Why was it cool to have multiple wives in the Old Testament but not now?

Answer 1

ask a mormon

Answer 2

I don't think it's explicitly forbidden by the New Testament, although it is by the church.

You know, Islam permits this still but very few Muslims actually practice it. Because the Qur'an says that it's allowed, but it also says that you must treat all four wives equally - which many people interpret as a warning NOT to have four wives unless absolutely necessary.

As for why that might be necessary - historically, in war times, there would be a shortage of men, therefore one man might marry four women in order to provide for women whose husbands have been killed, or who have multiple children (since women didn't often work).

Answer 3

In those days women needed the protection of a home because people were very harsh on women who did not have a home.

The only way a woman could get a home was by being married. Staying at home with parents was not allowed, and living by herself or with other women was not allowed except for prostitutes.

There were many women who would seek protection by asking to be allowed in a man's household as his wife. So households often were comprised of many wives and one husband.

Now women in civilized countries are able to live by themselves and they are allowed to have jobs and educations.

That wasn't happening in Old Testament days.

Answer 4

I think it was the whole "be fruitful and multiply" thing. You could achieve that a lot quicker with multiple wives. And you had to pay a dowry, so you had to be able to afford multiple wives.

Answer 5

It was usually a problem of men fighting righteous wars which led to a surplus of women. We solved that by sending the women to the front too.

Answer 6

I don't think it says in the new testament anywhere explicitly that Christian men can't marry more than one wife.

Answer 7

God overlooked this in the Old Testament, but God's plan was always one wife for one husband. in Genesis, at creation, God says one wife for one husband. The instruction is repeated in Ephesians.

Answer 8

in case you will learn it you will locate that it replaced into in no way The Almighty God affiliation for a guy to have extra suitable than one spouse that replaced into something guy choose for to do even the Israelites his chosen human beings observed a number of their surrounding countries prepare of polygamy

Answer 9

Because women were just property; and Conservative Christians still feel the same as the illiterate goat herders who made up the woman-hating Biblical tales in the first place.

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Horton Hears You –

God ‘OVERLOOKED’ it? That was pretty lame on his part, wasn’t it? What the heck kind of nitwit ‘supreme being’ behavior is that?

Answer 10

Because the Unchanging, Perfect, and Eternal God, changed his own imperfect and temporary law. Just because you are unchanging doesn't mean you can't change...wait...

Answer 11

"It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house". Proverbs 25:24

We wised up.....and God had mercy.

EDIT...."Horton" ---directly above me,answered correctly.