More than one wife?

[John81]

I think it's instructive that God created Eve for Adam; not Eve, Elmira, Evelyn and Edith. :Green

[anime4christ]

Seems He forgot to tell Abraham and Sarah.

Well, originally they did marry siblings when the world was just starting and Abraham married his half-sister. The law against that was given later on, but I think that's quite a different topic.

[godsgurlie_077]

wow this has helped me a lot thanks and I think he probably didn't allow it because God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He NEVER changes. He doesn't allow something and then not allow it God never contradicts himself like I said He is the same forever and always.

[Jerry]

God is the same yesterday' date=' today and forever. He NEVER changes. He doesn't allow something and then not allow it God never contradicts himself like I said He is the same forever and always.[/quote']

That's not totally true - there are some of God's rules for man that have changed in different dispensations. For example, we can eat pork now - the Jews couldn't.

[lettheredeemedsayso]

God gave us a well defined picture of the fact that marriage is one man, one woman. God created one woman for Adam.

[godsgurlie_077]

I think now these days the Jews don't eat pork but God does not change about things as serious as one man one wife, not one man two wives. God does think different about different things that is where we get the different dispensations.

[JerryNumbers]

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of
James 1:17 (KJV)

8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Heb 13:8 (KJV)

6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Mal 3:6 (KJV)

I fail to understand your thought, either God does change or He dosen't change, seems the Bible teaches that He does not change.

[Jerry]

God does not change - but His rules for man in each dispensation (which literally means "house rules/laws") do. A comment was made that God did not allow something in the past because He does not do so in the present - but ceremonial laws, etc. have changed (no, His moral laws have not). For example, before the Law was given, there were no commands against marrying sisters and near relatives - once the Law was given, it became is a sin.

God tolerated or allowed polygamy in the OT (though, of course, the ideal pattern as presented in Genesis 2 was one man and one wife) - though He does not tolerate that in the church age (ie. the NT is quite clear on God's standards for marriage).

[Psalms18_28]

Rom 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

I am sure God already made the laws against of marrying brothers and sisters or having more than one wife since beginning.. just that he haven't given them the laws yet.. it wasn't time. Just like how he waited the right time for the Christ to come. He planned Christ since beginning.

Therefore, saying that just because God allowed it at one time means it is ok is like saying, "well, since Jesus wasn't around at the time of the Old testament so that means we don't have to accept Christ . "

[Jerry]

Rom 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

I am sure God already made the laws against of marrying brothers and sisters or having more than one wife since beginning.. just that he haven't given them the laws yet.. it wasn't time. Just like how he waited the right time for the Christ to come. He planned Christ since beginning.

Therefore, saying that just because God allowed it at one time means it is ok is like saying, "well, since Jesus wasn't around at the time of the Old testament means we don't have to accept Christ either. "

You don't make sense - marrying a close relative was not a SIN until the giving of the Law.

Believing in the Messiah to come was taught from the time Adam and Eve sinned, from the time of the first sin the Saviour was prophesied.

Even under the Law, polygamy was not forbidden. There are OT laws that deal with how to take care of your other wives. God's ideal pattern was one husband and one wife for life - however, He allowed/tolerated (whatever term you like) polygamy in the OT - but clearly warned against the problems that would come as a result of that. We should not take our understanding of NT doctrine and try to force it into the OT, where it was not taught.

That is like someone today taking the issue of slavery (and our modern stand against it) and then trying to make it seem like the Bible forbids it - which it doesn't. What the Bible does forbid is the abuse of slaves and slaves rebelling against their masters. God Himself is the one who instituted slavery in various nations (as a judgment on them, as well as a way to protect Israel for hundreds of years while their population grew in Egypt).

The NT standards for believers are much higher than those for the OT saint.

[Psalms18_28]

marrying a close relative was not a SIN until the giving of the Law.

That's exactly what I meant. God didn't give it to them yet but he planned it all along.

[Jerry]

I can agree with that - He knew the laws He would set in effect in each dispensation ahead of time.

[JerryNumbers]

Someone said its not that way, that God did not just allow more than 1 wife, but God did allow men to have more than one wife, He did not approve of it them, never approved of it, and He does not approve it now, He did not change His mind.

If He did, them He is a God of change, and there is variableness in Him, which He clearly states there is not.

That is what is a sin now has always been a sin.

All of us setting behind our computers, every one of us have sinned, God allows us to, just as He allowed our forefathers to as well, even thought He is 100% in control.

Ceremonial laws, they were nailed to the cross with Christ and we are under the New Covenant which is much better.

[zealyouthguy]

Seems He forgot to tell Abraham and Sarah.

????

You seem like a pretty smart guy, I will have to assume you are just being facetious.

[JAHinton]

1Ki 11:3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. 7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.