If God banned polygamy in the NT, then we would expect very plain statements of proof. The Laws given by God for polygamy are very clear and plain and we can't cancel that which is clear with that which is seen in theological argument.

There is not one verse in the NT which bans or abrogates God's laws for polygamy.

In the future, God will rebuild Israel with polygyny (Is.4), does God thus unban polygamy at some point? Was it permitted in the OT banned in the NT and then re-introduced in the Kingdom?

Christians remain convinced the New Testament condemns or abolishes polygamy. This is incorrect.

To support this indoctrinated concept, traditionalists turn to the well worn passage about bishops and deacons as found in 1Tim.3 and Titus. Then quickly follows Matt. 19 which is about divorce.

Where exactly does this verse abrogate polygyny? It simply says the bishop must be the husband of one wife. How is that a universal cancellation of polygamy? For this following verse go here.
1Ti 3:2 Then it behooves the overseer to be without reproach, husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, well-ordered, hospitable, apt at teaching,

How is it that if this bans polygamy, it is then ignored when women are placed in office as deacons and Bishops?

Ah but we should all aspire to be bishops so we should all have one wife. Now there is a very loose and desperate argument for you. But we ask again, where, how precisely does this verse cancel polygamy? It doesn't.

Look very carefully at this passage. See also here.
Mat 19:3  And the Pharisees came to Him, tempting Him and saying to Him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
Mat 19:4  And He answered and said to them, Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning "made them male and female",
Mat 19:5  and said, For this cause a man shall leave father and mother and shall cling to his wife, and the two of them shall be one flesh?

How does this passage about divorce, cancel polygamy? It can't it doesn't. Our Lord said a married man and woman were one flesh and could not divorce save for adultery. If Christians divorce under no fault laws today, and return to church either single or with new spouses, aren't they adulterers? But in any event, the Lord did not say a man could only have one wife or cancel polygyny in that passage above. This is just another desperation twist of Scripture to support a man made concept, that Christ abolished polygamy.

What about this passage (see also here);
1Co 7:2  But, because of the fornications, let each have his own wife, and let each have her own husband.

Did you know that two different words are used in the original writing of Paul for OWN? But in any event, this does not ban or cancel polygyny. Jacob was one flesh with each of his wives. The four wives were his OWN and the four wives had their OWN husband, Jacob. Jacob obeyed 1Cor.7 even though it wasn't written back then. Jacob had his own wife, all four of them.

The NT does not abolish polygyny and because it will play a major part in the Kingdom of the future, (see here and here) it is hard to see how Christians continue to insist on these profane arguments.

Here are some other New Testament passages used to refute polygamy and we challenge any believer to find one plain statement in any of them which condemns it;
Mat 5:27-28  ...whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Single boys looking at single women and single girls looking at single guys, are not committing adultery in their hearts. Adultery is intimacy between married folk. Married king David committed adultery with his neighbor's WIFE. There were Laws made for non-adulterous intimacy.

A single person imagining intimacy with a single person is not thinking adultery. Single people can not commit adultery. This is how badly the denominational system has made the Word of God of none effect by their traditions. In Matt.5:27-28, the word adultery demands we recognize the Lord is talking about married men lusting or strongly desiring married women.

King David did not lust after his other wives, he married them after the same due process single people follow prior to marriage, that is they are attracted to someone of the opposite sex and when their feelings grow and their thoughts turn naturally to intimacy and the committed relationship such intimacy demands, they marry.

Here is a little more on Matt.19. Notice that since the Lord had given laws for polygyny it was a simple matter to take another wife but how hard hearted was it to divorce and so avoid the responsibilities of the Law (Ex.21:10). Remember, these Pharisees tithed mint and cumin but failed in their obligations to their parents (Matt.7:1-12).
Mat 19:3-4 And the Pharisees...saying to Him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And He answered and said to them, Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning "made them male and female",
Mat 19:5  and said, For this cause a man shall leave father and mother and shall cling to his wife, and the two of them shall be one flesh?
Mat 19:7  They said to Him, Why did Moses then command to give a bill of divorce and to put her away?
Mat 19:8  He said to them, Because of your hard-heartedness Moses allowed you to put away your wives; but from the beginning it was not so.

Most folks tell us we are to be subject to the law of the land. Can we find the phrase the Law of the Land in the Word of God? If we are to obey the law of the land, then we have to obey in ALL the law, (1Pet.2:13) whether good or bad for there exists no Scripture which permits the Christian to pick and chose. This verse in Romans is referring to the higher authority of those appointed by GOD within the assemblies, it is not referring to the government of the day;
Rom 13:1-2 Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities....

The Law of the Land is not "enforced" against polygyny. IN fact in some countries under common law a "mistress" has rights against a married man. In many countries men cohabit with women not married and this is OK, only when he marries them is it wicked. What a joke.

In what way does this passage from Ephesians cancel or ban polygamy? It doesn't.
Eph 5:23-24  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

Plain statements of condemnation or cancellation do not exist anywhere in God's Word. The New Testament does not condemn polygamy but proves it is an acceptable marriage choice throughout all ages, including today. Marriage is a fundamental institution for all times.

 

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