Marriage

[silent water]

If righteous men of the old testament had multiple wives, why is it considered wrong now for men to have multiple wives?

Are there any specific verses in the Bible that set forth what is to take place in a marriage cerimony, and what is to be done in order for a man and woman to be considered husband and wife?

If not, why is a marriange ceremony neccessary? Isn't it just tradition? Can a man and a woman, if both are in Christ's salvation, not join together and consider themselves one, and live together in Christ, and be considered man and wife in the eyes God? Why is a ceremony neccessary? Why must someone like a pastor or judge intercede between a man and his wife and God?

 

[Murmur]

To answer your last questions, probably for legal reasons.

 

[LiberatedChick]

24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

31“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”

Notice how it says wife not wives in both the above verses.

As for ceremonies...yes partly for legal reasons. Legally marriage is defined as a union of one man and one woman and so not allowing a man and woman to just join themselves as one prevents multiple wives. Also whilst I don't think the bible actually details what takes place during a marriage ceremony it does mention an actual ceremony in the NT..it was at this wedding that Jesus turned water into wine.

1On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”


4“Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied, “My time has not yet come.”

5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[a]

7Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

8Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, 9and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” 11This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

 

[silent water]

I understand those verses say wife, not wives, but many good men in the Old Testament have multiple wives. Jacob, David, etc. Were the children of Israel concieved in sin?

 

[CrownCaster]

If righteous men of the old testament had multiple wives, why is it considered wrong now for men to have multiple wives?

Are there any specific verses in the Bible that set forth what is to take place in a marriage cerimony, and what is to be done in order for a man and woman to be considered husband and wife?

If not, why is a marriange ceremony neccessary? Isn't it just tradition? Can a man and a woman, if both are in Christ's salvation, not join together and consider themselves one, and live together in Christ, and be considered man and wife in the eyes God? Why is a ceremony neccessary? Why must someone like a pastor or judge intercede between a man and his wife and God?

It was never ordained of God.

 

[fluffy_rainbow]

If righteous men of the old testament had multiple wives, why is it considered wrong now for men to have multiple wives?

Actually, God instructed holy men of the OT to not take more than one wife. Look at what happened to King David, a man after God's own heart, when he fell prey to his own lust and greed and went against God. A series of tragic events rocked his life.

 

[silent water]

It was never ordained of God.

Who can ortain of God, but God? Why does a pastor/priest/judge need to intercede?

 

[CrownCaster]

Who can ortain of God, but God? Why does a pastor/priest/judge need to intercede?

What?

 

[Ledifni]

Actually, God instructed holy men of the OT to not take more than one wife. Look at what happened to King David, a man after God's own heart, when he fell prey to his own lust and greed and went against God. A series of tragic events rocked his life.

He instructed only the Levites, IIRC. The injunction was not aimed at any other group. Furthermore, the crime for which David was condemned was not having many wives, but having foreign, idol-worshipping wives. The Bible never speaks a word against him for the number of his wives, but only for their nationalities and religions.

 

[silent water]

What?

What can't two people live together as man and wife, and consider themselves ordained by God, as they are both born again Christians?

Kind of like asking for forgiveness. I don't think a priest needs to mediate between man and God, man can know God directly through Christ. Why then do a man and woman have to go in front of a judge or pastor in order to be ordained by God? If two Christians fall in love, and live only for each other, and become one flesh, are they can they not be considered man and wife in the eyes of God? Why does there have to be a worldly ceremony (by standing in front of a pastor or priest)?

Note: With this thread I am not promoting polygamy. I would prefer one wife. I am just trying to explore what I see as a problem, I don't see how it can be a sin to have more than one wife.

 

[John914]

If righteous men of the old testament had multiple wives, why is it considered wrong now for men to have multiple wives?

Are there any specific verses in the Bible that set forth what is to take place in a marriage cerimony, and what is to be done in order for a man and woman to be considered husband and wife?

If not, why is a marriange ceremony neccessary? Isn't it just tradition? Can a man and a woman, if both are in Christ's salvation, not join together and consider themselves one, and live together in Christ, and be considered man and wife in the eyes God? Why is a ceremony neccessary? Why must someone like a pastor or judge intercede between a man and his wife and God?

Ceremony? Well i guess it is like getting Baptized. You are proclaming your intent. But let me add that if you are on an island with only one man or woman, then you many not have to be concern with invatations. The important thing is that bought are saved and place God as their head.

In His Love
John914
II Tim 2:2

 

[truthnluv]

If righteous men of the old testament had multiple wives, why is it considered wrong now for men to have multiple wives?

Because today's society has westernized and modernized the Bible.

Are there any specific verses in the Bible that set forth what is to take place in a marriage cerimony, and what is to be done in order for a man and woman to be considered husband and wife?

Yes. When a man and a woman become one flesh(sexual union) that is a marriage(Matt.19:4-6 compare 1Cor.6:16 to see the meaning of "one flesh"). In other words, when a Christian man takes a woman's virginity that is a marriage. Exceptions to this rule include widows and Christian women that have been abandoned by unbelievers(1Cor.7:15). They do not have to be virgins.

