Polygamy In The Bible: Clerics Share Surprising Insights

Polygamy, the practice of having multiple spouses, has been a topic of debate and discussion throughout history, with various cultures and religions having differing views on the matter.

To understand the Christian perspective on polygamy, it’s essential to delve into the biblical account of marriage and the historical context in which the Bible was written. In this regard, THE WHISTLER engaged in an interactive session with some clerics from different denominations who in their different opinions cleared the misconception people have on some Biblical words on polygamous marriage.

Pastor Tunde Olusakin of Revival Center Jos, told THE WHISTLER that even though to some people it seems like God did not state it clearly in the Bible that man should not marry more than a wife, God meant it, recalling that at creation God made male and female not females, and for that Christians believe God meant man and woman relationship not man and women.

Olusakin further said that when God first talked about marriage in Genesis 2:24, he said, “for this reason shall a man leave his parents and join with his wife, and the two shall become one”, stressing that God may not have said don’t marry more than a wife, but all His emphasis was on one man one woman.

He added that there are scriptures that insinuate that God’s intent must have been revealed by those scriptures, and Christians believe that those scriptures are revealing the intent of God over God’s plan for marriage.

He cited Mathew 19 verse 6, which said, “They are no more twins but one flesh”, also Mark 10 verse 8, “And they two shall be one flesh”. He asserted that these are reasons Christians believe that God’s plan for marriage is monogamy and not polygamy.

Speaking further, Olusakin noted that Christians in another way, look at the traditional problems that are associated with polygamous marriage.
“Polygamous are leading with all manner of controversy. These reasons are why Christians avoid polygamy even though it is not clearly stated,” he said.

Asked about people who marry two wives because of childbirth issues and get sanctioned by the church, he explained that each denomination has a way of tackling issues provided the rules are observed based on the understanding they have or how they interpret scriptures.

He added that the world as a whole is involved in all manner of things that would not be the way God planned it since the fall of Adam, so also do Christians have variations trying to put things in a way they will serve God without distraction.

He said, “Putting a law or principle to put things in order in church, may not necessarily portray the stand or judgement of God on a man but as a tradition that man put in the church for the smooth running of the church. So stopping people from some activities in church is to help them remove their mind from having multiple wives.

“There are so many other things different congregations adopt just to make sure people avoid polygamous marriage. But that does not all the time reflect the position of Christ Himself. We cannot go to each denomination to give orientation that a man who marries more than one wife may not be a sinner if that’s what the congregation is portraying, because what makes us sinners or children of God is not about being polygamous but by being changed in our heart.”

Also speaking, Apostle Stephanie Nath-Aghraghra of the RAPGEN International Ministry Lagos, started out by saying that the issue of polygamy is a controversial one, just like issue of divorce and the taking of alcohol. She added that there are some discussions that will always be debated and will linger forever, because people will still find a way to make convenient laws out of every loophole in the Bible and hide there, but prays that God will help His church to seek what is the genuine gospel of Christ.

Nath-Aghraghra stated that to say the Bible did not condemn polygamy will be a hasty conclusion, because it may not be explicit on whether it approves or condemns it, but added that, “We can read between the lines when we look at the position of God, the prophets that came to speak on behalf of God, the position of New Testament Apostles and the position of Jesus Christ. When all positions are put together, we can deduce whether it condemns it or not.”

She further established that God designed marriage and also defined it, and for that, it’s important that since God is the one that designed and also defined it, then God’s authority on the matter should be hold sway.

Addressing this issue, she referred to laws of nature, noting that this issue was first mentioned in Genesis chapter 2 verse 24, which said, “And therefore shall a man leave his mother and his father, be united to his wife and they two shall become one flesh, Verse 25, the man and the woman were both naked and they felt no shame”. With this background and foundation, she rooted that it has been established, and one can see that the Bible is clear, God was monogamous with his people.

She added that man is the one who came up with the polygamous feature in that relationship, and that out of all that God created, man is the only one that has a will. She also noted that the only time God and Adam were in complete alignment was when there was an order, and there was only one man at that time, which led to God creating only one woman for him. This, she said, was the real intention of God, but man decided to exercise his will and made a mess of the original order.
For this reason, she said Christ died so he can create a bridge to reconcile what has been damaged, all because man has ultimate freedom to decide what he does with his will.

Nath-Aghraghra went further to explain God’s relationship with the people of Israel in the Old Testament, noting that even as they requested a king, God gave them, even when He did not endorse it. Which showed that God has never forced His will on man. She also noted prominent Bible figures like Abraham, Jacob and David whom many claim were polygamous and yet walked closely with God, but explained that it was all a work of man’s will, as none of them were led by God to go into polygamy and none of them quoted God to have sponsored their polygamy.

