Zulluwth - If polygyny is wrong...

If you believe that polygamy is sinful or wrong, then I have number of questions for you. My aim is not to condemn or to enrage anyone, but to simply set forth a number of things which I believe demonstrate that polygamy, specifically polygyny in Christ according to the will of the Spirit of God, is Scriptural and Righteous. Many, many moons ago, I began to realize that I didn't know what the Scriptural definitions for many words in the Bible pertaining to sexuality and marriage were. These were words like »wife«, »concubine«, »duty of marriage«, »adultery«, »fornication«, and the like. Of course, it would be easy to say that we all know these words, but when we say this, without having looked at them in Scripture, we are assuming that our cultural definition is the same as the Bible's, or rather, that the Bible's definitions conform to those of the culture we live in. So, I began to look at the sexual vocabulary of the Scriptures in English and German translations, and in the Greek and Hebrew languages. Without explaining everything that I discovered in the course of that study (which still continues when the Spirit directs me back to it, and which would require several more articles), these questions I put forth and the comments I supply are the result of this searching. When I first began to access the Internet, I did not know that anyone else had seen and perceived the same things. Then I began to come across websites of others who had indeed not only been seeing the same truth, but were walking in the things! I was quite amazed and praised Yahweh for his leading. When Yahweh begins to bring forth an area of truth through the Spirit, he distributes that revelation to several believers and establishes it to them in and through the Scriptures. I am therefore both honored and humbled to have been included in this particular movement of his Holy Spirit.

Why does Yahweh present himself as a bigamist?

»1 The word of Yahweh came again unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother: 3 And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity. 4 And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and THEY WERE MINE, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah. 5 And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours... 11 And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she, and in her whoredoms more than her sister in her whoredoms... 13 Then I saw that she was defiled, that they took both one way... 17 And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoredom, and she was polluted with them, and her mind was alienated from them. 18 So she discovered her whoredoms, and discovered her nakedness: then my mind was alienated from her, like as my mind was alienated from her sister. 19 Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt. 20 For she doted upon their paramours... 22 Therefore, O Aholibah, thus saith Adonai Yahweh; Behold, I will raise up thy lovers against thee, from whom thy mind is alienated, and I will bring them against thee on every side... And I will set my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal furiously with thee: they shall take away thy nose and thine ears; and thy remnant shall fall by the sword: they shall take thy sons and thy daughters; and thy residue shall be devoured by the fire. 26 They shall also strip thee out of thy clothes, and take away thy fair jewels. 27 Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee, and thy whoredom brought from the land of Egypt: so that thou shalt not lift up thine eyes unto them, nor remember Egypt any more. 28 For thus saith Adonai Yahweh; Behold, I will deliver thee into the hand of them whom thou hatest, into the hand of them from whom thy mind is alienated: 29 And they shall deal with thee hatefully, and shall take away all thy labour, and shall leave thee naked and bare: and the nakedness of thy whoredoms shall be discovered, both thy lewdness and thy whoredoms. 30 I will do these things unto thee, because thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen, and because thou art polluted with their idols. 31 Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister; therefore will I give her cup into thine hand. 32 Thus saith Adonai Yahweh; Thou shalt drink of thy sister's cup deep and large: thou shalt be laughed to scorn and had in derision; it containeth much. 33 Thou shalt be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and desolation, with the cup of thy sister Samaria. 34 Thou shalt even drink it and suck it out, and thou shalt break the sherds thereof, and pluck off thine own breasts: for I have spoken it, saith Adonai Yahweh. 35 Therefore thus saith Adonai Yahweh; Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy whoredoms. 36 Yahweh said moreover unto me; Son of man, wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah? yea, declare unto them their abominations; 37 That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them. 38 Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths... 41 And satest upon a stately bed, and a table prepared before it, whereupon thou hast set mine incense and mine oil. 42 And a voice of a multitude being at ease was with her: and with the men of the common sort were brought Sabeans from the wilderness, which put bracelets upon their hands, and beautiful crowns upon their heads. 43 Then said I unto her that was old in adulteries, Will they now commit whoredoms with her, and she with them? 44 Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot: so went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the lewd women. 45 And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands.« (Ez 23:1-5, 11, 13, 17-20, 22, 25-38, 41-45, KJV-OTR)

