Jacob married Leah and Rachel

[Justin Z]

So according to the old testament I am allowed more than one wife?
It makes sense. Having more wives means you can birth more children simultaneously, clean more, and cook more.

Does any True Christian men here have more than one wife?

When is the right time to get married?

[Sam Diamond]

Re: Jacob married Leah and Rachel

So according to the old testament I am allowed more than one wife?
It makes sense. Having more wives means you can birth more children simultaneously, clean more, and cook more.

Does any True Christian men here have more than one wife?

When is the right time to get married?

While I am impressed by your zeal to procreate, let me remind you that we must follow secular law. At least for a couple of more years.
In the Us of A only one wife is allowed at a time.

[BelieverInGod]

Re: Jacob married Leah and Rachel

While I am impressed by your zeal to procreate, let me remind you that we must follow secular law. At least for a couple of more years.
In the Us of A only one wife is allowed at a time.

Oh I'm sure it won't be long before the mooslimbs and the mormons sue the government for infringing on their "religious rights". Then everyone can have as many wives as they want.

But remember what my daddy used to say. The punishment for multiple wives, is multiple mother-in-laws.

[Lycia The Repentant]

Re: Jacob married Leah and Rachel

Mrs. BiG, while I agree that mooslims and mormons are hellbound heretics, I was under the impression that the Bible affirms that polygamy is a Christian right.

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." Matthew 5:17

There are, of course, instances in the Old Testament where God's law allows and regulates polygamy:

"If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish." Exodus 21:10

"If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated: Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn: But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his." Deuteronomy 21:15-17

"And if the man like not to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother. Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her; Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house. And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed." Deuteronomy 25:7-10

Also, the prophet Nathan (which Christ also fulfills) spoke of polygamy:

"And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things." 2 Samuel 12:7-8

Why would God give David Saul's wives if it were sinful?

Of course, as Mr. Diamond pointed out, this is all moot for now due to secular law, but I do think that its something to think about.

[BelieverInGod]

Re: Jacob married Leah and Rachel

I'm really not sure, because Paul seems to speak of marriage as a 1-1 thing.

1 Corinthians 7:1-2 It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband

I know there's rules about only having as many wives as you can afford to keep. I also know that I would suffer badly from jealousy if Seth brought another wife home.

[handmaiden]

Re: Jacob married Leah and Rachel

Well, I know from experience that some men require a lot of care and looking after. If I were in a well-to-do household with a husband who could provide for us all equally well, I could live with the competition.

The others could have the babies and bake. I could organize the office supplies.

Complacently Yours,

Handmaiden

[Lycia The Repentant]

Re: Jacob married Leah and Rachel

I'm really not sure, because Paul seems to speak of marriage as a 1-1 thing.

1 Corinthians 7:1-2 It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband

A very good point Mrs. BiG, but I feel that if we take a look at some more scripture it may shed some light on the issue.

"But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." 1 Corinthians 11:3

The man is the head of the woman, hence he takes the lead in the relationship. The Bible explicitly forbids serving two masters, but I don't think there's anything prohibiting having two followers.

I know there's rules about only having as many wives as you can afford to keep. I also know that I would suffer badly from jealousy if Seth brought another wife home.

Of course, but the existence of polygamy as a Christian right doesn't necessarily mean that ALL Christian couples need to be polygamists. I think that God has shown with this scripture that He has given us the freedom to do what we choose in regards to how many wives a man may take.

I know that polygamy is a topic that is very ingrained in our culture as being very bad, but remember the Pharisees:

"But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Matthew 15:9

We shouldn't let popular opinions sway us when figuring out what is right by God.

Of course, I think it would be great if a pastor could give his opinions on this issue, I may have it all wrong.

[Levi Jones]

Re: Jacob married Leah and Rachel

I know to be considered for high church office, a man can only have one wife.

1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Paul never did say anything about concubines, though.

[Billy Bob Jenkins]

Re: Jacob married Leah and Rachel

Since a woman lacks imagination and the ability to identify with others, she cannot possibly understand what it is like to be a man. As a man, gifted by God with discernment, I am easily able to understand what a woman is feeling whenever I choose to. Thus, it requires many women to see to the needs of one man, while one man can easily hold up his end of multiple relationships.

[Imam Rashik]

Re: Jacob married Leah and Rachel

So according to the old testament I am allowed more than one wife?
It makes sense. Having more wives means you can birth more children simultaneously, clean more, and cook more.

Does any True Christian men here have more than one wife?

When is the right time to get married?

The Holy Quran allows you to have the maximum of four wives. Do not take more wives than you can manage.

SURA 4.
3. And if you fear that you cannot act equitably towards orphans, then marry such women as seem good to you, two and three and four; but if you fear that you will not do justice [between them], then [marry] only one or what your right hands possess; this is more proper, that you may not deviate from the right course.
129. And you have it not in your power to do justice between wives, even though you may wish [it], but be not disinclined [from one] with total disinclination, so that you leave her as it were in suspense; and if you effect a reconciliation and guard [against evil], then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

The Christians Holy Book does not specify at what age someone can marry.

[Alvin]

Re: Jacob married Leah and Rachel

I'm really not sure, because Paul seems to speak of marriage as a 1-1 thing.

1 Corinthians 7:1-2 It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband

I have quite recently developed an acute personal interest in this question... and I am not sure if I understand the scripture correctly.

Paul seems to be mainly concerned with men touching women and would prefer it did not occur. Perhaps the divine plan behind behind letting the followers of the True word die out from lack of procreation was to give GOD the opportunity to intervene by a massive increase in virgin births? We will never know...

Romans 11:3O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how UNSEARCHABLE [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Making sure every man have his "own" wife, every woman her "own" husband to my confused mind reads as follows:

For every man there exists a wife he does not share. For every woman there exists a husband she does not share. The logical "exist" operator only means at least 1 instance - it does not care about how many more there may be.

The only problem I have with this otherwise useful interpretation is that it might be misconstrued as working for both genders - and GOD surely did not mean for women to have more than one husband, as Lycia has already elegantly demonstrated with the problem of serving two masters in this thread.

I know that God forbids use of imaginary concepts such as Logic, but this just shows you how desperate I am to resolve this issue in my mind.

2 Corinthiasn 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

We should not constrain ourselves to ask our schools to teach the controversy, but to encourage punishment of thought crimes to ensure all our children's thoughts are held captive in obedience of Christ!

But perhaps one of the Pastors can shed further light on this polygamy issue? I will need to know soon whether to buy 1 or 2 engagement rings...

YIC,

Alvin