Polygamy, Fornication and Other Such Mysteries
Here’s a random conundrum for a Sunday afternoon…
Do you ever get confused by the Bible? I am. Consider this…
- Abraham was a polygamist (more than one wife) and had several concubines (women who lived in his house for sexual purposes). No where in Scripture is he condemned for this behavior.
- Isaac was also a polygamist and had concubines. Also not condemned in Scripture.
- Then there is Jacob. In addition to having more than one wife, and having other women in his house for sexual favors, he also went in to a prostitute and was not condemned for doing so.
- Gideon and Samson were also both polygamists and had concubines. No where in the Bible (that I can find) were either of them condemned for this activity.
- David had several wives and also concubines. We know him as “a man after God’s own heart.” Of course, he messed up by taking another man’s wife and then killing her husband. That was condemned. But God is silent about his multiple wives and concubines.
And yet, the writer of Hebrews talks about each of these men who had more than one wife, and had several women living in their home for the purpose of sex. Does the writer say they are evil? No, quite the contrary. In chapter 11, he designates them as history’s great examples of faithfulness to God. They are the mighty men of faith we are to imitate. Isn’t that a mystery?
Even more interesting–in the same passage after praising these men of faith, he says “do not be fornicators” (12:16). And later he says “fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (13:4). Remember, this is right after he praised these men for their faith. He makes no connection between his condemnation on fornication or adultery and these men. It’s almost as though the writer of Hebrews does not consider multiple wives, or having women in your house for the purpose of sexual favors, as fornication or adultery. Huh?
That’s what I’m thinking about on this sunny Sunday afternoon.
Posted by Tim Stevens | 16 comments
Curtis Marshall
love the humility of this post. These are all questions that I have considered many times but have not had the guts to ask in a public forum. I would love to hear what someone that is much more knowledgeable than I has to say about these issues.
Kevin
I fear posting here. My thoughts on this subject are very scary to even me. But here goes …
Matthew 1:3 (NIV) Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,
Do the history on this verse. Was Judah Perez's father or grandfather? Tamar was Judah's daughter in law. Really go read the text.
David did have a sinful sexual affair that gets chapter after chapter of press and is mentioned all through Scripture in some measure. But when Saul lost his kingdom, the casual reading cannot tell you why?
I wonder why sexual sin is such a big topic today but the lack of faith/trust in God is seemingly no big deal.
Please don't misunderstand, sexual sin is a big issue. But Tim's article gets to the heart of things. They were people of faith. People of faith still sin, even sexual sin, but faith is the main issue. Faith does not dismiss sexual sin. And the world is quick to judge us for our open sexual sin. But I think if our faith was deeper, causing us to be more real and less religiously phony, our world would be a better place. And if our faith was making more of an impact on our lives, I think our sexual sin would be less.
I have rambled, but there is at least some thoughts.
Please respond by email.
Josh Clark
Really looking forward to the discussion. I have wrestled with this for years, and have never found much written or taught about it. Thanks for posting this.
Clay Mitchell
I, too, have… (1) frequently wondered about this and God seemingly turning a blind eye and (2) longed for a clearer explanation that I any can seem to conjure up or find from someone else. Love to hear the discussion, as well.
terry
Hmm interesting observations,can't say I have given this much thought but you make great points. I however will take this form of response ,where the bible speaks I can speak and where it does not, silence is my best response at this juncture.
Diane
I'm so glad to hear someone with your knowledge has the same questions I have. I've thought and prayed for answers for years. I've come to realize that God has His reasons. When I see Him face to face I will understand. Until then I will just know that He is God and in control.
Ron Schemenauer
This type of question is what I absolutely love about the Bible – we’re forced to deal with it on its own terms and not the way some wish it would be. Sometimes we find there's just no clear, neat, universal answer to the question.
I’ve often wondered how our view and interpretation of the scriptures would change if instead of one compiled volume bound between nice leather covers – and translated into an easy-to-read modern language, – we had the 66 individual books and letters sitting on our shelves.
Dave
Tim thanks for your honesty. Your post has given me something to reflect on today. I don't know seek to provide an answer to the contradictions you mentioned, only to add my own honest perspective. After thinking about it I have come to the conclusion that this apparent contradiction is great news for me.
