Wednesday, February 7, 2007

Does the Bible Condemn Polygamy?


Dr. Couch, does the Bible condemn polygamy? 
 
    ANSWER:  By the command that one man should marry one woman makes it clear that polygamy is unacceptable. Also, in every case I can think of, polygamy was destructive to the children involved. This is true of Abraham, David, Solomon, etc. By that fact alone, it is easy to say that polygamy was wrong. 

    In the story of Abraham, God made it clear that Ishmael who was born to the handmaiden Hagar would not be his legal heir. The Lord punctuated this fact when He spoke to Abraham about offering up Isaac. God said: “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love …” (Gen. 22:2). Though Hagar was a mistress of Abraham, Ishmael did not count in God’s plan for the passing down of the Abrahamic Covenant to later generations. 

    Thanks for asking.

    Dr. Mal Couch,