Popular So Calif Radio Preacher Teaches Error Re Marriage in The Bible

THIS POST CONTAINS SEXUALLY EXPLICIT AND ADULT BIBLE

SCRIPTURES AND INFORMATION ABOUT HUMAN SEXUALITY AND THIS
POST CONTAINS SEXUALLY EXPLICIT AND ADULT BIBLE SCRIPTURES
ABOUT HUMAN SEXUALITY AND IF SUCH SCRIPTURES OFFEND OR
UPSET YOU, YOU SHOULD NOT READ IT TO SEE THE FALSEHOODS AND
ERRORS BOB DUTKO APPEARS TO BE PRESENTING DURING HIS RADIO
BROADCASTS.

COPYRIGHT © 2/4/2011
This file, in its entirety, may be posted on or copied off of computer networks
like Internet or WWW by anyone so inclined as long as it is not changed and
the author is acknowledged.
By L. Tyler2/4/11 - - - This file/document may be found in the Files section at the
following:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group MarriageDivorceRemarriageJesus2
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MarriageDivorceRemarriageJesus
http://biblicalmaturity.yuku.com/forums/66
http://groups.google.com/group/MarriageDivorceRemarriageInJesus
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SexProbsAndRecoveryInJesus

We know that it is a grave and deadly sin to teach

something as the Word of God and it isn't His Word.
***Jeremiah 14:13 But I said, “Alas, Sovereign LORD!
The prophets keep telling them, ‘You will not see the
sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting
peace in this place.’” 14 Then the LORD said to me, “The
prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not
sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They
are prophesying to you false visions, divinations,
idolatries and the delusions of their own minds. 15
Therefore this is what the LORD says about the prophets
who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them,
yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this
land.’ Those same prophets will perish by sword and
famine. [NIV]

KBRT's Bob Dutko appears to be teaching false visions,

idolatries and delusions of his own mind, for he
apparently teaches that the Word of God declares that
the Biblical polygyny of Abraham, Jacob/Israel, Gideon
and King David is as much sin as is homosexuality or
adultery. We saw Jehovah-Jesus mightily bless and
personally visit (Genesis 17) Abraham the polygynist
(Genesis 16). We see the Angel of the Lord save the life
of Abraham's second wife in polygyny, Hagar, and
mightily bless her (Genesis 16). We see Jehovah-Jesus
bless polygynist Jacob (Genesis 35 & 48). We see
Jehovah-Jesus bless polygynist David (2 Samuel 7; 1
Chronicles 14 & 17).

For the rest of this, see

DutkoTeachesErrorReMarriageInOT.html in the Files
section of this group or the groups listed above

Let's see if Bob Dutko is any where or way close to the

Truth. Consider the following where he correctly teaches
that it is sin and sinful for males and/or females to - -
[1] have sexual relations with (denuding, revealing, showing
and/or uncovering <Strong's 1540> the genitalia <Strong's 6172> of)
one's close relative (Lev 18:6);

[2] have sexual relations with (denuding, revealing, showing

and/or uncovering <Strong's 1540> the genitalia <Strong's 6172> of)
one's mother (Lev 18:7), with your father's wife (8;
20:11; Ez 22:10; 1 Cor 5:1), with your sister or step-
sister (9; 20:17), with your son's daughter or your
daughter's daughter (10), with your father's wife's
adopted daughter (11; 20:17), with your father's sister
(you should not uncover <1540> the nakedness <6172> v.12; 20:19),
with your mother's sister (13; 20:19), with your aunt -
your father's brother's wife (14; 20:20), with your
daughter-in-law (15; 20:12), with your brother's wife
(16; 20:21), with a woman and her daughter (17;
20:14), with your wife's son's daughter or her daughter's
daughter (17), with a wife as a rival to her sister (18),
with your wife while she is menstruating (19; 20:18; Ez
18:6; 22:10), with someone else's wife (20; 20:10; Ez
22:11), with someone who is not your own marital
partner (1 Cor 6:9); with a man in the same way as with
a woman (22; 20:13; Rom 1:26,27; 1 Cor 6:9; 1 Tim
1:10), with any animal (23), with one's mother-in-law
(Dt 27:23), with a prostitute (19:29; 1 Cor 6:9); with a
woman in the same way as with a man (Ezek 23:19,20;
Rom 1:26,27; 1 Tim 1:10);

[3] press, handle and/or squeeze the breasts and/or

nipples of a woman who is not your own heterosexual
marital partner (Ezek 23:3, 8,21: Strong's {4600} and
{6213});

[4] to lay bare, uncover and make known the genitalia<Strong's

6172> (Ezek 23:10, 18) of a woman who is not your own heterosexual
marital partner ("These uncovered <1540> her nakedness <6172>").

If Leviticus and Ezekiel are specific and graphic enough to upset the faint of heart,
consider how specific the Greek original is in Romans 1:
26 Their females exchanged natural sex relations<5446+5540>* for those
that are contrary to God's design<3844+5449>*; 27
likewise/so/equally/similarly/IN THE SAME WAY<3668>* having left the God
designed/made physiological/biological functions/use of the female, the
males were inflamed in their evil desire for that which is forbidden<3715>*
to do with each other<1519>*, males in/with/by males
working/doing/performing genitals<2716+808>* and receiving in
themselves the recompense which was fit for their error.

It's pretty clear that the Bible is quite specific and graphic. Bob Dutko is okay up to this
point, but then he totally misses the mark when it comes to the polygamy of Abraham,
Jacob, Gideon, King David, Exodus 21:7-11; and Deut 21:15-17.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SCRIPTURE OR VERSE IN THE BIBLE THAT

DECLARES THE FOLLOWING:

You are not to

[1] Compare the following to verses like those of Leviticus 18 :
share a husband with another wife in polygyny, I am the
LORD. You are not to become the wife of a husband who
already has and keeps a wife. You are not to have more
than one wife, it will shame your father.

to verses like those of Ezek 23: Their

[2] Compare the following
breasts were fondled in polygyny there, and their virgin
nipples caressed by the husband she shared with his
other wife. . . . She didn't give up her polygyny that
began in Egypt, when she polygynously shared her
husband with his other wife, . . . They exposed her
polygamy, seized her sons and daughters, and killed her
with the sword. Since they executed judgment against
her, she became notorious among women for her
polygyny. . . 21 So you revisited the polygyny of your
youth, when you polygynously shared your husband with
his other wife.

[3] Compare the following to verses like those of 1 Cor 6: Do you

not know that unrighteous persons shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do
not err: neither men who have more than one wife . . . nor wives who share
a husband with his other wife, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor
abusive persons, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Yes Romans 13 makes it clear we should obey the law

and not try to have more than one wife legally and
officially if the law of the land where you live forbids a
man to legally and officially have more than one wife/
Yes Romans 14 makes it clear that if one's polygyny
offends, grieves, causes to sin, or causes one to stumble
spiritually then the Word is clear:
"22 Do you have faith [based on the Word of God about polygyny]? Have [your
faith about it ] to thyself before God [privately and/or discretely]. Blessed [is] he
who does not judge himself in what he allows [as to polygyny]. 23 But he that
doubts [that it is right to do this or that], if he eat [or does this or that], is
condemned; because [his behavior is] not of faith; but whatever [behavior is] not
of faith [based on the Word of God] is sin. 15:1 But we that are strong [in our faith
and its liberty in Christ], *we* ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not
to please ourselves [in the matter of polygyny]. 2 Each one of us should please his
neighbour [or marital partner] with a view to what is good, to edification. 3 For
the Christ also did not please himself; . . . [From Darby and AMPB]

SO GOD NEVER ANYWHERE IN THE WHOLE BIBLE

DECLARES THAT THE POLYGYNY OF ABRAHAM,
JACOB/ISRAEL, GIDEON, AND DAVID IS WRONG, EVIL
OR SINFUL, THE POLYGYNY THAT MEETS THE
REQUIREMENTS OF ROMANS 13 AND 14. CONSIDER THE
RECORD:

FROM THE LAW JESUS-JEHOVAH GAVE TO MOSES:

***Genesis 2:23 And the man said: This one, at last, is bone of my bone,
a
and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called woman, for she was taken
from man.
24
This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife,
and they become one flesh. . . . 3:16To the woman He [the Lord God] said, I
will greatly multiply your grief and your suffering in pregnancy and the pangs
of childbearing; in pain with spasms of distress you will bring forth children.
Yet your desire and craving will be for your husband, and he will rule over
you.

