Why Just One?

April_Rose

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I don't know where you're getting the multiple wives allowed in biblical times allowed because that's quite the opposite. If that were in place then there wouldn't be the commandment of not committing adultery in order. God never contradicts Himself.
 
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Sabertooth

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Which men did God "tolerate" having multiple wives in the Bible? Those are not the stories I remember, so, I genuinely don't know.
If you don't count Solomon, there is
  • his dad, David with five(?) wives;
  • Jacob had two wives & two concubines;
  • Abraham had one wife and, at least, one concubine;
  • Samuel's mom was the second of two wives, etc.
 
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ViaCrucis

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I understand the biblical model for marriage is one man and one women for life. I recently had a curious nonbeliever ask me why God tolerated men having multiple wives in the Bible. What would your response be?

It was the culture at the time. And more than likely most men probably still only had a single wife. To have more than one wife, even in the ancient world, was generally tied to wealth.

There are a lot of things that we don't find explicitly condemned about the ancient culture in which much of the Bible was written. Perhaps the most glaringly obvious example of this is the lack of any explicit condemnation of slavery as an institution. Instead slavery is treated as normal (because in those times it was), and thus we instead tend to see commands about treating slaves justly, or as we do in the New Testament about erasing the boundaries between slave and free through how we relate to one another as members in the Body of Christ.

The question as to why don't we have clear condemnation of things like slavery or polygamy in the Bible is, on some level, going to be unanswerable. I would argue that one of the things we see in the unfolding narrative of the Bible is that God doesn't give everything all at once, but seems to give a little at a time. For example, in the Torah God restrains violence by restricting it to a court of justice in which there can be an "eye for an eye". Now, "eye for an eye" does not mean someone can just go and harm someone who harmed them, but that this is settled in an orderly court of law. So already violence is curbed by restraining it and restricting it to a court of law which cannot go beyond a maximum--no more than an eye for an eye. But then later, we have Jesus who says, "You have heard it was said long ago, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:38-39).

Jesus' command is that we don't even seek the compensation of injury, we do not seek an eye for an eye, injury for injury. But that instead we imitate Him in His sufferings, loving our enemy and being compassionate even toward those who despise and hurt us.

So it would seem that, at least in part, God worked from within the ancient culture, but we see Him guiding the course of history, the unfolding of the historical drama of salvation, leading us to Jesus and His Way.

Polygamy, we might say, was something that was normal for the time and culture; but that we should aim for a better kind of relationship, one rooted in equality and partnership--of husband and wife coming together, with mutual respect and partnership. That is the better way.

Curbing slavery (such as the release of all slaves every Jubilee Year) mitigated the evils of slavery, but the ideal, what we should strive for, is the abolition of slavery entirely.

So there are the cultural artifacts of the Bible, but then the ideals we should strive for, which the Scriptures themselves show us by pointing us to Christ.

-CryptoLutheran
 
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Usually Wrong

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It was the culture at the time. And more than likely most men probably still only had a single wife. To have more than one wife, even in the ancient world, was generally tied to wealth.

There are a lot of things that we don't find explicitly condemned about the ancient culture in which much of the Bible was written. Perhaps the most glaringly obvious example of this is the lack of any explicit condemnation of slavery as an institution. Instead slavery is treated as normal (because in those times it was), and thus we instead tend to see commands about treating slaves justly, or as we do in the New Testament about erasing the boundaries between slave and free through how we relate to one another as members in the Body of Christ.

The question as to why don't we have clear condemnation of things like slavery or polygamy in the Bible is, on some level, going to be unanswerable. I would argue that one of the things we see in the unfolding narrative of the Bible is that God doesn't give everything all at once, but seems to give a little at a time. For example, in the Torah God restrains violence by restricting it to a court of justice in which there can be an "eye for an eye". Now, "eye for an eye" does not mean someone can just go and harm someone who harmed them, but that this is settled in an orderly court of law. So already violence is curbed by restraining it and restricting it to a court of law which cannot go beyond a maximum--no more than an eye for an eye. But then later, we have Jesus who says, "You have heard it was said long ago, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:38-39).

Jesus' command is that we don't even seek the compensation of injury, we do not seek an eye for an eye, injury for injury. But that instead we imitate Him in His sufferings, loving our enemy and being compassionate even toward those who despise and hurt us.

So it would seem that, at least in part, God worked from within the ancient culture, but we see Him guiding the course of history, the unfolding of the historical drama of salvation, leading us to Jesus and His Way.

Polygamy, we might say, was something that was normal for the time and culture; but that we should aim for a better kind of relationship, one rooted in equality and partnership--of husband and wife coming together, with mutual respect and partnership. That is the better way.

Curbing slavery (such as the release of all slaves every Jubilee Year) mitigated the evils of slavery, but the ideal, what we should strive for, is the abolition of slavery entirely.

So there are the cultural artifacts of the Bible, but then the ideals we should strive for, which the Scriptures themselves show us by pointing us to Christ.

-CryptoLutheran
It was the culture at the time. And more than likely most men probably still only had a single wife. To have more than one wife, even in the ancient world, was generally tied to wealth.

There are a lot of things that we don't find explicitly condemned about the ancient culture in which much of the Bible was written. Perhaps the most glaringly obvious example of this is the lack of any explicit condemnation of slavery as an institution. Instead slavery is treated as normal (because in those times it was), and thus we instead tend to see commands about treating slaves justly, or as we do in the New Testament about erasing the boundaries between slave and free through how we relate to one another as members in the Body of Christ.

