Facebook has recently started sharing posts from a guy whose “ministry” is trying to convince everyone to do polygamy. There’s lots of ways to respond to such an appeal, but as is my way, I use a variation of The Dog Which Never Barked.
I point out that for 1,500 years after Pentecost the Church universally taught against polygamy and instead taught monogamy. Why? There were plenty of disputes in the Early Church, but never about this issue. So, either…
(1) The Apostles taught monogamy and rejected polygamy
(2) The Apostles taught polygamy but their teaching was lost immediately and without the slightest trace
Which is more likely and which nullifies the promises of Christ regarding His Church?
“For now it is possible for men and women who were once only permitted to marry many wives to be satisfied with one.”
– Justin Martyr (c. AD 100–165), Dialogue with Trypho
“One man should possess one wife, and one wife should possess one husband.”
– Clement of Alexandria (c. AD 150–215), Stromata
“We indeed are forbidden to marry more than once.”
– Tertullian (c. AD 155–220), On Exhortation to Chastity
The earliest person I’ve found to offer any kind of concession to polygamy is Martin Luther in 1522… but even then…
(a) he only allowed it in certain restricted circumstances (a rich nobleman – make of that what you will)
(b) and he still said that monogamy was the ideal
1. The Bible begins with a marriage between one man and one woman. This is the standard to which Jesus returns in the New Testament when speaking about marriage, correcting one of the allowances granted by Moses, namely divorce.
2. Polygamy begins with a violent man from the evil line of Cain – not exactly someone you want to immitate.
3. At no point is polygamy is not mandated by God
4. The fruits of polygamous marriages and concubinage are repeatedly bad:
(a) Abraham’s marriage to Hagar alongside Sarah leads to family conflict (Genesis 16).
(b) Jacob’s marriages to Leah and Rachel produce jealousy and rivalry (Genesis 29–30).
(c) Elkanah’s wives, Hannah and Peninnah, experience conflict (1 Samuel 1).
(d) Solomon’s many wives contribute to his spiritual downfall (1 Kings 11).
5. The Law discourages the King form multiplying wives (Deuteronomy 17:17)
6. The prophets use singular marriage imagery (Hosea, Jeremiah, Ezekiel) as with St. Paul (Ephesians 5:23)
7. The New Testament church leadership assumes monogamy (1 Timothy 3:2;12)