***Exodus 21:10 If [a man already has a wife and] he takes an additional

wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital
rights [i.e. he shall not diminish the food, clothing or marital rights of his
other wife].
[See Strong's,WEY, NASB, ESV, HCSB, AmpB, NKJV]

FROM THE LAW JESUS-JEHOVAH GAVE TO MOSES:

In Deut 21 we see Jesus-Jehovah regulating polygyny for Israel under the
Law:
***15 “If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and
both the loved and the unloved have borne him children, and if the firstborn
son belongs to the unloved, 16 then on the day when he assigns his
possessions as an inheritance to his sons, he may not treat the son of the
loved as the firstborn in preference to the son of the unloved, who is the
firstborn, 17 but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved,
by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his
strength. The right of the firstborn is his" Deut 21 ESV.

And finally in Ezek 23 we see Jesus-Jehovah portraying Himself as a

polygynist:
***"1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, there were two
women, the daughters of one mother. . . . 4 Oholah was the name of the
elder and Oholibah the name of her sister. They became mine, and they bore
sons and daughters [to me]." [See Strong's,WEY, NASB, ESV, HCSB,
AmpB, NKJV]

FROM THE LAW JESUS-JEHOVAH GAVE TO MOSES:

***Deut 17:14 "When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving
you, take possession of it, live in it, and say, 'We want to appoint a
king over us like all the nations around us,' 15 you are to appoint over
you the king the LORD your God chooses. Appoint a king from your
brothers. You are not to set a foreigner over you, or one who is not of
your people. 16 However, he must not acquire many horses for himself
or send the people back to Egypt to acquire many horses, for the
LORD has told you, 'You are never to go back that way again. ' 17 He
must not acquire many wives for himself so that his heart won't go
astray. He must not acquire very large amounts of silver and gold for
himself.
[See Strong's,WEY, NASB, ESV, HCSB, AmpB, NKJV]

Please note that in this passage Jehovah did NOT say 'he must not
acquire A FEW or SEVERAL horses . . . He must not acquire A FEW or
SEVERAL wives for himself. . . he must not acquire a small amount of
silver and gold . . .' There is NOT ONE WORD IN THE BIBLE limiting
the servant of God to one horse, one wife and a single bar of gold,
except for the "one wife" Word for rulers, elders, bishops, deacons and
leading officers in the Christian church or assembly (1 Tim 3 and titus
1).

FROM THE LAW JESUS-JEHOVAH GAVE TO MOSES:

***Deut 25:5If brothers live together and one of them dies and has no son,
his wife shall not be married to a stranger outside the family. Her husband's
[single or married] brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and
perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. . . . .[If he refuses to marry
her and have children by her] 9then his brother's wife shall come to him in
the sight of the elders, and pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face;
and she shall declare, 'Thus it is done to the man who does not build up his
brother's house.' [See Strong's,WEY, NASB, ESV, HCSB, AmpB, NKJV]

***Mat 5:17"Think not that I came to destroy the Law or the prophets: I came not to
destroy, but to fulfil. 18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth
pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the Law,
10 till all things be accomplished. 19Whosoever therefore shall break one of
these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in
the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be
called great in the kingdom of heaven.
[This includes the laws of polygyny given in Exodus 21;7-11; Deut 21:15-17]

***Mat 23:1Then spake Jesus to the multitudes and to his disciples, 2saying, The
scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses seat: 3all things therefore
whatsoever they bid you, these do and observe: but do not ye after their
works; for they say, and do not. ASB [This includes the laws of polygyny given in
Exodus 21;7-11; Deut 21:15-17]

***Acts 21:17And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren

received us gladly. 18And the day following Paul went in with us unto
James; and all the elders were present. . . . 20And they, when they heard it, glorified
God; and they said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands
there are among the Jews of them that have believed; and they are all
zealous for [keeping] the law: 21and they have been informed concerning thee, that
thou teachest all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses,
telling them not to circumcise their children neither to walk after the
customs. . . . 23Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men that have
a vow on them; 24these take, and purify thyself with them, and be at
charges for them, that they may shave their heads: and all shall know that
there is no truth in the things whereof they have been informed concerning
thee; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, keeping the Law. 25But as
touching the Gentiles that have believed, we wrote, giving judgment that
they should keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols, and from
blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication. 26Then Paul took
the men, and the next day purifying himself with them went into the
temple,
***Acts 15:5But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees
who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them
to keep the Law of Moses. . . . 23 . . . The apostles and
the elders, brethren, unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch
and Syria and Cilicia, greeting: 24Forasmuch as we have heard that certain
who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your
souls; to whom we gave no commandment; 25it seemed good unto us,
having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you
with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26men that have hazarded their lives
for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27We have sent therefore Judas and
Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of
mouth. 28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon
you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29that ye abstain from
things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and
from sexual immorality; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with
you. Fare ye well.

So we see the Apostles still obeying the Laws of polygyny

given to Moses in Exodus and Deuteronomy, and since
the definitions from the Law given to Moses still remain
for those who are not Christian Jews like the Apostles,
the Law's definitions and principles governing polygyny
still pertain for all still today.

For the rest of this, see

DutkoTeachesErrorReMarriageInOT.html in the Files
section of this group

[1] The Bible, Marriage and Polygyny in Centuries 15th through 21st AD

>>>2007: "BIOLA [Bible Institute of Los Angeles] graduate Tokunboh

Adeyemo (M.Div. ’75, M.Th. ’76), a Nigerian, undertook the first African
commentary at the close of his 25-year term as general secretary of the
Association of Evangelicals in Africa, an organization representing 70 million
evangelicals. As general editor, Adeyemo brought together 70 African
scholars who interpreted and applied the Bible in light of African cultures and
realities. The scholars include men and women from more than 20 countries
and many denominations. . . . .
"Theologian John Stott, who wrote the foreword, called it a “publishing
landmark.” And the United Kingdom’s Christian Booksellers Convention
named it the 2007 Reference Book of the Year."
http://www.biola.edu/news/biolamag/articles/08winter/africabiblecommentar
y.cfm
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=264731
Africa Bible Commentary
Edited By: Tokunboh Adeyemo
By: Edited by Tokunboh Adeyemo
Zondervan / Hardcover
Retail Price: $39.99; CBD Price: $29.99; CBD Stock Number: WW264731
W149562983. (Hardcover) : 1616 Pages; Release Date: August 01, 2006

"This revolutionary work is the first one-volume commentary written

exclusively by African theologians. Coming from an Evangelical perspective,
it explains Scripture using appropriate examples from current African culture
and the rich history of African proverbs. As such, it applies God's Word to
distinctively African concerns, yet it includes fresh insights that have a
universal appeal.
In addition to the section-by-section interpretive commentary, including
application, the Africa Bible Commentary contains more than 70 special
articles on topics of key importance to African ministry today---which have
global implications. It also transcends the African context with insights into
biblical texts and the Christian faith for readers worldwide."

http://www.worthychristianbookstore.com/index.php?
module=viewitem&item=27729

"The Africa Bible Commentary is a unique publishing event-the first one-

volume Bible commentary produced in Africa by African theologians to meet
the needs of African pastors, students, and lay leaders. Interpreting and
applying the Bible in the light of African culture and realities, it furnishes
powerful and relevant insights into the biblical text that transcend Africa in
their significance.

