Why is it in the Old Testament God approves of many wives but that is different in the New Testament?
What happened in between?
2006-06-12 09:28:40 · 12 answers · asked by dream girl 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Christ himself is a decendant of men with multiple wives. Abraham, Joseph, Jacob...
2006-06-12 09:39:05 · update #1
Okay I should have asked ...why doesn't he condem people for having many wives?
2006-06-12 09:46:36 · update #2
He never approved of many wives.
The Bible says that God’s original intention was for one man to be married to only one woman, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Mankind quickly perverted the concept of marriage to allow for multiple wives (Genesis 4:19). The Bible does not specifically condemn the practice of polygamy until the New Testament (1 Timothy 3:2), but that does not mean God approved of polygamy before.
We see in Deuteronomy 17:14-20, that the kings were not supposed to have multiple wives. Ultimately the case can be made from Genesis 2:23-24, 1 Timothy 3:2,12 and Titus 1:6 that nobody should have multiple wives. Although the New Testament passages relate to elders and deacons we can apply it to all Christians men because these are worthy standards for all men and we should all seek to be Holy as God is Holy (1 Peter 1:16), and if these standards are holy for elders and deacons then they are holy for all.
Ultimately, everyone who had more than one wife was in sin and against God's will. However, God does not constantly admonish us for all sins in the same way. Everyone sins every day and sometimes we do not see the immediate response in relation to that sin. I can speed and not have a direct chastising from God, although I would certainly have conviction. In the same manner I can commit other sins and not feel the response of God, however I should always know that God hates sin and that as a Christian I know that Jesus bore my sins on the cross and I do not want to multiply those sins. I can also sin and see that God is responding immediately to cause me to stop my rebellion, repent and return to Him. It is God's decision how and when He admonishes His children and those who are unsaved.
2006-06-12 09:31:05 · answer #1 · answered by Jen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God never approved of multiple wives. Show me anywhere in the bible that it says God approved of multiple wives in the Old Testament. Sure, it says that people DID that, but that doesn't mean God approved of or condoned it.
2006-06-12 09:31:52 · answer #2 · answered by Scotty Doesnt Know 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God never approved multiple wives. Can you give a scripture reference? Just because the patriarchs did it, didn't make it right.
One of the laws for a king in Deuteronomy 17:17
"Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away."
2006-06-12 09:44:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The old testament is God's old will where He gave the ten commandments, which no one could keep. The New testament is His new will, where He asks us to listen to His Son Christ Jesus and if you believe in Him, God will write his commandments on your heart. Therefore the Old and new covenant God made with His people.
2006-06-12 09:34:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A clue is given in Matthew 19:8, where Jesus is speaking of divorce.
My Bible uses the phrase:
"...out of regard for your hardheartedness.....but such has not been the case from the beginning".
It gives the idea God gave concessions to the Israelites.
Yes, he bent the rules.
He tolerated, for a time, that with which he did not really agree.
Why?
Israelite hardheartedness!
God went the extra mile to keep them as his people.
2006-06-12 09:41:33 · answer #5 · answered by Uncle Thesis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd say nothing happened "in-between". From what the New Testament says, -it gives no new commandments regarding the number of wives a man can have. But if I remember correctly, the O.T. advocates just one wife also.
In positions of church leadership, - he should be the husband of (just) one wife.
2006-06-12 09:31:36 · answer #6 · answered by MK6 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not that God approved, but the people in the Bible, both OT and NT reflected the culture they lived in. Much of the Bible reflects the world they lived in. Which is why slavery is accepted as a way of life, views of women, etc...
2006-06-12 09:37:46 · answer #7 · answered by keri gee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
(Mat 19:8) He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
(Mat 19:9) And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
God didn't condone having many wives, even in the Old Testament...how many wives did Adam have???
(Mat 19:4) And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
(Mat 19:5) 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
(Mat 19:6) Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
(Gen 2:24) Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Mal 2:14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
2006-06-12 09:43:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
he never approved after giving teh law in leviticus. you may notice that after leviticus there aren't many stories of biblical men having many wives.
2006-06-12 09:31:40 · answer #9 · answered by emwads 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Greek culture overran bedouine culture.
2006-06-12 09:33:46 · answer #10 · answered by lenny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