From: Steven
To: craig@bibleanswerstand.org
Subject: polygamy
How do you feel that God views polygamy for and in current times?
Thanks,
Steven
Hi Steven,
Since you specified your inquiry by asking what, “God’s view” of polygamy is, in, “current times,” you made it extremely easy for me to answer.
L
Psalms
119:160 Your words all add up to the sum total: Truth. Your righteous
decisions are eternal. The Message
Bible by Eugene Peterson 2002
God’s righteous decisions are,
“eternal,” and the literal meaning Hebrew word for, ‘eternal,’ that is used in
Psalms 199:160 above is, “age-abiding.”
The ancient Semitic peoples viewed a time much differently than our
modern yearly calendar. For the
Hebrews, they employ the same words or terms to identify a lengthy or a short
period of time. However, when a lengthy
era is written in Hebrew, or in Aramaic, its linguistic cousin, and rendered,
“age-abiding,” the duration of the epoch is indefinite, and best described here
as going on and on.
Since God’s view never changes, even though mankind’s behavior and view does. God’s creation is the physical expression of His view and His plan for monogamous marriage. His view is the same as it was in the very beginning of His creation.
L Genesis 2:18 GOD said, "It’s not good for the Man to be alone; I’ll make him a helper, a companion." when He first created a wife for Adam. The Message Bible by Eugene Peterson 2002
Notice, He did not say, “wives,” were first created, but rather, “a wife,” (singular).
L Genesis 2:21-25 GOD put the man into a deep sleep. As he slept, he removed one of his ribs and replaced it with flesh. 22 GOD then used the rib that he had taken from the man to make woman and presented her to the man. 23 The man said, “Finally! Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh! Name her woman for she was made from man.” 24 Therefore, a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife. They become one flesh. 25 The two of them, the man and his wife, were naked, but they felt no shame. The Message Bible by Eugene Peterson 2002
Again, note there is only one woman, who is Adam’s one wife. There are no plural pronouns utilized in the description of the creation of woman as man’s first wife (see bold highlights of aforementioned Genesis text used as examples below):
L 2:22 to make woman
L 2:22 presented her to the man
L 2:23 Name her woman
L 2:23 for she was made from man
L 2:24 Therefore, a man… embraces his wife
L 2:25 The two of them, the man and his wife
The original teachings of the Mormon Church, also known as, ‘The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,’ (or simply, ‘LDS Church’) hold that polygamy is not only acceptable, but is also a commandment. Of course, once the Federal laws of the United States of America were enacted against polygamous marriages, these statutes nullified the legal status of polygamy. As it has done with its racially prejudicial ‘Melchizedek priesthood’ doctrines that forbid African-American men from participation, when it became lawfully illegal the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints changed its mind, or should I say, God changed His?
Jesus Christ affirmed his Father’s view about marriage as being the same as it was in the beginning, as he answered the questions that the Pharisees and scribes asked concerning marriage. There are two parallel gospel accounts, (Matthew 19:1-9 & Mark 10:1-12), which you should read; below is a portion taken from Mark’s account:
L Mark
10:2-9 Presently a party of Pharisees come to Him
with the question—seeking to entrap Him, "May a man divorce his
wife?" 3 "What rule did Moses lay down for you?" He answered. 4 "Moses,"
they said, "permitted a man to draw up a written notice of divorce, and to
send his wife away." 5 "It was in consideration of your
stubborn hearts," said Jesus, "that Moses enacted this law for you; 6 but from the
beginning of the creation the rule was, <‘Male and female did God make them.
7
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall
cling to his wife, 8 and the two shall be one’;> so that they are
two no longer, but <‘one.’> 9 What, therefore, God has joined together let
not man separate." Weymouth New
Testament Translation
I believe this passage nicely
summarizes my reply to you because the text describes God’s view as remaining
constant and unchanged from the beginning, even though made views changed,
(e.g. – Moses permitted a man to draw up a written notice of divorce, and to
send his wife away).
In spite of the Pharisees’
attempt to snare Jesus in his words of teaching, by formulating a question that
has a quagmire of interrelated Jewish views concerning marriage, divorce, and
remarriage, they acknowledge that marriage involves only one wife.
I will close by providing you
with some scripture text below, and these include monogamous marriage,
specifying considerations when choosing overseers, which must include marriage
to one wife only.
L 1 Timothy 3:2 A minister then must be a man of irreproachable character, true to his one wife…
L
1
Timothy 3:12 A
deacon must be true to his one wife, and rule his children and his
own household wisely and well.
L
Titus
1:6 wherever
there is a man of blameless life, true to his one wife, having children who are
themselves believers and are free from every reproach of profligacy or of
stubborn self-will. Weymouth New
Testament Translation
God bless you Steven.
Craigo (my nickname)
Craig Bluemel - The Bible Answer Stand Ministry
1 Peter 3:15 Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.
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