is adultery. When God commanded it, it was for the use of having children or more children.

Well, I'm always the winner at Bible Trivia, and I can't think of any place God commanded polygamy. Are you sure you're not thinking of the Nephite (Mormon) books? What's the reference?

[Guest LadyC]

it was hebrew law that a man take a deceased brother's wife as a second wife, providing the first wife did not object.

furthermore, there are scriptures in which God said He gave to david multiple wives.

[ParanoidAndroid]

I think in general, it should be noted that marriage was for one man and one woman for life. There are examples of the Hebrews having multiple wives and concubines (Solomon had 1000 of them all up), and even having children to servants (That's where Ishmael came from, because Abraham didn't trust God's word that he'd give him or Sarah a child in their old age).

However, I don't recall any part of the Bible where polygamy is expressly approved of. In contrast, Titus and 1 Timothy both say that leaders within the church are to have only one wife (Titus says "elder", which applies to anyone given the authority to teach someone else, while Timothy speaks of Deacons and Overseers, which i think is a more specific role than Titus). There is no mention of laymen. However, there are passages that speak of man and woman being joined as to become "one flesh" (Genesis 2:24, for example). The expected relationship therefore is one man, one woman in monogamous life-time partnership.

Polygamy was an accepted cultural practice, but not a God-given mandate, as far as I can see.

~ Paranoid Android

[terter]

Just because it's in the Bible doesn't mean it had God's stamp of approval such as King Solomon's multiple wives. God ordained marriage as one man and one woman with Adam and Eve.

[AnotherTraveler]

"it was hebrew law that a man take a deceased brother's wife as a second wife, providing the first wife did not object."

This is not accurate. Remember in the book of Ruth the near kinsman could not take her as a wife, redeaming the name of the dead? He would have marred his own inheritance (he had family already) so Boaz (the next in line) became the kinsman-redeamer, to revive the name of the dead.

[Guest LadyC]

i'll have to go back and read that. ruth is one of my favorite books of the bible, but if i recall correctly, the nearest kinsman did have the first rights to marry her, and boaz requested to marry her instead.

[Scarletprayers]

i'll have to go back and read that. ruth is one of my favorite books of the bible, but if i recall correctly, the nearest kinsman did have the first rights to marry her, and boaz requested to marry her instead.

Your correct LadyC, as usual!