Surely Yahweh would never have presented himself to Ezekiel this way if it were not a part of his image to be a bigamist. All through this passage, Yahweh speaks as a jealous husband, even invoking the Law of Moses concerning Jealousy (Nu 5:11-31) against them in verses 31-34. The law in Numbers 5 only pertained to a HUSBAND (Nu 5:12). So, Yahweh considered himself a husband to both Aholah (Samaria) and Aholibah (Jerusalem). In Malachi 3:6, Yahweh says »For I am Yahweh, I change not, therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed« (KJV-OTR). In Genesis 1:27, it is written, »So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them« (KJV). If Yahweh changes not, and presents himself as a bigamist in Ezekiel, then Yahweh had bigamy as a part of image when he created Adam. Thus, Adam, on account of being created in God's image, was created with the capacity for bigamy and polygyny in the beginning. Yahweh doesn't change, so why wouldn't he seek to display this polygynous aspect of his image in his people in this day? He changes not.

»6 Yahweh said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. 7 And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. 8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. 9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. 10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith Yahweh. 11 And Yahweh said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah. 12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith Yahweh; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith Yahweh, and I will not keep anger for ever. 13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against Yahweh thy Elohim, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith Yahweh. 14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith Yahweh; for I AM MARRIED UNTO YOU: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion.« (Jr 3:6-14, KJV-OTR)

In the passage in Ezekiel 23, Yahweh didn't specifically say he was married unto Judah and Israel, but here he specifically says that he is MARRIED to them. While we may say that he was specifically speaking to Israel alone, he presents Israel and Judah as both committing adultery against him. Logically, neither could have committed adultery against him without being married to him. Here Yahweh compares the two sisters and makes an appeal to the one whom he divorced to return unto him and then reiterates that he is married to her, even though he had given her a bill of divorcement. As in Ezekiel, here again Yahweh presents himself as a bigamist.

»31 Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith Yahweh: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith Yahweh, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know Yahweh: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith Yahweh; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.« (Jr 31:32, KJV-OTR)

Note this phrase: »I was an husband unto them«. Here again, Yahweh expresses his bigamy with Israel and Judah as his wives. »them« is always plural. He doesn't say »her« because he is referring to both nations as his wives. Yahweh evidently thought of himself as a bigamist. What is interesting here is that Yahweh then speaks about the New Covenant with reference to Israel and that covenant would be different from the one at Sinai. Like the one at Sinai, it is made with Israel without any specific reference to Judah. The difference here is that the New Covenant would be characterized by Yahweh putting his law in their inward parts, and writing it in their hearts. We can make the assumption that when he says this about the New Covenant, that it applied also to Judah, even as the Covenant at Sinai applied to both. Note that Yahweh said that he was an husband to THEM (not only their fathers, but Judah and Israel) at the time he led them out of Egypt. In the book of the Revelation, as in Moses, we have a listing of twelve tribes of Israel (Rv 7). Because Judah was one tribe of the nation of Israel, and a wife of Yahweh, we could well conclude that each other tribe of Israel was a wife of Yahweh also. Note that Yahweh was a husband to nation, and the fathers of the nation at the same time. Again, a polygyny. And here we see it moving into the New Covenant. Paul picks up this same polygynous principle when he writes to the Corinthians »For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you (plural) to one husband, that I may present you (plural) as a chaste virgin to Christ« (2C 11:2). The monogynous aspect he expresses to the Ephesians in Ephesians 5 when he presents Jesus as a husband to the Church. John presents the monogynous aspect when refers to the »Lamb's Wife« in Revelation 19:7-8, but the polygynous, as with the »fathers«, when he says that her »fine linen« is the »righteousness of the SAINTS« in verse 8.