The Africa Bible Commentary gives a section-by-section interpretation that

provides a contextual, readable, affordable, and immensely useful guide to
the entire Bible. Readers around the world will benefit from and appreciate
the commentary's fresh insights and direct style that engage both heart and
mind.

>>>2006: The African edited and written Bible commentary approved of by

the Bible Institue of Los Angeles (BIOLA) and Talbot Theological Seminary:
"The book’s article “Polygamy” may help Western Christians think about
whether practices they forbid are merely cultural preference. The author
Isabel Apawo Phiri, of Malawi, argues that, while the Bible mostly portrays
polygamy in a negative light — and church leaders weren’t allowed to have
more than one wife — it doesn’t explicitly forbid the practice among non-
church leaders. So, Phiri supports the consensus of most African evangelical
denominations that promote monogamous marriage as God’s ideal, yet still
baptize converted polygamists and accept them in their churches."
From Biola's Holly Pivec at
http://www.biola.edu/news/biolamag/articles/08winter/africabiblecommentar
y.cfm
Please see Bibliography/Foot Note {1}

>>>1988: A book entitled "Cultural Anthropology - a Christian Perspective"

by Pastor Grunlan (of Wheaton & Luther Seminary) and Mayers Ph.D. (of
BIOLA), and recommended by Professor D. N Larson of Bethel College, by
Professor C. H. Kraft of Fuller Theological Seminary, by Eugene A Nida,
author of "Customs and Cultures" (a BIOLA textbook) and of the American
Bible Society; has the following: "It is interesting that the Old Testament
never condemned the practice of polygyny but only regulated it (Exod 21:1-
11; Lev18:17,18; Deut. 21:15-17). In fact, the law of levirate marriage may
even have required polygyny in some instances . . . (Deut 25:5010)."

>>>1991:***TITLE: Can Mr. Mombasa Keep All his Wives?

AUTHOR: Tim Stafford
SOURCE: Christianity Today, 35:33-34 Feb 11, 1991
¥¥¥This article deals with a conflict in the Christian church in Kenya, where
many blacks who are converted have several wives. Originally the church
would not baptize them, but allowed them to participate in the church.Later,
the church and some members broke away from their leadership and began
baptizing black polygamous men.

>>>1989: "In Spain, Italy,m and the East it persisted for some time longer,
as it does still among the Jews in Mohammedan counties".DICTIONARY OF
THE BIBLE, J. Hastings (Selbie, Lambert,Mathews), Hendrickson Publishers,
1989; p.584

>>>1974 :"Some Christian churches in Africa today allow polygamy. A

pastor in Cameroon stated: `People have no right to condemn polygamy
which even Christ did not condemn in the case of Abraham'."(pg.214,
***After Polygamy Was Made A Sin: The Social History of Christian Polygamy;
byJohn Cairncross, 1974; Published by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd, London
[This info provided by N. Bender of BiblicalFamilies])

>>>1962 : "Polygamy continues to the present day among Jews in Moslem,

Hindu, Buddhist, Asian, Oriental,and African countries." >25
[>25 IVCF, Editor J.D.Douglas; 1962,W. B. Eerdmans Publishing,p.787]

>>>1962: "Monogamy is implicit in the story of Adam and Eve, since God
created only one wife for Adam. Yet polygamy is adopted from the time of
Lamech (Gn. iv. 19), and is not forbidden in Scripture." >n132[Footnote:
>..n132 The New Bible Dictionary, J.D. Douglas Ph.D; p.787.]

>>>1958: The following come from "REYBURN: POLYGAMY, ECONOMY, AND

CHRISTIANITY IN THE EASTERN CAMEROUN," BY WILLIAM D. REYBURN, 1958.
"READINGS IN MISSIONARY ANTHROPOLOGY II" (Enlarged 1978 edition edited
by William A. Smalley
Published by William Carey Library)

Reyburn:
African polygyny has been perceived as an exercise of POWER rather than a
Biblically acceptable form of marriage. "Christianity, in its total
condemnation of polygamy has failed to discriminate between things which
are totally different. . . . From the side of missionary science we must learn
that the case involved in this area is primarily economic and not primarily
isolated polygamy. From the side of missionary theology we need to take the
findings of such information and in true Christian identification with the
human being involved move with our theology to his inner longings and
WITH HIM communicate a gospel that speaks to the roots of his real need
and show him that Christ is the ultimate answer to the POWER problem of his
heart. . . " [{2}REYBURN 1958 p. 255]

"The Christian church bases its objection to polygamy upon the Scriptures.
However, on the level where these anti-polygamous decisions are made, it is
commonly assumed that the New Testament is explicitly clear on the
subject. This is not the case. The New Testament is conspicuously
unconcerned with the subject." [{2}REYBURN 1958 p.268]

"Now it is very significant, and a point often overlooked, that there is no

record of a question about whether a man might, in any circumstances, take
a second wife. If there had been any doubt at all about whether a serious-
minded Jew could have several wives, we should very probably have some
reference to it in the Gospels of the Epistles. This would certainly have been
preserved by the early Christian communities, if the problem had ever arisen
in their own moral life. The absence of a negative command against
polygamy, in the New Testament, is therefore significant, in exactly the
opposite direction to that which is commonly and rashly assumed. It shows
that the question no longer arose among the Jewish or Gentile communities
to whom the gospel was addressed." [Parrinder, Geoffrey: TheBible and
Polygamy, S.P.C.K.: London, 1950. p.43] [{2}REYBURN 1958 p. 268]

Monogyny and polygyny are both evil when they are "incompatible with the
Golden Rule. Any people who idealize and live in expectation of that which is
unrealizable and impossible are thereby imposing serious strain on the
structure of their society" and their own souls. [REYBURN p.269] " . . . .
polygamy varies and in some cases it is concerned for the family welfare and
in others, just as in many cases of monogamy, it has no such concern. . . . ."
[{2}REYBURN 1958 p.269]

"A first step in a Christian solution to the problem in the eastern Cameroun
would be to reconsider the idea of church membership and to embrace a
fellowship of families without consideration for the status of the marriage
union. As it is presently, the father of the [polygynous] family is forced to be
an outsider. The source of authority is excluded. The family takes on a
feeling of separation from the one they really honor, the father." [REYBURN
p.270] "The church in the Cameroun is by and large a female church where
the man who needs the teaching of the church is felt unwanted."
[{2}REYBURN p.271]

"The step which is badly needed in the communication of the gospel to the
African is that the presence of this power [of procreation, of regeneration, of
an abundant and victorious life] is realized in submission to the role of the
humble servant to be filled with a [Christ given, worked and led] power for
service to others." [{2}REYBURN p.273]

>>>1954: Eugene Nida's (American Bible Society) book "Customs and

Cultures">.29 . . documents the current practice of polygyny by Christians in
non Western countries, and how it is still practiced in China, SE Asia, India,
Africa and parts of South America. Eugene Nida points out that when
polygamists become Christians they are told of their limitations in church
offices and are asked not to take any additional wives because it stumbles
western Christians(Rom 14, l Cor. 8 and 10). They are not usually asked to
abandon their other wives to a premature widowhood because of l Cor>. 7:1-
15.[Footnote: >.29 CUSTOMS AND CULTURES, 1954, Harper &Brothers, New
York]

