Expert: Dr. (Rev.) Miles Bateman, USAF (retired) - 5/16/2008

Question
Hi,

I know that in many nonChristian countries in the world, such as Arab countries and many parts of Africa, men are allowed to have many wives.  I read in the Boston Globe that because of this reason many men in Africa convert to Islam.  This was also the case in the Old Testament.  Can you tell me why Christians are not allowed more than one wife?  Where is this forbidden in the New Testament. I am not looking for a second wife, I'm just curious where the change is recorded.

Thank you

A.J.

Answer
Hi A.J.! There are several biblical verses that deal with polygamy or plural marriage, I have them listed at the end of this answer for you to reference. On a personal note, I have lived in a couple of muslim nations where plural marriage is accepted (Kuwait/Saudi Arabia) and often the government provides financial incentives for men to marry more than one wife and produce as many children as possible. Polygamy has been against the law in most western nations for over 100 years and outlawed by the Christian faith long before that, some denominations held on to polygamy as a practice until the 19th century. For example, the last bastion of legal polygamy in the United States was the State of Utah (heavily influenced by the Mormon faith), which did not outlaw polygamy until the early 20th century, around 100 years ago. Here are the biblical references you asked for, I have provided references to both sides of the issue for you to review. Hope this helps!

Polygamy forbidden (Deuteronomy 17:17; Leviticus 18:18; Malachi 2:14,15; Matthew 19:4,5; Mark 10)

Polygamy authorized (2 Samuel 12:8)

Polygamy tolerated (Exodus 21:10; 1 Samuel 1:2; 2 Chronicles 24:3)

Polygamy practiced by:
Job(Job 27:15)
Lamech (Genesis 4:19)
Abraham (Genesis 16)
Esau (Genesis 26:34;28:9)
Jacob (Genesis 29:30)
Ashur (1 Chronicles 4:5)
Gideon (Judges 8:30)
Elkanah (1 Samuel 1:2)
David (1 Samuel 25:39-44; 2 Samuel 3:2-5;5:13; 1 Chronicles 14:3)
Solomon (1 Kings 11:1-8)
Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:18-23)
Abijah (2 Chronicles 13:21)
Jehoram (2 Chronicles 21:14)
Joash (2 Chronicles 24:3)
Ahab (2 Kings 10)

Domestic unhappiness » In Abraham's family (Genesis 16;21:9-16)
Domestic unhappiness » In Jacob's family (Genesis 29:30-34;30:1-23)
Domestic unhappiness » In Elkanah's family (1 Samuel 1:4-7)
The evil effects of » Husband's favoritism in (Deuteronomy 21:15-17)
The evil effects of » Jacob's (Genesis 29:30;30:15)
The evil effects of » Elkanah's (1 Samuel 1:5)
The evil effects of » Rehoboam's (2 Chronicles 11:21)