[Linux4christians] Baptists (was Re: Ex-Muslim's college, speech disrupted by arson.)

[Preston Boyington]

l4c wrote:
> Preston Boyington wrote:
>> hmm, I've not seen/read where it was commonplace, although it was
>> tolerated.  In fact, most places I see polygamy in the Bible show that
>> it led to ruin.  Solomon is not quite the 'shining standard' he should
>> have been and therefore is not looked well upon when referenced by later
>> persons.
> 
> Actually, it was very much so.  Especially in the times around the Roman
> occupation of Judea.  Perhaps a better term to use would be having
> concubines.  They might not necessarily been married on paper, but a man
> might have one "wife" with which to carry on his name and family lineage
> and several concubines (women of lower means/dowries) whom he lived with
> and took care of at the same time.  In the east, there were harems and
> polygamy is almost universally sanctioned, however, few men without
> great means do so.

while the concubines were (basically) slave/servants to the wife there
were allowances for sex with them.  most scholars I've read seem to come
to the conclusion that it was 1) post flood where there was a need to
repopulate (since the children of the concubines were then placed at the
wife's feet and adopted into the family) and 2) this was before the New
Covenant.

that said, it also appears to fall 'out of fashion' with the early
Christians which leads to the writing of Timothy.  possibly because of
the correlation between amassing concubines seemed to favor fornication
and lasciviousness.  both of which are on par with adultery, idolatry,
witchcraft, heresies, etc.

it could be argued that Jesus seems to imply monogamy in Matthew 19:7-9

7 ...Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to
put her away?

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.

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.

while I wish there was a clear "thou shalt not" about concubines or
polygamy the writers seem to skirt the topic.  i'm glad (in a way)
though since it gets us to look in the Word and have a good debate.  :)