>>>1900s: I understand that Rev. Joseph Conrad Wold>*, a Lutheran

missionary in Liberia, maintains the following points:
1. Some missionaries have become like the Pharisees,knit picking legalists;
2. For unbelievers it is more of a question of who is or is not a polygamist
rather than who is and who isn't a Christian;
3.Rejecting polygamy has become the rejecting of polygamists;
4.If Cornelious>45 could be born again without circumcision, then surely
polygamists should be able to be born again without cutting away their
wives, breaking their solemn promises and forcing their beloved and faithful
wives into adultery for survival;
5 Let the polygamist be lost because he refused to love and obey
Jesus,rather than because he loved his wives too much to cause them to
suffer, or was to virtuous to be a hypocrite.>70 He makes such an
impassioned case I hope you take the time to read the original.Truly the
commandments of men, condemning as sin and forbidding polygamy, make
of no effect the commandments of God for so many.
[Footnote: >*GOD'S IMPATIENCE IN LIBERIA, Rev. Joseph Conrad Wold, pp.
179ff. >45 (Acts 10 & 11). @>.@70 Trobisch,MY WIFE MADE ME

>>>1900s:
EUROPEAN ROYALTY: "In modern Europe polygamy disappeared from Jewish
domestic life while among Christians it remained a tolerated privilege of
royalty until very late times. . . . In the Second Commonwealth polygamy is
far from general (cf. Tobit and Susanna). Yet it survived far into the Christian
era. In the New Testament Jesus neither condemns polygamous unions nor
advocates a change in the system. . . In the New Testament Jesus neither
condemns polygamous unions nor advocates a change in the system. From
this noninterference attitude Luther, as late as the 16th cent.,arrived at the
conclusion that he could not forbid the taking of more than one wife. . . . . At
a later period Maimonides in his Mishneh Torah maintains, contrary to his
personal opinion, that polygamous unions from a strictly legal point of view
are permissible. Eventually, however, they were proscribed under the
authority of Rabbi Gershom (about l000), although cases of polygamy were
found in Spain as late as the 14th cent. . . ."
Polygamy In Jewish History
by Charles A. Rubenstein of Charles A. Rubenstein, Polygamy, Polygamy in
Jewish History, http://www.polyamory.org/Howard/je2.html; www.harsinai-
md.org/history_2.php; www.islamfortoday.com/women.htm---—--------------
Bibliography:Abrahams, 1., Jewish Life in the Middle Ages (1917);
Westermarck, E., History of Human Marriage (1901);
Spencer, H., Principles of Sociology idem, Descriptive Sociology;
Lay, Wilfrid, A Plea for Monogamy (1923)

>>>1800's:
"In the nineteenth century, Protestant missions were expanding rapidly, and
missionaries around the globe were confronting polygamy among their new
converts. In 1844,a conference of missionaries of various
denominations"unanimously agreed that `if a convert, before becoming a
Christian, has married more than wives than one, he shall be permitted to
keep them all; but such a person shall not be eligible to any office in the
church'." (pg.198)
After Polygamy Was Made A Sin:
The Social History of Christian Polygamy
John Cairncross, 1974 [This info provided by N. Bender of BiblicalFamilies]
Published by Routledge & Kegan Paul L, London

>>>1700's: "Between about 1680 and 1750, the campaign for polygamy(in
England) was in full swing, and plural marriage was almost as vigorously
canvassed as in Germany during the same period." (pg. 126)
After Polygamy Was Made A Sin:
The Social History of Christian Polygamy
John Cairncross, 1974 [This info provided by N. Bender of
BiblicalFamilies.org]
Published by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd, London

>>>1650's: Milton, author of Paradise Lost, wrote a manuscript in the

1650s, "Da Doctrina", a lengthy theological document. It was lost until 1825,
when it was discovered and translated, creating a pre-Victorian uproar in
London.The famous author had dared to justify polygamy! His arguments are
lucid and concise: " Polygamy is prohibited to no one, even under the
gospel." Milton "administers the coup degrade to his opponents when he
observed that God himself (in Ezekiel 23:4) represents Himself as having
`espoused two wives' which would have been unthinkable had `the practice
been dishonourable or shameful'. On the contrary, he maintains,polygamy is
`lawful and honourable'." (pg.129, ***After Polygamy Was Made A Sin:The
Social History of Christian Polygamy
John Cairncross, 1974 Published by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd,London)

>>>REFORMATION: "In the New Testament Jesus neither condemns

polygamous unions nor advocates a change in the system.From this
noninterference attitude Luther, as late as the 16th cent.,arrived at the
conclusion that he could not forbid the taking of more than one wife."
CHARLES A. RUBENSTEIN-----------------Bibliography:
Abrahams, 1., Jewish Life in the Middle Ages (1917);
Westermarck, E., History of Human Marriage (1901);
Spencer, H., Principles of Sociology idem, Descriptive Sociology;

>>>1500's: ***After Polygamy Was Made A Sin:

The Social History of Christian Polygamy
John Cairncross, 1974
Published by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd, London
¥¥¥The Italian Ochino, a Franciscan until the age of 55, was a fiery orator,
and a "man distinguished by the sanctity of his life, of a vast culture,
venerable, white-haired, and tall, of a majestic bearing". It was only when
Ochino left the Catholic church and "fled to Switzerland where he became
a Calvinist that the move towards Anabaptism began". (pg.65-66) He wrote a
brilliant thesis on polygamy that was "effervescent, witty, and convincing."
He was eventually exiled for his teachings, along with his four children,
during winter 1563, by the City Fathers of Zurich. Three of his children died
as a result. (Chapter 4)

>>>1500's *******Martin Luther

Martin Luther wrote in De Wette, II, p. 459, "I confess that I cannot forbid a
person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict the Scripture. If a
man wishes to marry more than one wife, he should be asked whether he is
satisfied in his conscience that he may do so in accordance with the word of
God. In such a case, the civil authority has nothing to do in such a matter."

>>>From "An Introduction to the Geneva Bible"

A look at the Puritan's Bible.
" In March of 1540, after Martin Luther and other prominent
Protestant theologians had expressly approved polygamy according to the
Scriptures, Philip became Europe's best- known bigamist."

>>>1500's: "Phillip of Hesse felt impelled by his reverence for the

sacraments to mend his first marriage by contracting a second one even
while his wife was alive. And he did so with the sanction of the Fathers of the
Reformation. The first palidin of German Protestantism (Phillip) was,with
Luther's and Melanchthon's permission, a bigamist.Protestant historians have
never recovered from the shock."(pg.31) Phillip debated this issue with the
Reformer's for many years before and after his (supposedly secret) 2nd
marriage. "If, he asked, it should suddenly be possible to overthrow the
celibacy of the clergy, why should the institution of bigamy be a priori
excluded? The only effective answer would have been that polygamy is
condemned by Christian doctrine. But this was a stand that Luther and his
colleagues never took - and for very good reasons. They could not. They
themselves did not believe that polygamy was against divine or natural law."
(pg. 48) Luther did state that "A Christian,before adopting polygamy, must
first have a calling from God."(pg. 49)
After Polygamy Was Made A Sin: The Social History of Christian Polygamy
John Cairncross, 1974 [This info provided by N. Bender of BiblicalFamilies]
Published by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd, London

>>>1500's: Thus it was that in 1534, the "German city of Munster

proclaimed polygamy as the ideal form of marriage. The event is unique in
the history of Christian Europe, and the reaction to this announcement
explains why the experiment was never repeated. For it was greeted with a
unanimous revulsion and horror."(pg.1) the accounts of this time are filled
with vitriolic denunciations of the Musterites and their morals, "in
fact,Munsterunder Anabaptist rule was a centre of extremely austere
morality. It's only crime, by orthodox standards, was to have introduced
polygamy, and a highly Puritan type at that!" (pg .24) While this episode was
over quickly, "Puritan polygamy was not extinguished under the ashes of the
ruined city. The influence of the Munsterite ideas was profound." (pg.27)
After Polygamy Was Made A Sin: The Social History of Christian Polygamy
John Cairncross, 1974 [This info provided by N. Bender of
BiblicalFamilies.org]
Published by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd, London

