Polygamy

ViaCrucis said:

That's the description of bronze age cultural norms as found in Scripture.

Is your argument that the mere description of bronze age cultural norms constitutes a biblical proscription?

-CryptoLutheran

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My argument is from the revelation given by God through the scriptures.

do you mean “prescription”? “Proscription” doesn’t really fit how you’re using it, at least not according to the dictionary definition of it meaning to ban or prohibit.

ViaCrucis said:

2 Samuel 12:8 speaks of David receiving what was Saul's, his entire estate--including his wives. God chose David to be king succeeding Saul; the inheritance of the previous ruler's estate is part of that.

So, no, David inheriting Saul's wives is not support for polygamy. It is a description of polygamy in the ancient near east, not a proscription.

-CryptoLutheran

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It reads as support for polygamy to me, especially considering polygamy is approved of by God.

dqhall said:

The Bible stated Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3). The Bible described Solomon as exceedingly wise (1 Kings 4:29). These two verses are a paradox or contradiction. If a man has 700 wives and many children, how can he adequately teach and visit each child? How could he keep at least some of his wives from divorcing him for neglect and abandonment? How much alimony and child support will he be liable for?

Ephesians 5:31 (WEB) “For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh." It does not permit threesomes as that is adultery and fornication.

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Solomon was wise, but went on to make foolish decisions, such as marrying women who worshipped other gods.

dqhall said:

Polygamy is having more than one spouse. Adultery is being married and having sex with someone or some people you are not married to. Fornication is sexual immorality, premarital sex, prostitution, etc. Homosexuality is error.

Polygamy is illegal in 50 states.

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adultery is sexual intercourse between a married woman and a man that she is not married to. That’s the correct biblical definition of adultery. Adultery always involves a married woman.

David committed adultery - he had sex with another man’s wife: Bathsheba. Israel committed adultery against God by worshipping other gods.

Dkh587 said:

adultery is sexual intercourse between a married woman and a man that she is not married to. That’s the correct biblical definition of adultery. Adultery always involves a married woman.

David committed adultery - he had sex with another man’s wife: Bathsheba. Israel committed adultery against God by worshipping other gods.

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What is it if a married man has sex with an unmarried woman? I call it adultery; what do you call it?

dqhall said:

What is it if a married man has sex with an unmarried woman? I call it adultery; what do you call it?

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Fornication.

Fornication and adultery are different:

Hebrews 13:4 KJV

Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers(fornicators) and adulterers God will judge.

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Galatians 5:19 KJV

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication

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Matthew 15:19 KJV

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications

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1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?

Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

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Dkh587 said:

Fornication.

Fornication and adultery are different:

Hebrews 13:4 KJV


Galatians 5:19 KJV



Matthew 15:19 KJV


1 Corinthians 6:9-10

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In that context that was quoted, the married man committed adultery, but the unmarried woman fornicated. Nevertheless, both are sins.

98cwitr said:

In that context that was quoted, the married man committed adultery, but the unmarried woman fornicated. Nevertheless, both are sins.

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What context? What were you referring to?

Dkh587 said:

What context? What were you referring to?

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Posts #65-66

dqhall said:

What is it if a married man has sex with an unmarried woman? I call it adultery; what do you call it?

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Trading in his older wife for a younger model!

Oscarr said:

Trading in his older wife for a younger model!

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She might divorce him for a younger model or worse.

Anthony Bourdain was found hanging with a noose around his neck while on remote assignment after someone posted a photo of his young wife with her young lover on social media. Some blamed her for his death.

dqhall said:

She might divorce him for a younger model or worse.

Anthony Bourdain was found hanging with a noose around his neck while on remote assignment after someone posted a photo of his young wife with her young lover on social media. Some blamed her for his death.

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Two points: He chose to kill himself, and if someone else needs to be blamed, maybe it is the person who posted the photo on social media.

98cwitr said:

Posts #65-66

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Oh okay.

I disagree, because it would only be adultery if the woman was married, and she had sex with a man other than her husband, as adultery is specifically a sexual act between a married woman and a man other than her husband.

a married man having sex with an unmarried woman would be fornication for both.

Oscarr said:

Two points: He chose to kill himself, and if someone else needs to be blamed, maybe it is the person who posted the photo on social media.

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I know I can not link her directly, but she might have despised or reviled him crushing his heart.

Jesse Livermore, “boy plunger,” was a famous millionaire. He had a stainless steel yacht. He went short in the stock market during 1929 and made more profits. He married a woman whose first two husbands committed suicide. One day he went into the coat room of a restaurant and shot himself in the head.

Zachm531 said:

Can anyone show me where the Bible condemns polygamy? In the OT we see many instances of multiple wives and concubines. In the NT Jesus says that a marriage is between one man and one woman but he doesnt say anything about multiple marriages and/or concubines. Im not taking a side here and am interested to see the scripture provided.

in 1 Timothy 3:2 a distinction is made that a church elder must be a man of one wife but other than that I dont see it condemned

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The intent purpose of a polygamous culture is different than our idea of it today.

While the Law prohibited kings from taking more than one wife (Deuteronomy 17:17), we yet see David who not only had many wives but was told that had he asked he could have had more (2 Samuel 12:8). Why is that? It had more to do with the interior motive and purpose. It wasn't wrong to have a foreign wife/husband, the commandment that forbid it (Deuteronomy 7:3) referred to idolatrous relationships. Solomon's problem with foreign women was that they were pagans, and their idolatrous influence were detrimental to his relationship with God, thus breaking the intended purpose the prohibition. Had he married a godly Egyptian wife, like Joseph did (Genesis 41:45) it would have been permissive.

The main scope of a polygamous marriage and concubines was to increase the posterity of the male. In ancient times, to increase the family and name of a person was important. It was shameful for a woman to be barren, it was like her purpose within a family setting was denied her. You can read the account of Rachel and Leah's fight, or Hannah, or Elizabeth to give an example.

However, the original intent purpose of the marriage institution was the union between one male and one female. Just as divorce was permissive on account of the hardness of Israel's heart, yet it was never designed to be that way at all. Marriage lasts for a lifetime, you cannot break what God has joined together.

Since the old intent purpose of polygamy is obsolete, not to mention that men don't desire it for that reason anymore, it is biblically and culturally wrong.

Zachm531 said:

Can anyone show me where the Bible condemns polygamy?

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For clarity's sake, polygyny is the only form of polygamy accepted in the Bible. Polyandry and all other forms are not permitted.

posted below

Dkh587 said:

Oh okay.

I disagree, because it would only be adultery if the woman was married, and she had sex with a man other than her husband, as adultery is specifically a sexual act between a married woman and a man other than her husband.

a married man having sex with an unmarried woman would be fornication for both.

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Matthew 5:28 "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

How is a man "looking" at a woman supposed to know if she is a married woman or not? if adultery only applies to the married woman, shouldn't the word adultery in the above verse be replaced with fornication? also, the above verse is not specifically a sexual act and is still referred to as adultery.

Therefore a man can also commit adultery.

Zachm531 said:

For what reason?

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I think one good reason for that would be that all could have a wife and it is not good to be greedy.