Another thing we can say here is this: Paul points out that law was first written on tables of stone under Moses, but on the fleshy tables of the heart under the apostles' ministry. Polygyny was never forbidden, but recognized as valid in the Law of Moses and commandments were given for proper conduct in that context. So why wouldn't those laws, which were Yahweh's, be written also on the fleshy tables of the heart through the Spirit, that the righteousness of them might be fulfilled in us who believe?

Why does Jesus present himself, the Bridegroom, as a polygamist in the Parable of the 10 Virgins?

»1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.« (Mt 25:1-13, KJV)

Why would Jesus describe himself as a polygamist if that were not a part of the image of the Son of God, were it not the Father's intention that some should be conformed to this aspect of his image? Paul was conformed to the celibate aspect of the image of Christ and Priscilla and Aquila were conformed to the monogynous aspect. So what if some should be conformed to the polygynous aspect? Indeed, it is obvious that the major emphasis in this parable is the importance of preparedness for the marriage. But why ten virgins, when two would have been sufficient to express the importance of being prepared for that? In Revelation 19:7, the voice of the great multitude, many waters, and mighty thunderings says »Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready«. In both this verse and the parable, the emphasis is preparation for a marriage. If we can emphasize something about monogyny using the one Lamb's Wife, we can also emphasize something about polygyny using the ten virgins in this parable. The primary emphasis of the parable does not change the polygynous image which is presented to us.

Why does Paul use the concept of polygamy to describe the Corinthians' relationship to Christ?

»For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you (plural) to one husband, that I may present you (plural) as a chaste virgin to Christ.« (2C 11:2, KJV)

The pronoun »you« in this verse is the second person plural pronoun. Were it singular, the KJV translators would have used the second person singular pronoun »thee«. Remember the Parable of the 10 Virgins? The five who were prepared for him went into the Marriage. Paul was working to prepare the Corinthian believers to enter into marriage with Christ. Note that the betrothal of the individuals is polygynistic, but the intent is to present them (the individuals gathered together forming the church) as a »chaste virgin«. This is the same thing Paul was saying to the Ephesian church: »Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish« (Ep 5:25-27, KJV). Each individual is betrothed to the Anointed One, but each church, an assembly of the betrothed ones, is meant to form one chaste virgin. Going back to the Parable of the 10 Virgins, using Paul's reference to the Corinthian church as a virgin, it would seem that the parable is speaking of ten churches! Paul was only speaking to the Corinthian church and gave no instruction for the Corinthian church to pass its letter on to another church as he did with the letter to the Colossians (Co 4:16). So then, each individual betrothed unto Christ is a wife unto him, each church is a wife unto him, and the Body of Christ as whole, called the Lamb's Wife in Revelation 19:7 is obviously so. So then, polygyny, as also monogyny, is in fact part and parcel to his image, especially as it as a concept expresses our relationships to him. Paul wrote letters to at least seven churches, seven virgins. And John addressed the book of the Revelation to »the seven churches which are in Asia« (Rv 1:11), again seven churches. Taken together, we have writings specifically written to at least twelve churches, twelve wives of Christ. Thus, polygyny is essential to understanding the structure of the Body of Christ as it is brought unto perfection.

In addition to all of this, Paul uses Christ's relationship to the church at Ephesus to instruct them concerning marital relationships among believers. So, why not use Yahweh's bigamy and the polygyny of Christ to instruct about marriage also? Moses gave instruction about polygyny in the Law at the time that Yahweh was a husband to the fathers. Whether he knew it or not, he was expressing something which was corresponding to Yahweh's example.

Why is there no judgment against it in the Scriptures?

Take a look, you won't find polygyny ever condemned. Go through the Law of Moses. Search the book of Proverbs. Read the Prophets. Look through the New Testament. Do it carefully and recheck several times just to be sure. There is no verse of Scripture anywhere therein which ever condemns polygyny as sin, a work of the flesh, or reopresents is as discontinued on account of the New Covenant.

Why does Moses give laws to govern polygyny and establish the rights of the first wives and firstborn sons born of first wives?