>>>1500's: ***The Italian Ochino, a Franciscan until the age of 55, was a
fiery orator, and a "man distinguished by the sanctity of his life, of a vast
culture, venerable, white-haired, and tall, of a majestic bearing". It was only
when Ochino left the Catholic church and "fled to Switzerland where he
became a Calvinist that the move towards Anabaptism began". (pg.65-66)
He wrote a brilliant thesis on polygamy that was "effervescent, witty, and
convincing." He was eventually exiled for his teachings, along with his four
children, during winter 1563, by the City Fathers of Zurich. Three of his
children died as a result. (Chapter 4)
After Polygamy Was Made A Sin:
The Social History of Christian Polygamy
John Cairncross, 1974 [This info provided by N. Bender of
BiblicalFamilies.org]
Published by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd, London

[2] The Bible, Marriage and Polygyny in Centuries 1st through 14th AD

>>>1000 - 1400's: "At a later period Maimonides in his Mishneh Torah

maintains, contrary to his personal opinion, that polygamous unions from a
strictly legal point of view are permissible. Eventually, however, they were
proscribed under the authority of Rabbi Gershom (about l000), although
cases of polygamy were found in Spain as late as the 14th cent. . . . "
CHARLES A. RUBENSTEIN-----------------Bibliography:
Abrahams, 1., Jewish Life in the Middle Ages (1917);
Westermarck, E., History of Human Marriage (1901);
Spencer, H., Principles of Sociology idem, Descriptive Sociology;
Lay, Wilfrid, A Plea for Monogamy (1923)

>>>600- 1000AD: "Polygamy was not definitely forbidden among the Jews
till the time of R. Gershom (c. A.D. 1000), and then at first only for France
and Germany. In Spain, Italy, and the East it persisted for some time longer,
as it does still among the Jews in Mohammedan countries">41.
[Footnote: (>.(40. Septuagint Lev. 21:13 "He shall take for a wife a virgin of
his own tribe.". .>41. DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE, J.Hastings (Selbie, Lambert,
Mathews), Hendrickson Publishers,1989; p.583ff.]

"Orthodoxy in Western Europe, or for that matter in the Christian world as a

whole, has been fiercely opposed to polygamy in any shape or form since at
least A.D. 600, and has shown itself particularly ruthless in suppressing the
hated monster whenever it raised its head in their own ranks. This constant
opposition explains both why the Christian polygamists rarely put their views
into practice and why their writings are often to be found in scarce, or out-of-
the-way editions." PREFACE
After Polygamy Was Made A Sin: The Social History of Christian Polygamy
John Cairncross, 1974 [This info provided by N. Bender of BiblicalFamilies]
Published by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd, London

>>>800s AD: "Herard of Tours, A.D. 858,

declares any greater number of wives than two to be unlawful. . .Leo the
Wise, Emperor of Constantinople, was allowed to marry three wives without
public remonstrance, but was suspended from communion by the patriarch
Nicholas when he married a fourth.">75>.75 A Select Library of the Nicene
and Post-Nicene Fathers of The Christian Church, Vol. V; p. 267.

>>>600 AD: ***After Polygamy Was Made A Sin:

The Social History of Christian Polygamy
John Cairncross, 1974
Published by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd, London
¥¥¥"Orthodoxy in Western Europe, or for that matter in the Christian world
as a whole, has been fiercely opposed to polygamy in any shape or form
since at least A.D.600, and has shown itself particularly ruthless in
suppressing the hated monster whenever it raised its head in their own
ranks. This constant opposition explains both why the Christian polygamists
rarely put their views into practice and why their writings are often to be
found in scarce, or out-of-the-way editions." PREFACE

>>>FOURTH CENTURY:St. Augustine (4th Century AD) say about the

practice of polygyny and concubinage? Consider the following:
""But here there is no ground for a criminal accusation: for a plurality of
wives was no crime when it was the custom; and it is a crime now, because it
is no longer the custom. There are sins against nature, and sins against
custom, and sins against the laws. In which, then, of these senses did Jacob
sin in having a plurality of wives? As regards nature, he used the women not
for sensual gratification, but for the procreation of children. For custom, this
was the common practice at that time in those countries. And for the laws,
no prohibition existed. The only reason of its being a crime now to do this, is
because custom and the laws forbid it>1. . Whoever despises>2. these
restraints, even though he uses his wives only to get children, still commits
sin>3., and does an injury to human society itself, for the sake of which it is
that the procreation of children is required. In the present altered state of
customs and laws, men can have no pleasure in a plurality of wives>4. ,
except from an excess of lust>5.; and so the mistake arises of supposing
that no one could ever have had many wives but from sensuality and the
vehemence of sinful desires. Unable to form an idea of men whose force of
mind is beyond their conception, they compare themselves with themselves,
as the apostle says [2 Cor. x. 12], and so make mistakes. Conscious that, in
their intercourse though with one wife only, they are often influenced by
mere animal passion instead of an intelligent motive, they think it an obvious
inference that, if the limits of moderation are not observed where there is
only one wife, the infirmity must be aggravated where there are more than
one.">.80
[Tyler Footnotes:
>1. Whose custom and whose laws? The customs of men and the laws of
men, not the customs and laws of God. But God tells us to obey the law and
customs of our society (Rom.13), so in America it is illegal to have more than
one legally recognized wife publicly and with official civil recognition.
>2. One would despise the legal restraints by disobeying them.To despise
the monogynous marriage laws of America by trying to have publicly and
with official civil recognition two wives simultaneously (bigamy) is a crime
punishable under the laws of America.
>3. It is a sin to disobey the laws of one's society that are not in conflict with
the Word of God.
A child of God must obey the Laws of the Kingdom of God when the laws of
the kingdom of man are in conflict.
>4. A godly man can have no pleasure in peace before God when he
disobeys God. Since it is against the laws of America and so contrary to
God's will in America for a man to try to have more than wife publicly and
with official civil recognition at any one time, God's chastening and the
sword of God's public servants would put a quick end to such a man's efforts
to have pleasure in illegal polygamy.
>5. Lust, in the Word, is the desire for that which is forbidden by God.
Polygyny is not forbidden by God, but God instructs His children to obey the
laws of man about polygyny. It would be lust, the desire for the forbidden, to
desire to have more than one wife publicly and with official civil recognition
in the USA.
>80 A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of The Christian
Church, Vol. iv; pp.289ff.]

>>>FOURTH CENTURY: Consider the following from St. Augustine: "That the
good purpose of marriage, however, is better promoted by one husband with
one wife, than by a husband with several wives, is shown plainly enough by
the very first union of a married pair, which was made by the Divine Being
Himself, with the intention of marriages taking their beginning therefrom,
and of its affording to them a more honorable precedent. In the advance,
however, of the human race, it came to pass that to certain good men were
united a plurality of good wives, --- many to each; and from this it would
seem that moderation sought rather unity on one side for dignity, while
nature permitted plurality on the other side for fecundity. For on natural
principles it is more feasible for one to have dominion over many, than for
many to have dominion over one."
[Footnote: >..34 2b A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of
The Christian Church; Vol. V; p. 267]

>>>FOURTH CENTURY: Consider St. Augustine's point in the following:

" . . . no one doubts .. . who reads with careful attention what use they made
of their wives, at a time when also it was allowed one man to have
several,whom he had with more chastity than any now has his one wife ..
.But then they married even several without any blame . .
">65[Footnotes:>.64 Please see THE INSTITUTES OF BIBLICAL LAW, by R.
Rushdonney, p. 364. >30 (Deut. 21:15,16). >31 (Ex.21:10). >32 (Genesis 30
and 2 Samuel 7). >..65 St.Augustin: On The Trinity; p. 406.]

