Expert: Phillip Senn - 3/2/2005

Question
where in the bible does God condemn polygyny? we have been studying the word for several years and can not find one instance of Him condemning any of the patriarchs or others who lived this lifestyle..only verses that seem to promote the practice.any insight would be appreciated.please dont quote Gen2:24 as this is not a command or ordinance but a matter of fact...we become one through haveing children!
 thank you for your answer.

Answer
Having read your question, I believe you have an incorrect assumption of Genesis 2:24. Nowhere in this text does it assert that they become one flesh through having children. Jesus Himself referred to this pasage when disputing with the Pharisees concerning when it was acceptable to give a writ of divorcement. The Scripture says in Matthew 19:4-6, "And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain  shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." From the beginning of time, God has made them male and female, not male and female and female, nor male and male and female, etc. Jesus explicitly said, "they twain(two) shall be one.

As a matter of fact, Jesus declared that if a man shall marry another (woman), even if a writ of divorcement has been issued, unless the writ was issued because of fornication, he commits adultery. Why? Because he is not maintaining a monogamous relationship with the one to whom he is bound by God. If your assumption is correct, that they become one flesh through having children, then Jesus would have to be assuming that everyone that gets married would have children, which is simply not the case.

A man doesn't sever the binding covenant that God establishes when the man and the woman become one flesh (through marriage). God simply, because of the hardness of man's heart, allows the woman that is set free to marry another.

Polygamy(having multiple spouses) is not specifically mentioned by word in Scripture. The concept is definitely there, "God made them male and female, and they twain became one flesh".

I have found that, in most cases of polygamy, it is the assertion of the male, that it is correct. In other words, the male wants to have multiple women, but doesn't want the wife to have multiple men. In either case, it would violate the principle concerning God's creation (one man and one woman).

I hope this has answered your question. Please rate this answer at allexperts.com so that I may know of areas, in which I need to improve.

With Love In Christ,
Phillip Senn