»If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.« (Ex 21:10, KJV)

This duty of marriage, regardless of one may interpret the verse in the context does express one aspect of the righteousness of law: fairness. Even moreso, it illustrates Yahweh's commitment to each individual who is betrothed unto him. As he adds more believers into house, the Lord does not diminish anything that he has given to them who came before. While no man could ever equal the magnitude of Jesus' generosity, the principle is nonetheless intended to be displayed in the people of God. When God joins an second wife to a man who already has one, his intention is that this righteousness of care and love for first wife should not wane, but remain.

»15 If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated: 16 Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn: 17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.« (Dt 21:15-17, KJV)

In this passage, Yahweh points out that the firstborn son, (who is a type of Jesus, the firstborn among many brethren,) remains the firstborn son without regard to the husband's disposition toward his first wife by whom he begat him. The Spirit of Truth speaks truth, and he desires truth in the inward parts.

Paul wrote concerning the righteousness of law: »There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit« (Ro 8:1-4).

Both of these passages from Moses illustrate that Yahweh evidently regarded plural marriages as acceptable before him. And we should point out that the righteousness of these laws cannot possibly be fulfilled except in the context of polygyny. Therefore, it is necessary that the Body of Christ embrace polygyny along with monogyny and celibacy according to the will and purpose of God.

Why did Yahweh tell David he would have given him more wives while rebuking him for adultery?

»7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith Yahweh Elohim of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; 8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.« (2S 12:7-8, KJV-OTR)

This Scripture alone should settle the issue, for it reveals that Yahweh is willing to give a man, a righteous man, MORE WIVES. And the Lord has every right to do this with anyone he wills. Note Yahweh's generosity in this. Although he was rebuking David for committing adultery with Bathsheba and having Uriah murdered, yet he reveals to David that he had been inclined to give David more. David already had several besides the wives of Saul. This dispays Yahweh having a favorable disposition toward polygyny. Isn't that disposition part of Yahweh's image?

Why is the Scripture definition and usage of the term 'adultery' one-sided, and not egalitarian, i.e 'adultery' = 'a married woman engaging in sexual intercourse with a man other than her husband'?

»Thou shalt not commit adultery.« (Ex 20:14, KJV)

By itself, this verse does not convey to us the definition of »adultery« in Scripture; it simply says it won't be done. But look at these:

»And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.« (Lv 20:10, KJV)

»But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.« (Pr 6:32, KJV)

»Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the LORD.« (Jr 29:23, KJV)

»But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!« (Ez 16:32, KJV)

In each of these verses, adultery is clearly set forth as being the act of a man engaging in sexual intercourse with another man's wife. None of the women mentioned are unmarried or even unbetrothed. They are all someone else's wife. And nothing is ever said anywhere in Scripture about a woman taking another woman's husband. Why not? This definition fits perfectly with polygyny being acceptable before God.

Why did the Holy Spirit inspire Solomon to write the Song of Songs in the context of polygyny?

»1 The song of songs, which is Solomon's...The king hath brought me into his chambers... 12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof. 13 A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts! 14 My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of En-gedi... 11 Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his ESPOUSALS, and in the day of the gladness of his heart. 8 There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number. 9 My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.« (SS 1:1,4,12-14; 3:11; 6:8-9, KJV)

Many see the Song of Songs as being an allegory for the Body of Christ, and this is true. But notice something about this Body of Christ: if the woman is the church, then who are the sixty queens and eighty concubines? A queen is the wife of a king. In the Song of Songs, Solomon is the king. If Solomon represents Christ, then the queens must represent those who have already entered into the marriage with him. Thus, here in type, we see a polgynous Christ! We know from the Parable of the 10 Virgins that the virgins are those who are (supposed to be) preparing to enter into the marriage with him. The woman here is one whom he is courting to bring into marriage with him and become either a queen or concubine along with the others. And note the attitude of the women of his very definitely polygynyous household: »The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her«. Indeed, this is the disposition which any church should have toward another which enters into marital union with the Lord.

Why did Paul (not to mention the other apostles) exclude polygyny from every list of iniquities/sins/works of the flesh in his epistles?

»28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.« (Ro 1:28-32, KJV)

No polygyny here.

»9 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, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.« (1C 6:9-10, KJV)

Polygamists are not mentioned here either.