>>>FOURTH CENTURY: St. Basil (4th Cent. AD) wrote "On polygamy the
Fathers are silent, as being brutish and altogether inhuman.The sins seems
to me worse than fornication.">74 "Herard of Tours, A.D. 858,
declares any greater number of wives than two to be unlawful. . .Leo the
Wise, Emperor of Constantinople, was allowed to marry three wives without
public remonstrance, but was suspended from communion by the patriarch
Nicholas when he married a fourth.">75 St.Augustine (4th Cent. AD)
indicates that the Roman Catholic Church was the power behind the move to
not allow polygyny or concubinage among the church members of his
time..>76 So even in the early church we find a wide diversity of reactions to
the polygyny and concubinage of the Bible. This, in its own way, bears
witness to the fact that there is no clear scriptural teaching against polygyny
and concubinage. They obviously fall in the category of things discussed in
Rom. 14, 1 Cor. 8 and 1 Cor 10.
[Footnote: >.74 A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of
The Christian Church, Vol. VIII; p. 258. >.75 A Select Library of the Nicene
and Post-Nicene Fathers of The Christian Church, Vol. V; p. 267. >76 St.
Augustin: On The Trinity; p. 402.]

>>>AD 347: “In the case of trigamy and polygamy they laid down the same
rule, in proportion, as in the case of digamy; namely one year for digamy
(some authorities say two years); for trigamy men are separated for three
and often for four years; but this is no longer described as marriage at all,
but as polygamy; nay rather as limited fornication. . . . In cases of trigamy
we have accepted a seclusion of five years, not by the canons, but following
the precept of our predecessors. Such offenders ought not to be altogether
prohibited from the privileges of the Church; they should be considered
deserving of hearing after two or three years, and afterwards of being
permitted to stand in their place; but they must be kept from the communion
of the good gift, and only restored to the place of communion after showing
some fruit of repentance.” [ANF: (Canonica Prima.)To Amphilochius,
concerning the Canons. Letter CLXXXVIII written c.347.]

>>>The Council of Neocaesarea a.d. 315 (circa) refers to a 'purification

period' for polygamists. By that time, sinners had to 'sit out' of Church
activities until they had demonstrated reformation. If a sin showed up on this
list of canons, it was considered a 'bad sin'--and polygamy shows up here:
"Ancient Epitome of Canon III. The time (for doing penance and purification)
of polygamists is well known. A zeal for penance may shorten it." [ANF]

>>>AD 300 The Pseudo-Clementine Literature boasts about how St. Thomas
taught the Parthians [i.e., an Iranian culture] to abandon polygamy:
"But I shall give a still stronger proof of the matters in hand. For,
behold, . . . all nations coming to Judaea, and moved both by the signs and
miracles Which they saw, . . ; and then going back to their own countries,
they rejected the lawless rites of the Gentiles, and their incestuous
marriages. In short, among the Parthians - as Thomas, who is preaching the
Gospel amongst them, has written to us - not many now are addicted to
polygamy; nor among the Medes do many throw their dead to dogs; nor are
the Persians pleased with intercourse with their mothers, or incestuous
marriages with their daughters; nor do the Susian women practise the
adulteries that were allowed them; nor has Genesis been able to force those
into crimes whom the teaching of religion restrained. (ANF 8: "Book IX:
Chapter XXIX.-The Gospel More Powerful Than 'Genesis.'"]

>>>Irenaeus (c.180) condemns the Gnostics for, among other things,

polygamy:
"Others, again, following upon Basilides and Carpocrates, have introduced
promiscuous intercourse and a plurality of wives..." [ANF, vol. 1, p.353]

>>>Justin Martyr (c.160) rebukes the Jews for allowing polygamy:

"Your imprudent and blind masters [i.e., Jewish teachers] even until this
time permit each man to have four or five wives. And if anyone sees a
beautiful woman and desires to have her, they quote the doings of Jacob."
[ANF, vol. 1, p. 266]

>>>100 AD: Tacitus, who died in 117 A.D., was a Roman historian who
provided us with one of the earliest detailed descriptions of the Germans and
their Germanic tribes, which later migrated into western Europe and included
the English and the French. >30 These Germans of his time were unique.
They strictly observed the marital tie and were generally content with one
wife for each husband, in marked contrast to most of the "barbarians" of the
time who often practiced polygyny. The few exceptions to this Germanic
monogyny was when they were sought for a polygynous marriage because of
their high birth>31[Footnotes:>30 Source: Tr. Maurice Hutton, in Tacitus:
Dialogus,Agricola, Germania, Loeb Classical Library (Cambridge: Harvard
University Press, 1914). WOMEN'S LIVES IN MEDIEVAL EUROPE- A SOURCE
BOOK; p. 36.;>31 WOMEN'S LIVES IN MEDIEVAL EUROPE - A SOURCE BOOK;
p. 37.]

[3] The Bible, Marriage and Polygyny in The Book of Acts Period

>>>http://www.apuritansmind.com/Pastoral/McMahonElderAndDivorce.htm
The Elder and Divorce:
by C. Matthew McMahon
http://www.apuritansmind.com/Pastoral/McMahonElderAndDivorce.htm
"Rome was laden with polygamy and disorderliness. Concubines, wives, and
undisciplined children could be seen from the Caesars’ house down to its
subjects. The ill-ordered household was in contempt in the eyes of the
Christian."

"In Roman law, marriage was precisely defined as monogamous;

concubinage was tolerated, but the concubine's status was inferior to that of
a legal wife. Her children had certain rights, including support by the father
and legitimacy in the event of the marriage of the parents".
[Footnote: >27 1986, Funk & Wagnalls NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA.]
>>>THE FIRST CENTURY AD
Polygamy was practiced somewhat in 1st century Palestinian Judaism (by the
government/aristocratic leaders):
"In the Second Temple period, Jewish society was, at least theoretically,
polygamous, like other oriental societies of the time but in contrast to the
neighboring Greek and Roman societies...."[HI:JWGRP:85]
"There is evidence of the practice of polygamy in Palestinian Judaism in NT
times (cf. J. Jeremias, Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus: An Investigation into
Economic and Social Conditions during the New Testament Period, 1969, 90,
93, 369f.). Herod the Great (37-4 B.C.) had ten wives (Josephus, Ant. 17, 19f.;
War 1,562) and a considerable harem (War 1,511). Polygamy and
concubinage among the aristocracy is attested by Josephus, Ant. 12, 186ff.;
13, 380; War 1, 97. The continued practice of levirate marriage (Yeb. 15b)
evidently led to polygamy, which was countenanced by the school of
Shammai but not by that of Hillel. [NIDNTT:s.v. "Marriage, adultery, bride,
bridegroom"]

>>>APOSTOLIC TIMES: "In Roman law, marriage was precisely defined as

monogamous; concubinage was tolerated, but the concubine's status was
inferior to that of a legal wife. Her children had certain rights, including
support by the father and legitimacy in the event of the marriage of the
parents".
[Footnote: >27 1986, Funk & Wagnalls NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA.]

