In the Bible, many passages talk about having more than one wife. One passage from the Bible talks about a man who had seven wives. The Bible says that this man was righteous, and he did what was right. Another passage from the Bible talks about a man who had three wives.
The Bible says that this man was also righteous, and he did what was right. In general, the Bible teaches that it is okay to have more than one wife. This is because the Bible says that it is good to be righteous.
What the Bible says about having more than one wife
The Bible is pretty clear on the subject of having more than one wife—it’s not allowed. In the Old Testament, God told Abraham that his wife Sarah would have a son, even though she was past the age of childbearing. Abraham was also told that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:5).
God was not only speaking of physical descendants but also of spiritual descendants—those who would believe in and follow Abraham’s God. In other words, Abraham’s wife would have a spiritual son, and that son is Jesus Christ. Christ is the only begotten Son of God, and all who believe in Him are children of Abraham (Galatians 3:7).
So what does this have to do with having more than one wife? If we are to follow Abraham’s example, we can only have one wife. This is because Abraham only had one wife, and she bore him one son—Jesus Christ.
The New Testament also speaks against having more than one wife. In the book of 1 Timothy, Paul writes that a bishop (an overseer of the church) must be “the husband of one wife” (1 Timothy 3:2). This is repeated in the book of Titus, where Paul says that an elder (a leader in the church) must be “the husband of one wife” (Titus 1:6).
These verses make it clear that having more than one wife is not in line with God’s plan for His people. Marriage is to be between one man and one woman, and this is the only way that God intended it to be.
The reasons why some people choose to have more than one wife
The Bible is pretty clear on the matter of polygamy: it’s not allowed. In the Old Testament, polygamy was a common practice, but it was never endorsed by God. When a man wanted to take on a second wife, it was often because his first wife was unable to have children (see Genesis 16:1-4 and 25:1-4). But even in those cases, it was never something that God condoned.
In the New Testament, Jesus makes it clear that monogamy is the only acceptable form of marriage. In the Sermon on the Mount, he says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh” (Matthew 19:5). And in the book of Mark, Jesus says, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery” (Mark 10:11).
So, why do some people choose to have more than one wife? There are a few different reasons.
Some people live in cultures where polygamy is still practiced. In those cultures, it’s not considered to be sinful or wrong. It’s often seen as a sign of wealth and status.
Other people choose to have more than one wife because they simply want more than one woman. They may be attracted to different women for different reasons and see polygamy as a way to have their cake and eat it too, so to speak.
Still, others believe that they are called by God to have more than one wife. They may point to passages like 1 Corinthians 7:2, which says, “But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his wife, and each woman her husband.” They interpret this to mean that a man should have more than one wife to avoid temptation.
But regardless of the reason, the Bible is clear that polygamy is not God’s will for marriage. Marriage is meant to be a lifetime commitment between one man and one woman.
The benefits and drawbacks of having more than one wife
The Bible is pretty clear on the matter of polygamy: “Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9–10)
So, if we are to take the Bible at its word, polygamy is not something that God approves of. But what are the benefits and drawbacks of having more than one wife?
On the plus side, polygamy can be a great way to build a large family. If a man has multiple wives, he can father many children and provide them with a good home and a solid foundation. Additionally, polygamy can help to provide financial stability for a family. If a man has multiple wives, he can spread his income around and make sure that everyone has what they need.
On the downside, polygamy can be very difficult to manage. If a man has multiple wives, he will have to spend a lot of time dividing his time between them. This can lead to tension and conflict within the family. Additionally, polygamy can be very expensive. A man with multiple wives will have to provide for them all, which can be a challenge financially.
How to Decide on Having More Than One Wife
The Bible does not explicitly forbid polygamy, but it does not condone it either. Most biblical scholars believe that polygamy was only practiced by a small minority of people in the biblical era.
So, if you’re considering taking on more than one wife, how do you make the decision?
There are a few things you need to take into account. First, polygamy is illegal in most countries. So, you need to be prepared to face the legal consequences of your actions.
Second, you need to be honest with yourself about why you want to take on more than one wife. If your motivation is simply sexual, then you’re likely to find yourself in a situation where you’re not treating your wives fairly.
Third, you need to be prepared to deal with the challenges that come with polygamy. For example, you’ll need to deal with jealousy, insecurity, and competition among your wives.
Fourth, you need to be prepared to deal with the reactions of your family and friends. Polygamy is not widely accepted in most cultures, so you need to be prepared for the possibility of rejection from those closest to you.
Finally, you need to be prepared to make a lifelong commitment to your wife. Polygamy is not a “trial marriage”; it’s a permanent commitment to multiple partners.
If you can honestly say that you’re prepared to deal with all of these challenges, then you may be ready to decide to take on more than one wife.
Conclusion
The Bible does not specifically mention the practice of polygamy, but it does not condemn it either. Polygamy was practiced by some of the most prominent figures in the Bible, including Abraham, Jacob, and King Solomon. While there is no explicit commandment against polygamy in the Bible, there are principles that would make it difficult to sustain such a relationship.
For example, the Bible speaks of marriage as being between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5). Additionally, the Bible teaches that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25). It would be difficult to love more than one wife in the same way. Finally, the Bible teaches that marriage is a lifelong commitment (Matthew 19:6). Having more than one wife would make it difficult to remain faithful to just one.
Joseph Bates is a teacher at the University of Holy Cross. He has served on the staff of Northern Baptist and United Methodist churches in Tampa, Ohio, and Florida.