»20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: 21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.« (2C 12:20-21, KJV)

While Paul expects to bewail those who have not »repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed«, there is no indication that he be ready to bewail those who have not repented of plural marriage.

»19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.« (Ga 5:19-21, KJV)

There is no mention of marrying additional wives as a »work of the flesh«.

»22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.«

Well now, still no reference to polygyny, not even in putting off the old man.

»1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.« (1Ti 4:1-3, KJV)

Note that Paul did not say »forbidding to marry at all«, in which case this would only point to a celibacy becoming a requirement. He said »forbidding to marry« which includes any proscription of marriage for any reason. Historically, the church ultimately came under the influence of teachers who required celibacy and others who banned polygyny in the church. Both sinned and both departed from the faith in doing so. When Paul describes this particular group of sinners, he does not present polygyny as being a part of their »doctrines of devils«, but simply the act of forbidding marriage without mentioning anything about the extent or character of that forbidding. We could toss in those who want to forbid marriages between different (so-called) races or nationalities for good measure. Any kind of forbidding of marriage counts as forbidding of marriage, not only the extreme of forbidding all marriages.

Why did Paul recommend monogyny only for bishops, deacons, and elders, but not for all Christian men, nor for apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors, and teachers?

»1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach...« (1Ti 3:1-2, KJV)

»12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.« (1Ti 3:12, KJV)

»5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.« (Ti 1:5-6, KJV)

Even if we believe that these passages recommend or mandate monogyny, Paul only specified it for bishops, deacons, and elders, but not for apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors or teachers. Logically, if we are to take these recommendations as law or righteous requirement, and then claim that they forbid polygamy, then these also have the effect of rejecting anyone who is unmarried (whether celibate, single or a widower) from being or becoming a bishop, deacon, or elder. That would have disqualified both Paul and Jesus. In the context of the verse surrounding these passages, it is clear that Paul wanted Timothy and Titus to appoint to these offices only those who were holy and walked in the ways of Yahweh. What he was really saying was, in effect, 'look for men who are married and holy'. This would have extended to those who had more than one wife as well.

Paul seems to have been drawing on Leviticus 21:10-15 for this:

»10 And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes; 11 Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother; 12 Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD. 13 And he shall take a wife in her virginity. 14 A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife. 15 Neither shall he profane his seed among his people: for I the LORD do sanctify him.« (KJV)

The principle is not the number of wives, but the preference for these leaders to be married and to be holy, having handled those relationships according to the will of God. This is very much the focus of Paul's recommendations for bishops, elders, and deacons. The commandment here only applied to the high priest. And it is a positive commandment, commanding the high priest to take a wife, and specifying the kind of wife he was to take. The indefinite article 'a' (according to the CVOT) is not present in the Hebrew, so that the verse can read "he shall take wife in her virginity". In any case, there was no limitation on the number of wives here either. Again, if we take the "husband of one wife" verses as though they were absolute law, then we have to exclude not only polygamous men, but also unmarried man, divorced men, and widowed men from participation in these ministries. Would you say this is what Paul intended? He himself was celibate, as was also Jesus. Would we exclude them from these ministries? What if an elder had an unruly son given to drug abuse or criminality? Would we demand that that man be removed from his ministry?

Why did Paul use two different words for 'own' in 1.Corinthians 7:2?

»Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own (heautou) wife, and let every woman have her own (idios) husband.«

Why use two different words to mean »own« if the 'owning' is egalitarian in nature? heautou is an intensive form of autos. As a possessive pronoun, autos can be used with any gender. And so can the adjective idios. If Paul had truly meant to mandate monogamy with these statements, if would have been much more effective to use the same possessive adjective. Some have pointed out that idios is quite often used to express corporate possession, in reference to cities and other individual things which are possessed by many. If this is Paul's usage here, then this actually leans more toward polygyny. In any case, it does show that the way, manner, or format in which husbands possess wives differs in some significant way from the way wives possess husbands. this is consistent with the picture portrayed throughout the Old Testament.

Why did Moses (evidently) take an Ethiopian wife in addition to the Midianitess Zipporah during the Exodus?