>>>APOSTOLIC TIMES: In the Second Commonwealth polygamy is far from

general (cf. Tobit and Susanna). Yet it survived far into the Christian era. In
the New Testament Jesus neither condemns polygamous unions nor
advocates a change in the system."
Polygamy In Jewish History
by Charles A. Rubenstein of Charles A. Rubenstein, Polygamy, Polygamy in
Jewish History, http://www.polyamory.org/Howard/je2.html; www.harsinai-
md.org/history_2.php; www.islamfortoday.com/women.htm---—--------------
Bibliography:Abrahams, 1., Jewish Life in the Middle Ages (1917);
Westermarck, E., History of Human Marriage (1901);
Spencer, H., Principles of Sociology idem, Descriptive Sociology;
Lay, Wilfrid, A Plea for Monogamy (1923)

>>>APOSTOLIC TIMES: "Herod had nine wives at once. . .Its possibility is

implied by the technical continuance of the Levirate law, [Deut. 25:5-10] and
is proved by the early interpretation of 1 Ti 3, whether correct or not. Justin
reproaches the Jews of his day [A.D.] with having 'four or even five
wives,'and marrying 'as they wish, or as many as they wish.' The evidence of
the Talmud shows that in this case at least the reproach had some
foundation. ">41.
[Footnote: (>.(40. Septuagint Lev. 21:13 "He shall take for a wife a virgin of
his own tribe.". .>41. DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE, J.Hastings (Selbie, Lambert,
Mathews), Hendrickson Publishers,1989;p.583ff.]

>>>APOSTOLIC TIMES
" . . . the high priest was not allowed to be a bigamist. . . The marriage figure
applied to the union of God and Israel . . . implied monogamy as the ideal
state. . . ">41[Footnote: .>41. DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE, J.Hastings (Selbie,
s
Lambert, Mathews), Hendrickson Publishers,1989; p.583ff.]
Among the Jews, it was not accepted by the prestigious school of Hillel
(above), nor by the strict Dead Sea Sect (Qumran), and was not widely
practiced, esp. among the rabbi's:
"But even if polygamy was permitted by tannaitic halakhah, other halakhic
systems counseled otherwise. During the Second Temple period, monogamy
was preferred even on the conceptual plane by, above all, the Dead Sea Sect
whose halakhah explicitly prohibited polygamy. In the reworked version of
the statutes of the king in the Temple Scroll, it is stated: "he shall not take
another wife in addition to her, for she alone shall be with him all the days of
her life" (LVII 17-8). In the Damascus Covenant, criticism is leveled against
the 'builders of the wall' (Pharisees?) in the following terms: 'they shall be
caught in fornication twice; once by taking a second wife while the first is still
alive...' [HI:JWGRP:85]
"it was known in Jewish society as represented in rabbinic literature,
polygamy was not widespread in practice, especially not among the sages
themselves." [HI:JWGRP:86]

>>>"Polygamy was not definitely forbidden among the Jews till the time of
R. Gershom (c. A.d. 1000), and then at first only for France and Germany. In
Spain, Italy, and the East it persisted for some time longer, as it does still
among the Jews in Mohammedan counties".
DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE, J. Hastings (Selbie,Lambert, Mathews),
Hendrickson Publishers, 1989;p.584.>..n131 Loc Cit Dictionary of the Bible,
Hastings: pp. 583-587.]

>>>A.D. 50s Jesus' disciples who were polygynists were not allowed to be
officials in local assemblies.
***1 Timothy 3: 1* ¶ Faithful [is] the word: If anyone
reaches out to overseership, he desires a good work. 2*
Then it behooves the overseer to be without reproach,
husband of only^ one wife, temperate, sensible, well-
ordered, hospitable, apt at teaching, . . .
8 ¶ Likewise the deacons [are to be] reverent, not double-
tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of ill gain, . . .
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of only^ one wife,
ruling [their] children and households well.
[^ Strong's: <3391> mia; adj; only one;
J.B.Phillips: "he must be married to one wife only . . . .
TEV, WMS, NCV: "he must have only one wife" . . .
NASB, NIV: "the husband of one wife, . ."
BER: "one wife's husband . . ."
NEB: "faithful to his one wife . . ."
The American Bible (Catholic): "a bishop must be . . . married only once . . "
MOF: "he must be married only once . . ."
Complete Jewish Bible: "he must be faithful to his wife"
TCNT:The Presiding-Officer should be . . . a faithful husband; . .
WEY: A minister then must be . . . true to his one wife, . .
CEV:" . . officials must be . . . faithful in marriage . . ."
MESSAGE: "A leader must be . . . committed to his wife . . ."]
¶ This makes it clear that official leaders and official officers
of a local assembly of Jesus believers should not be polygynous.
This leaves polygynous Jesus believers free to be unofficial
visiting Bible teachers, missionaries, evangelists and counselors
serving local assemblies in unofficial ministry.

****Titus 1: 6 ¶ if anyone is blameless, husband of one

wife, having believing children, not accused of loose
behavior, or disobedient. 7 For an overseer must be
blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not full of
passion, not given to wine, not quarrelsome, not greedy for
ill gain; 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, discreet, just,
holy, temperate 9 holding fast the faithful word according
to the doctrine, that he may be able, by sound doctrine,
both to exhort and to convict the gainsayers.

¶ Are these requirements only for elders,overseers and

deacons, or are they for all of us in Christ? Aren't we all
supposed to be without reproach, temperate, sensible,
well-ordered, not drinkers, not quarrelsome, not greedy
of ill gain, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous,
reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine,
having the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience, being
blameless, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all
things. having a good report from those on the outside?
¶ But doesn't 1 Corinth. 12 and Ephes. 4 make it
plain that we all have different gifts so that some
[but not all] are hospitable, some [but not all] are
able to teach, some [but not all] rule their own
house well, some [but not all] have their children
in subjection with all honor, (For if one does not
know to rule his own house, how shall he take care
of the church of God?)? Since novices are not
expected to be able or qualified to be an elder,
overseer or deacon, doesn't that also mean that they
are therefore not expected to be monogynous? Since
all believers are not required to have the gift of
hospitality, of teaching, of ruling well and
effectively their children, and since all believers
are novices at one point in their spiritual lives,
then isn't it obvious that not all believers have the
gift (1 Cor. 7) of monogyny? If these standards
(especially monogyny) are to be required of all
believers, then what about those believers Paul
encourages to never marry at all so that they can
wait on God without distraction in times of
persecution? Isn't it clear that these requirements
are required only of those who seek to qualify for
such positions?

¶ Husband of one wife: Yes! Definitely! An

elder/overseer/bishop/superintendent of a church
must be the husband of only one wife. Are we all
elders/overseers/bishops/ superintendents?
Clearly not. The unmarried are not. The married
who have unruly children are not. Husbands with
disrespectful, uncooperative and defiant wives and
children are not. The married and unmarried who are unable
to teach are not. All novices are not. Those with a bad
reputation, earned or unearned, among the unsaved
through slander or misunderstandings are not.
Those who don’t want a church leadership position
are not. That includes most of us, and most of us
are not covered by the injunction to be the husband
of only one wife.

>>>A.D. 50s Christian converts who were called by Jesus and turned to Him
in their polygyny were told to remain in their polygyny+++++++++
****1 CORINTH. 7:17 ¶ But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord
has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain
in all churches. 18 [Was] any called having been
circumcised? Do not be uncircumcised. Was anyone
called in uncircumcision? Do not be circumcised. . . .
20 Let each one remain in the calling in which he was
called. 21 Were you called as a slave? It does not
matter to you, but if you are able to become free, use
[it] rather. . . . 24 Each in whatever way he was called,
brothers, in this remain with God.”

The application would be something like this:

' ¶ But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord
has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain
in all churches. 18 [Was] any called in
polygyny/concubinage? Do not become monogynous.
. . . . . 20 Let each one remain in the calling in
which he was called.'

¶ Yes, that means if they were called in polygyny, they

remain in polygyny unless their polygyny violates the
law>48 of the land they are called in. If the law of
the land prohibits their polygyny, they cannot dump
their wives since they are bound by God to them in
marriage since God’s Laws take precedence over the
laws of man>49 , so they must change their formal
polygyny to informal concubinage to live without
offense>50 .
[Footnote: >48 Romans13. >49 (Moses & Pharaoh,
Daniel and the lions, Shedrach and the fiery furnace,
Acts 4). >50 Romans 14.]

