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NASB | 1 Kings 11:3 He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Kings 11:3 He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away [from God]. |
Subject: Does God endorse polygamy? |
Bible Note: Hello, Steve. I agree that scripture is the ONLY authority for apologetics rather than cultural norms. I have reiterated that in several of my posts. I understand your observation about my comments sounding like post-modern relativism. That was quite an astute observation. I knew that there was a danger of my viewpoint coming across as such. Thank you. When mentioning culture and social norms, one always risks being labeled a relativist. I stand by an earlier comment I had made that absolute TRUTH is not at all defined by cultural or social norms. However, I still emphasize grave problems in the practice of transliterating Christ's and His apostle's comments concerning divorce. Jesus had EVERY opportunity to address the issue of plural wives in the lives of many around him, and yet He was completely silent on the issue. It is a given that most commentaries rest part of their case against polygamy on the comments concerning divorce. These are entirely different issues. How one can honestly bring the two together without any feelings of guilt escapes me entirely. To my own way of thinking, I could not in good conscience say to someone that because God gave king David several wives that He expects all men to go out and seek plural wives. We both know that such an approach is intellecutally dishonest. When Jesus spoke on the issue of a man marrying his dead brother's wife in order to fulfill an obligation to provide an heir for the deceased brother, He said nothing against the fact that the Law made no mention that the living brother HAD to be single in order to take on that brother's widow as his own wife. He had every opportunity to address this alleged "weakness" in the Law, and yet He was completely silent about the issue of plural wives. Was He not smart enough to realize the implications of this? Certainly He knew the Law and its implications better than any man who has ever lived. Now, as for your comment concerning the problems within polygamous families portrayed within the scriptures, there are a few. Jacob had problems of jealousy becasue he had married two sisters, which is a direct violation of God's Law. Moses did not have problems assiciated with his having two wives, neither did Abraham after the death of Sarah (He had two more wives after Sarah's death). We are not told that Gideon had problems with his many wives. His problems were of a personal nature, not family related. In reality, your observation is not only very narrowly applied, but not in keeping with known facts. Too many people assume that ALL polygamous families had problems with strife and jealousy. What monogamous family has not had these same problems at one time or another? There is no such thing as a perfect marriage among men on this earth, so your point is not well taken in this regard. Sorry, but I simply disagree on the basis of what is within scripture AND within the context of personal expeirence with numerous families with plural wives who are living out polygamy in a Godly fassion that brings glory to the Lord. Thanks, brother Yours in Christ Jesus Don Dean |