I take great solace in the fact that these men, who have made choices which directly contradict the commands of scripture, are not defined by those choices that went poorly. Instead they are remembered according to the purpose God set before them. These questions remind me that I am not defined by my sins and shortcomings. My failings are not who I am. Who I am is someone on a journey trying to make good choices and sometimes actually making a good one here and there, and if I make some bad ones, there is Grace. That's pretty good news to me.
Joshua Blount
These men weren't having sex with women who weren't "theirs". In the context of history, these men were having sexual with relationships with women that they had an obligation and commitment to, in various forms. Wives had better standing than concubines, but they were both provided for by the head of the family.
Assuming you agree with what I just said, these men weren't fornicating (the roots of that word point to prostitution, or paying a third party for sex without a ongoing long term commitment of some sort) and they weren't in adultery (While our modern understanding of adultery is sex outside the confines of marriage, I'd suggest a more biblical description would be sex outside of long term commitment)
These men weren't condemned because they
Western christianity get's pretty bogus when we bring our presumptions and culture into the historical narrative of the Bible.
Joshua Blount
The comment system broke this for me, just here's the full comment again:
These men weren't having sex with women who weren't "theirs". In the context of history, these men were having sexual with relationships with women that they had an obligation and commitment to, in various forms. Wives had better standing than concubines, but they were both provided for by the head of the family.
Assuming you agree with what I just said, these men weren't fornicating (the roots of that word point to prostitution, or paying a third party for sex without a ongoing long term commitment of some sort) and they weren't in adultery (While our modern understanding of adultery is sex outside the confines of marriage, I'd suggest a more biblical description would be sex outside of long term commitment)
These men weren't condemned because they weren't having sex with women who weren't "theirs". In the context of history, these men were having sexual relationships with women that they had an obligation and commitment to, in various forms. Wives had better standing than concubines, but they were both provided for by the head of the family.
Western christianity gets pretty bogus when we bring our presumptions and culture into the historical narrative of the Bible.
dannyjbixby
"Assuming you agree with what I just said, these men weren't fornicating (the roots of that word point to prostitution, or paying a third party for sex without a ongoing long term commitment of some sort)"
Then there is Jacob. In addition to having more than one wife, and having other women in his house for sexual favors, he also went in to a prostitute and was not condemned for doing so.
Paula G
Now take those questions that we, as mature Christians, wrestle with, and try to explain to a practicing polygamist why it's wrong (is it?). Polygamy is as active as ever and we are getting a small, but growing population of those that have left the "community" and are finding true freedom in Christ here in Utah. Polygamy is NOT condemned in the bible, so they have a difficult time separating the other darker aspects of their faith and lifestyle (specifically FLDS, Warren Jeffs' group) from the truth. It's quite an unusual ministry, but God is showing himself Mighty and Faithful.
jeffandwendy
So maybe our problem with passages like the one you pointed out has more to do with misunderstanding sin and faithfulness? What if sin has more to do with giving ourselves to idols and less to do with breaking rules? What if faithfulness or righteousness has more to do with being enslaved only to God than they do with following a list of do's and don'ts? If that is true than is it possible that Abraham having more than one wife in a polygamy dominated world was not idol worship and therefore separate from questions about his faith? On the other hand having multiply wives in 1st century Rome was worshiping at the idol of lust?
Just a thought.
@MarcMillan
Thanks for posting this Tim, no doubt it seems complicated.
His ways are higher than our ways and I think our understanding of sex is a bit distorted, I don't think we understand it quite the way God does. God measures the heart and what seems hard to understand in all of these examples is "the heart" of each individual…was each individual faithful to God in their heart, was their heart directed towards him, only God knows what was going on in there honestly.
M_
jcisonline
Definitely an interesting conversation. Been thinking about this for several days now. Would love to dive deeper and understand a bit more about context, historical background, and also universal truth when it comes to this particular conundrum.
Seems weird to say the least, haha. Thanks Tim for posting something like this in a public format.
Steve
Question – Where does it say that Isaac was a polygamist? Thanks, Steve