»19 And Yahweh said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life. 20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of Elohim in his hand... 24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that Yahweh met him, and sought to kill him. 25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.« (Ex 4:19-20, 24-26, KJV-OTR)

This passage shows very clearly that Moses took Zipporah with him when he returned to Egypt.

»And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony.« (Nu 10:11, KJV)

This verse tells us roughly when Moses took the Ethiopian women to be his wife. It was just over two years after he led Israel out of Egypt.

»1 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2 And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. 3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) 4 And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. 5 And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. 6 And he said, Hear now my words: If the re be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. 7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. 8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? 9 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.« (Nu 12:1-9, KJV)

Since the Scriptures do not seem to record Zipporah's death before this, it seems that she was indeed alive when Moses married the Ethiopian woman. Some have suggested the Zipporah and the Ethiopian woman were in fact the same woman. This is not true. »Ethiopian« is the English translation of the Hebrew word for 'Cushite'. Zipporah was not Cushite, but Midianite. Cush descended from Noah's son Ham, but Midian descended from Shem through Abraham. These were two entirely different peoples. Note that Yahweh validated and defended Moses' marriage and rebuked both Miriam and Aaron for challenging it, although their words in themselves do not betray it. If Zipporah was alive, then Yahweh was not 'tolerating', but decisively protecting Moses' right to have more than one wife. Why would Yahweh defend a relationship, especially a sexual one, if it were wrong?

Why did Yahweh give a law which in certain circumstances would have caused some husbands to become polygynous?

»5 If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband's brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. 6 And it shall be that the firstborn son which she bears will succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. 7 But if the man does not want to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate to the elders, and say, 'My husband's brother refuses to raise up a name to his brother in Israel; he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother.' 8 Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him; and if he stands firm and says, 'I do not want to take her,' 9 then his brother's wife shall come to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal from his foot, spit in his face, and answer and say, 'So shall it be done to the man who will not build up his brother's house.' 10 And his name shall be called in Israel, 'The house of him who had his sandal removed.'« (De 25:5-10, NKJV)

In giving this law, Yahweh apparently didn't care one way or the other whether the surviving brother already had a wife or not. If the surviving brother was already married to one wife, this law would have compelled him to form a polygynous household or be subject to public and lasting shame. As with Moses' laws concerning polygyny, the righteousness of this law must also be fulfilled in us who believe.

Why does the Spirit use polygynous creatures such as Lions and Sheep to symbolize Jesus and his people?

»5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the LION of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a LAMB as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.« (Rv 5:5-6, KJV)

Here Jesus is represented as both a LION and a LAMB. A pride of lions is formed by one male lion, several female lions, and their cubs. The males will fight one another for possession of the pride, but only one of them gets the females. A male lamb, when mature, becomes a RAM. Rams also compete for the flock. The winner gets the ewes.

»9 Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?« (Gn 49:9, KJV)

This prophecy likened Judah and the tribe which descended from him as a Lion, a polygynous creature.

»But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel... Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.« (Mt 10:6,16, KJV)

Here Jesus refers to both Israel and his own disciples as SHEEP. Like lions, sheep are polygynous creatures. Unlike sheep, wolves are known to be monogynous in the pack.

Why do the Scriptures support marriage(s), but express no preference for either monogyny or polygyny?

»Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.« (Hb 13:4, KJV)

Note that the Scripture does not specify any distinction between types of marriage. Whether we think it to be sinful or not, polygyny is marriage. The fact that no distinction is made means then that polygyny is included in the term »marriage«. Thus, we must consider both monogyny and polygyny to be »honourable in all, and the bed undefiled«.

»For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.« (Mt 22:30, KJV)

Again, no distinction is made.

»So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.« (1C 7:38, KJV)

Again, no distinction is made. If Paul truly had anything against polygyny, he would certainly have denounced as he did sins and iniquities. But he didn't.

Why did Yahweh specifically bless polygynous households?