The question as to why don't we have clear condemnation of things like slavery or polygamy in the Bible is, on some level, going to be unanswerable. I would argue that one of the things we see in the unfolding narrative of the Bible is that God doesn't give everything all at once, but seems to give a little at a time. For example, in the Torah God restrains violence by restricting it to a court of justice in which there can be an "eye for an eye". Now, "eye for an eye" does not mean someone can just go and harm someone who harmed them, but that this is settled in an orderly court of law. So already violence is curbed by restraining it and restricting it to a court of law which cannot go beyond a maximum--no more than an eye for an eye. But then later, we have Jesus who says, "You have heard it was said long ago, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:38-39).

Jesus' command is that we don't even seek the compensation of injury, we do not seek an eye for an eye, injury for injury. But that instead we imitate Him in His sufferings, loving our enemy and being compassionate even toward those who despise and hurt us.

So it would seem that, at least in part, God worked from within the ancient culture, but we see Him guiding the course of history, the unfolding of the historical drama of salvation, leading us to Jesus and His Way.

Polygamy, we might say, was something that was normal for the time and culture; but that we should aim for a better kind of relationship, one rooted in equality and partnership--of husband and wife coming together, with mutual respect and partnership. That is the better way.

Curbing slavery (such as the release of all slaves every Jubilee Year) mitigated the evils of slavery, but the ideal, what we should strive for, is the abolition of slavery entirely.

So there are the cultural artifacts of the Bible, but then the ideals we should strive for, which the Scriptures themselves show us by pointing us to Christ.

-CryptoLutheran
From Sabertooth below...
If you don't count Solomon, there is
  • his dad, David with five(?) wives;
  • Jacob had two wives & two concubines;
  • Abraham had one wife and, at least, one concubine;
  • Samuel's mom was the second of two wives, etc.
 
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Gregory Thompson

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I understand the biblical model for marriage is one man and one women for life. I recently had a curious nonbeliever ask me why God tolerated men having multiple wives in the Bible. What would your response be?
If God killed people whenever they sinned, there would be no one left.
 
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elytron

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God gave to Adam one wife, her name was Eve. That was God's original design for marriage. The characters in the Bible who had multiple wife were guilty of sin. We are all guilty of sinning against God. Thankfully he is slow to anger and forgiving.
 
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God gave to Adam one wife, her name was Eve. That was God's original design for marriage. The characters in the Bible who had multiple wife were guilty of sin. We are all guilty of sinning against God. Thankfully he is slow to anger and forgiving.
There is not one single verse suggesting that polygamy is a sin. And, no, Paul saying qualifying elders should have only one wife does not indicate that having more was a sin.

2 Samuel 12:8
I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more.
God gave him multiple wives ... and would have given him more.
 
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Sabertooth

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The characters in the Bible who had multiple wife were guilty of sin.
For the Jews, there were times when a man was obligated to marry his sister-in-law (if his brother died before giving her children). It didn't matter if he already had a wife of his own. Even if you call other instances of polygyny sin, that one was required by God (for the Jews).
 
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elytron

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There is not one single verse suggesting that polygamy is a sin. And, no, Paul saying qualifying elders should have only one wife does not indicate that having more was a sin.

2 Samuel 12:8 God gave him multiple wives ... and would have given him more.

Perhaps is not a major breaking of a command. I don't believe polygamy pleases God though.

For the Jews, there were times when a man was obligated to marry his sister-in-law (if his brother died before giving her children). It didn't matter if he already had a wife of his own. Even if you call other instances of polygyny sin, that one was required by God (for the Jews).

That is an interesting concept that I had forgotten about.
 
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Sabertooth

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Gregory Thompson

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I understand the biblical model for marriage is one man and one women for life. I recently had a curious nonbeliever ask me why God tolerated men having multiple wives in the Bible. What would your response be?
I get the sense that "the one wife paradigm" resulted from people reading the spiritual adultery texts in the prophecies.

logic like "God had only one wife, so you can only have one wife.

and "Christ only has one bride, the church, so only you can have one wife."

Most of the texts that illustrate having more than wife is spoken against in the next generation.

the logic then would follow: God has a standard, but lets people do what seems to be right to them.

In the example of Leviticus 18:18, this is speaking against when it was actually done. This illustrates questions of examples of the patriarchs came up already, and the law was written to explain - this is not the way God wants us to do things.

This is a strange book in that it shows people's flaws, then later comments on what the recommended course of action is.

In the law it also told the kings (in advance) exactly how to not act, but they did it anyway.

Coming back to the question "why just one" based on the New Testament passages, it seems to be for prophetic demonstration as a testimony.
 
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jayem

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The ancient Hebrew tribes were strongly patriarchal. The OT was written by these men (Moses and others) so it reflects their culture and social traditions. Women were certainly valued, but more akin to the way property is valued. If a man could afford it, he could have 2 or more flocks of sheep, and 2 or more wives/concubines. And though the 10 Commandments forbids adultery and coveting another’s wife, it doesn’t forbid a man from marrying multiple wives.
 
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eleos1954

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I understand the biblical model for marriage is one man and one women for life. I recently had a curious nonbeliever ask me why God tolerated men having multiple wives in the Bible. What would your response be?

Mankind has been in rebellion towards God since the fall. Why does He tolerate any of it?

Because He loves us .... so much so He sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins and provide the way (through Jesus) back to Him.

Each of us will be accountable, judgement is up to the Lord and only He knows the heart within each of us. Who knows who has repented and received forgiveness? Only the Lord knows.

Jeremiah 17:10
“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.

1 Peter 4:5
But they will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

It's not over yet ;o)
 
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I understand the biblical model for marriage is one man and one women for life. I recently had a curious nonbeliever ask me why God tolerated men having multiple wives in the Bible. What would your response be?
There is a reason for it just as there is reason
a nonbeliever wants to know why God tolerated men having multiple wives in the Bible...as if they would become a believer.
 
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