¶ Yes, that means that if they were called in

concubinage, they remain in concubinage unless (1)
their informal concubinage should become formal
polygyny so as not to offend or stumble the Church
>51 , or (2) their open and public concubinage must
become personal, private, discrete and secretive>52
so as not to stumble or offend the saints.
[Footnote: >51 Romans 14 & 15. >52 Romans 14 &
15, 1 Cor. 8 & 10]

>>>A.D. 50s Marital fidelity and polygynous fidelity emphasized.+++++++

+++++
***1Cor.7:2's “. . . ..each [man] is commanded to be having
his own wife, and each [woman] is commanded to
be having her own husband” .
¶ How can this be an argument for monogamy as most Christian leaders
maintain>62? Whenever Abraham had Sarah, he had his
own wife; and whenever Abraham had Hagar, he had his own wife, not
someone else's wife,right? When David had Ahinoam, didn't
he have his own wife? When David had Abigail, didn't he have his own
wife? When David had Maacah, didn't he have his own wife? When
David had Haggith, didn't he have his own wife, instead of having
another's wife? When David had Abital, didn't he have his
own wife? When he had Eglah, didn't he have his own wife,
not someone else's wife? Each time Jacob, Joash or Gideon
had one of their own wives in polygyny, wasn't he having
his own wife/concubine? Wasn't each wife/concubine of
these polygamists having her own polygamous
husband? Isn 't this also true of a man and his concubine
with whom he has maritally covenanted>22 honorably before God?
Doesn't each polygynist have his own wife, and have each one of them
intimately and each one is his own wife? Doesn't each of the polygynist's
wives have her own husband and have him intimately in their marriage. How
does the passage above rebuke, demean or condemn polygyny? Doesn't the
passage address marital faithfulness and exclude adultery, which involves a
husband having another’s wife and a wife having one who is not her
own husband? Doesn't it restrict sexual “having” to marriage
with one’s own mate in monogyny or polygyny?

¶ “. . . ..let each man have his own wife, and let each
wife have her own husband” is not an argument for
monogamy as most Christian leaders maintain>62 .
Whenever Abraham, David, Jacob, Joash or Gideon
had one of their own wives, he was having his own
wife/concubine; and each wife/concubine of these
polygamists had her own polygamous husband. This
is also true of a man and his concubine with whom
he has maritally covenanted>22 honorably before
God. David had his own Abigail and Abigail had her
own David. David had his own Abigail and
Bathsheeba, and Bathsheeba and Abigail both had
their own David. The polygynist has his own wife,
and has each one of them intimately and each one is
his own wife. Each of the polygynist's wives has
her own husband and has him intimately in their
marriage. This passage does not rebuke, demean or
condemn polygyny. The passage addresses marital
faithfulness and excludes adultery, which involves
a husband having another’s wife and a wife having
one who is not her own husband. It restricts sexual
“having” to marriage with one’s own mate.
[Footnotes:>.62 Please see THE INSTITUTES OF
BIBLICAL LAW, by R. Rushdonney, p. 363. >22
Ezek. 16:8; Malachi 2:10-17; Neh. 9:38 with 1
Sam. 20:3-17; As in Matt. 1:18-24 and Luke 1 &
2, she was his "wife" by their covenant even before
their actual formal wedding.]

>>>AD 50s Jewish converts to Christ were still keeping the Law and the
nonJews/Gentiles were not keeping the Law, with its laws about marrige and
polygyny+++++
***ACTS 21:17 And when we arrived at Jerusalem the brethren gladly
received us. 18 And on the morrow Paul went in with us to James, and all the
elders came there. 19 And having saluted them, he related one by one the
things which God had wrought among the nations by his ministry. 20 And
they having heard it glorified God, and said to him, "YOU SEE, BROTHER,
HOW MANY MYRIADS THERE ARE OF THE JEWS WHO HAVE BELIEVED, AND
ALL ARE ZEALOUS OF THE LAW. 21 AND THEY HAVE BEEN INFORMED
CONCERNING YOU, THAT YOU TEACH ALL THE JEWS AMONG THE NATIONS
APOSTASY FROM MOSES, SAYING THAT THEY SHOULD NOT CIRCUMCISE
THEIR CHILDREN, NOR WALK IN THE CUSTOMS.22 What is it then? a
multitude must necessarily come together, for they will hear that thou art
come. 23 This do therefore that we say to thee: We have four men who have
a vow on them; 24 TAKE THESE AND BE PURIFIED WITH THEM, AND PAY
THEIR EXPENSES, THAT THEY MAY HAVE THEIR HEADS SHAVED; AND ALL
WILL KNOW THAT WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN INFORMED ABOUT YOU IS
NOTHING, BUT THAT YOU YOURSELF ALSO WALK ORDERLY, KEEPING THE
LAW. 25 But concerning those of the nations who have believed, we have
written, deciding that they should observe no such thing, only to keep
themselves both from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from
things strangled, and from fornication. 26 THEN PAUL, TAKING THE MEN, ON
THE NEXT DAY, HAVING BEEN PURIFIED, ENTERED WITH THEM INTO THE
TEMPLE, SIGNIFYING THE TIME THE DAYS OF PURIFICATION WOULD BE
FULFILLED, UNTIL THE OFFERING WAS OFFERED FOR EVERY ONE OF THEM.

¶ This means that the marriage and morality

teachings of 1 Thess. 4 ; Romans 7; 1 Corinthians
5, 6 and 7 were written before the time of Acts
21:16 while Paul and the believing Jews, including
the apostles, were still obeying and teaching the
marriage and morality laws of the Law of Moses,
discussed at length above including the laws
regulating the practice of polygyny (Ex 21:7-11;
Deut 21:15,16; Dt 25:5-11) . Christian elders
agree that during Jesus' physical and visible walk
on earth, the Jews practiced polygamy>24.”
[Footnote: >24. Trobisch; MY WIFE MADE ME. . P.
23. ; HASTING'S DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE, p.584. ;
A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene
Fathers of The Christian Church, Vol. V, p. 267.;
A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene
Fathers of The Christian Church, Vol. iv, p.290.;
A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene
Fathers of The Christian Church, Vol. VIII, p. 258.
; St. Augustin: On The Trinity, p. 402.;
HASTING'S DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE, p.259,
583ff.]

>>>A.D. 30s Jesus commands obedience to Torah Law+++++++++++

Jesus made it very clear that the Israelites who followed
Him were to observe the Sinai Covenant, Torah.
***Mat 5: 17 ¶ Think not that I am come to make void the law or the
prophets; I am not come to make void, but to fulfil. 18* For verily I say unto
you, Until the heaven and the earth pass away, one iota or one tittle shall in
no wise pass from the law till all come to pass. 19 Whosoever then shall do
away with one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall
be called least in the kingdom of the heavens; but whosoever shall practise
and teach them, *he* shall be called great in the kingdom of the heavens.
***Matt 23: 1 ¶ Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 saying,
The scribes and the Pharisees have set themselves down in Moses’ seat: 3 all
things therefore, whatever they may tell you, do and keep. But do not after
their works, for they say and do not, . .

American and Western women reject Biblical Christian polygyny because either their
faith is weak (Romans 14) or their minds are snared and captured by the Enemy (2 Tim
2:24-26) so they fail to follow the Spirit and the Word in this matter and this failure is the
same rebellion and disobedience to the Word that results in the failure of so many of
their marriages, the same rebellion and disobedience to Scripture that results in the
American/Western woman rejecting Biblical Christian polygyny