»And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and Yahweh had blessed Abraham in all things.« (Gn 24:1, KJV-OTR)

»all things« includes his marriages. Abraham had Sarah and Hagar at the same time, and then later Keturah, and possibly other »concubines« (Gn 25:6). Before Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham as a wife, Yahweh had said this to him »walk before me and be thou perfect« (Gn 17:1). Evidently, Abraham did not consider it a lack of perfection to receive her, and was only willing to send her away after he specifically heard from God about it (Gn 21:9-14).

»1 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother. 3 And El Shaddai bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; 4 And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which Elohim gave unto Abraham.« (Gn 28:1-4, KJV-OTR)

This was Isaac's prophetic blessing upon Jacob. Note that Yahweh did in fact give the blessing of Abraham to Jacob:

»10 And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. 11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of Elohim ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, Yahweh stood above it, and said, I am Yahweh Elohim of Abraham thy father, and the Elohim of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. 16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely Yahweh is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of Elohim, and this is the gate of heaven.« (Gn 28:10-17, KJV-OTR)

This was before Jacob had any wives.

»26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with Elohim and with men, and hast prevailed. 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.« (Gn 32:26-29, KJV-OTR)

This was after Jacob had received 4 wives and begat children by each of them. So we see Yahweh's blessing, even the blessing of Abraham upon a polygamist.

Why did Yahweh make polygyny part of the foundation of Israel in the life of Jacob, especially since Israel was meant to be a light unto all nations and typlifies the Body of Christ?

»15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? 16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. 18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. 20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. 21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. 25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? 26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. 29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. 30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. 31 And when Yahweh saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely Yahweh hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. 33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because Yahweh hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. 34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. 35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise Yahweh: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing. 30:1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. 2 And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in Elohim's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? 3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees that I may also have children by her. 4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her. 5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. 6 And Rachel said, Elohim hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan. 7 And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. 8 And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali. 9 When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife. 10 And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son. 11 And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad. 12 And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son. 13 And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.« (Gn 29:15-30:13, KJV-OTR)

Jacob never even had a choice. It was all beyond his control. The only one he specifically wanted was his beloved Rachel. But Laban, Rachel and Leah all contributed to Jacob having 4 wives. Note that nowhere in this passage does Yahweh ever condemn their actions. Later in Genesis 49, Yahweh gave Jacob blessings and prophecies to pronounce over his sons and Joseph's sons. In Proverbs, it says that the one who finds a wife finds a good thing and that she is the blessing of Yahweh. All 4 wives were therefore Yahweh's blessing unto Jacob. Laban, Rachel and Leah were simply the ones through whom he gave them to Jacob.

If we, the Body of Christ, are the »Israel of God«, then we have polygyny in our foundation. Why cast off the foundation? Why reject what Yahweh has done? The Body of Christ, like our Lord, is celibate, monogynous and polygynous simultaneously. If Yahweh put polygynous families together in ihm, we do err greatly in either condemning that or opposing it.

As I said earlier, the restoration of polygamy to God's people is a movement of the Holy Spirit. At this time, there is still much to be learned, for it touches on many other areas of truth as have other movements of the Spirit since the beginning of the Reformation. The Reformation never ended, but has continued to our day and no doubt will continue and metamorphose into the Manifestation of the Sons of God, bringing deliverance to the whole creation.

Jesus said:

»The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord.« (Mt 10:24, KJV)

And also:

»The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.« (Lu 6:40, KJV)

Jesus is our Master, God manifest in the flesh, and the Word made flesh, full of grace and truth. In these verses, Jesus taught about being like one's master, saying »it is enough« in the first instance, and then presenting that likeness as a characteristic of »every one that is perfect«. When it comes to being like him with regard to marriage, we can be celibate, monogynous, or polygynous according to the gift and calling of God. If we are to truly be like him, we must see him as is, and he is celibate, monogynous and polygynous. That is perfection.

As Paul wrote Timothy:

»15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be PERFECT, throughly furnished unto all good works.« (1Ti 3:15-17, KJV)

Why would Yahweh have inspired Moses, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Solomon and others to write polygynous things in the Law, the prophetic word, and poetry, if not that we might be perfect and »throughly furnished unto all good works«?

A Siunaus Publication Jeffrey B. White, Author