“Abraham was married to Sarah, and Sarah was the one who gave him Hagai as wife. It was not an establishment from God, and because God does not force his will on man, he did not say anything on the matter. Just the same way a lot of things are happening to body of Christ and God is not saying anything, you just have to read scriptures to understand God’s stand”.

“Jacob did not have the intention to marry two wives, it was Rachel, he was betrothed to and he found himself with Leah. God was not happy that David married many wives, and of the wives he married he was still not satisfied. Marrying more than one does not necessarily mean that you will be satisfied. So, this alone has ruled out the polygamous idea.

“So believing that marrying more than one wife is welcomed since these noble people in the Bible did, understand that it was not the intention of God, it was circumstantial”, she explained.

Nath-Aghraghra while citing where Jesus mentioned marriage in the New Testament according to Matthew 19 verse 4-6, which said, “He replied, have you not read? He that made them at the beginning, made them male and female, and on this note shall a man leave his mother and father and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh, therefore what God has joined together, let no man put asunder”, explained that the scripture clearly portrays monogamy not polygamy. She added that the teaching is showing Jesus clarifying God’s original intention in marriage.

She reiterated further that scriptures established that marriage is between a man and a woman, citing 1 Timothy 3 verse 2 and Titus 1 verse 6, noting that they warned against polygamy saying, “Church leaders should be husband of one wife”, this she said, “Some people will say is for church leaders, but it is not. The Bible said be yea perfect even as your own father is perfect, every believer is the husband name, not just the church leaders.

“You are a royal priest hood, a peculiar person, a holy nation. This is not just talking about bishops, and that’s where people can hide, “I am not a bishop, or a church leader”, no, it is not. It is very clear that the Bible is intensifying the original intentions of God. Values of Christianity is completely thrown off when marriage enters polygamy.”

Nath-Aghraghra further reiterated that while the Bible may not explicitly condemn polygamy, Christian teachings on marriage, family, and relationships provide a clear framework for understanding why polygamy is not compatible with Christian values.
She noted that polygamy undermines the unity, mutual respect and submission that Christianity teaches adding that it fosters jealousy and competition, rivalry and conflict among spouses, rather than promoting the love, peace, and harmony that Christianity values adding that it can result in the neglect or marginalization of women and children, particularly in situations where resources are limited which is anti-God’s provision.

Also speaking, Very Revd Chukwuemeka Madu of Methodist Theological Institute, Sagamu, Ogun state, attributed polygamous marriage to what culture approved due to the nature of man even in the Old Testament. Also, that monogamy was a political decree made by the ruler to check population surge. To him, monogamy was an idea that Apostle Paul borrowed from the cultural influence into his writing. He added that culture was among the things that influence Biblical letters.

He further explained that over surge of population led to a decree of one husband to one wife and a stipulated number of children which was Paul’s way to see that a man sticks to one wife. This he said, Paul brought it into Christianity by penning it down in one of his epistles (1 Timothy 3 verse 2).

Having established this, he said, “Since we have been directed that all that is in the Bible are divinely given or directed by God according to Apostle Paul (II Timothy 3 verses 16 and 17). So Christians chose to keep to the rules, or in obedience to what has been written in the open, Christians stick to one wife.”

Madu also pointed out that monogamy is of more advantage in many ways, seeing how wives or children quarrel or suffer over properties in a polygamous homes, and all these do not portray the sacred institute a marriage is known for.

Another cleric, Rev Fr. Kantoma James of the Holy Cross Catholic Church Abuja, shared his own view reiterating that Christians believe in what is written in the holy book which is the Bible.
He referred to when the disciples asked Jesus questions about marriage, Jesus made reference to the Bible that is only one man and one woman.

“Right from the beginning God made Adam and Eve and not Eves, and that has been the Christian teachings, no matter how you love a woman you would only settle with one”, he said.

Speaking of the angle people said so far you can give the wives equal treatment, polygamy is allowed according to the Old Testament, James debunked it and questioned the man’s capability and faithfulness to keeping two wives with equal treatment. He added that favoritism will always be there.

“Even in the time of Moses it was stubbornness of people that made Moses adopt the idea of divorce. It was never the mind of God. If God had wanted polygamy, from the onset he would have created many Eves. One should understand the essence of marriage before going into it. What you are looking for in many wives are all in one wife. God was not in a hurry when he made a man and a woman”, he clarified.

Polygamy In The Bible: Clerics Share Surprising Insights is first published on The Whistler Newspaper