If not, why is a marriange ceremony neccessary?

It's not.

Isn't it just tradition?

Yes.

Can a man and a woman, if both are in Christ's salvation, not join together and consider themselves one, and live together in Christ, and be considered man and wife in the eyes God?

Yes, they can. Absolutely. However, the godly will suffer persecution. So, be prepared for the world and the Christians that align themselves with the world to oppose you... It is an honor to suffer persecution for Christ sake, so you will be rewarded with eternal rewards when you live according to truth regardless of what the world thinks or does!

Why is a ceremony neccessary? Why must someone like a pastor or judge intercede between a man and his wife and God?

Ceremonies are not neccessary nor pastors or judges.

Truthnluv

 

[SnowBear]

Notice how it says wife not wives in both the above verses.

But this does not explain holy and blessed men of the bible who had multiple wives.

What of all these men married obviously by the traditions of their religion? Esau, Jacob, Ashur, Gideon, Elkanah, David, Solomon, Rehaboam, Jehoram, Joash, Ahab, and many others had multiple wives.

As for ceremonies...yes partly for legal reasons. Legally marriage is defined as a union of one man and one woman and so not allowing a man and woman to just join themselves as one prevents multiple wives. Also whilst I don't think the bible actually details what takes place during a marriage ceremony it does mention an actual ceremony in the NT..it was at this wedding that Jesus turned water into wine.

legal definitions vary depending on where one is. Remember it was not that long ago when marriage was legally limited to be between two persons of the same race.

 

[SnowBear]

It was never ordained of God.

That is very easy to just say but can you back this claim up in any meaningful way?

 

[SnowBear]

Actually, God instructed holy men of the OT to not take more than one wife. Look at what happened to King David, a man after God's own heart, when he fell prey to his own lust and greed and went against God. A series of tragic events rocked his life.

Can you cite this specific instruction?





Also , if there was specific instruction prohibiting multiple wives just why did the Israelites put up with David’s multiple wives? Why did they allow Solomon and Gideon to marry as often as they did? Didn’t anyone notice?

 

[Johnnz]

The constant lament of God about Israel's having comited adultery by following other gods is an illustration of marriage as an institution that can reflect God's relationship with us and us with Him. That singleness of devotion is a characteristic of marriage.

Yes, many OT people had mutiple wives. Jesus corrected that deficient view of marriage when he went back beyond the levitical law to the creation account as truly expressing God's intention for marriage. He also corrected a rather lax view of marriage held by many leaders in His day with liberal views about divorce by also referring back to the Genesis account.

John
NZ

 

[SnowBear]

So in other words…



No one can cite specific marriage instructions or more specifically rules limiting marriage to only heterosexual couples.



And even though the Christian God is unchanging and perfect he was “lax” about marriage laws and even though he knew about the “lax” thing going on with marriage and was regularly popping behind burring bushes and chatting with everyday people back in those days he just sort of never quite got around to actually correcting the “lax” thing. Until Jesus sort of mentioned something but again wasn’t actually very specific.

 

[seebs]

If righteous men of the old testament had multiple wives, why is it considered wrong now for men to have multiple wives?

It's not. Or at least, no one's offered me yet a good reason to consider it wrong.

Are there any specific verses in the Bible that set forth what is to take place in a marriage cerimony, and what is to be done in order for a man and woman to be considered husband and wife?

Not really, but there's a pretty strong association with "having sex and making promises". Nothing more specific.

If not, why is a marriange ceremony neccessary? Isn't it just tradition? Can a man and a woman, if both are in Christ's salvation, not join together and consider themselves one, and live together in Christ, and be considered man and wife in the eyes God? Why is a ceremony neccessary? Why must someone like a pastor or judge intercede between a man and his wife and God?

The simple answer is, no ceremony is necessary. People occasionally abused this, declaring that they'd never really been married when they wanted to split up, so the Church gradually started getting more and more involved... But to this day, marriage is something done by the people doing it, not by any priest or pastor or minister.

In fact, Minnesota law has a special exemption in it so that Quakers can marry according to their customs, without any authority figure claiming to have done what was obviously done by the people involved, and no one else.

 

[seebs]

Actually, God instructed holy men of the OT to not take more than one wife.

Got a citation?

Look at what happened to King David, a man after God's own heart, when he fell prey to his own lust and greed and went against God. A series of tragic events rocked his life.

Why, yes. He was a righteous man, a man after God's own heart, a man with many wives. Then, one day, he fell into sin; rather than being content with the many wives he had, or asking God for more, he saw a specific woman, already married, and decided to steal her from her husband.

That was the crime. And God, in His sorrow, said "Was what I gave you not enough? I would have given you more."

Note to self: If I marry again, do not steal another man's wife, especially not, say, killing him to get her.

 

[LiberatedChick]

legal definitions vary depending on where one is. Remember it was not that long ago when marriage was legally limited to be between two persons of the same race.

It doesn't matter where someone is....we are called to follow the laws of the land we're in. So if the laws of the land state that to be married we need to go througha ceremony and sign some papers in front of witnesses then that is what we must do.