by David Eells

Created on: January 26, 2007   Last Updated: May 11, 2007

Question from a sister:

Someone told me that polygamy is allowed by God! I don't believe this but I had no way to refute this claim. I tried finding some scriptures but to no avail. When I looked this subject up on the internet I actually found a "Christian" web site promoting polygamy. What will they think of next? Can you share some scriptures that refute this claim?

My answer:

Under the Law they were permitted to have more than one wife and divorce their wives because of their "hardness of heart" but under grace there is no such permission. Jesus said a man could have one wife and "the two shall become one flesh." (Mt.19:5-8) and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh? So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorcement, and to put [her] away? He saith unto them, Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so. From the beginning God gave Adam, the Son of God, one wife. It appears his righteous seed through Seth were monogamous also. Cain's evil descendant, Lamech, was the first to take two wives. (Gen.4:19) And Lamech took unto him two wives

In order that a line of Israel not be extinct the next of kin was permitted to raise up seed to a dead man's wife. But the seed of New Testament spiritual Israel is passed on through the Word (seed or sperma) of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.

Although they disobeyed God, Kings of Israel were forbidden to multiply wives. (Dt.17:17-19) Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of [that which is] before the priests the Levites: and it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life; that he may learn to fear Jehovah his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them.

The Apostles had one wife. {1 Cor.9:5} Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

Of course all of God's people must be upright but Paul required elders to be "without reproach"

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