Are Polygynous Marriages Biblical?

According to reports and a video that’s been making the rounds on social media, the pastor of LifeWorks Church—referred to as a “prophet”—and his wife (also identified as a pastor) recently introduced a member of their congregation, a woman called a “minister,” as “the prophet’s wife” and the first wife’s “sister in marriage.” Apparently, the “prophet” has been married to this second wife (they referred to it as a polygynous marriage) for three years. And when she was introduced, the congregation (many of those seen in the video at least) stood, cheered, and applauded!

The new wife then gave a short speech:

First, I wanna just give honor to God who is leading us and guiding us, and then [to my] husband and also my sister in marriage. I want to speak to the fact that I know people have questions, people have comments and concerns, and one thing that I want to address is that it is amazing to know that this is the will of God and to live it . . .

I have not been slighted not one bit, and I have gained so much. I mean, I have gained so much, and I’ve learned so much from pastor. I mean, he’s poured so much into me, into our family, and we are a family. We don’t walk around like individuals fighting, beefing, but it is a family dynamic in the image of what God wants to put in the earth . . .

There’s been people who’ve been kicked out of churches because they live this life, and they don’t have anywhere to worship, they don’t have anywhere to be vulnerable, they don’t have anywhere to go and pray and talk to God because people will shun them . . . but God’s Word is real. God’s Word is true; we are a strong family.

Notice all the Scripture she DIDN’T use to back up her position! When anyone claims what the will of God is or says God’s Word is true in regard to something that doesn’t seem right—that person needs to actually quote God’s Word in context and judge what he or she believes against God’s Word, which is the absolute authority.

Yes, she really did claim that a polygynous marriage is God’s will and that families like hers are what God wants here on earth! This may seem fringe—and it is—but unfortunately, theological arguments for polygamy are becoming more common. It’s a reminder that we need to test everything against God’s Word. So what does God’s Word say about a man marrying multiple women?

Well, the answer is in Genesis!

In Genesis, we see God’s design for marriage.

And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27)

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother, and cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)

God created marriage, and therefore, He alone defines what marriage is. And He clearly defined it as one man and one woman for life.

God created marriage, and therefore, He alone defines what marriage is. And He clearly defined it as one man and one woman for life.

Consider this. If God had intended for men to be polygynous—have more than one wife—why did He create only Adam and Eve? If there was ever a time for a man to have more than one wife, wouldn’t it have been at the very beginning so man could more quickly obey God’s command to be fruitful and multiply? But God didn’t create Adam with a harem of wives. He created one man and one woman.

Jesus affirmed this definition when He was asked about marriage,

And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?” (Matthew 19:4–5)

Jesus quoted Genesis—one man and one woman for life—to establish the definition of marriage as God intended it.

Yes, there are examples of polygamy throughout the Old Testament. But they are

1. Always in descriptive, not prescriptive passages (and anytime there is a prescriptive passage it is one man and one woman);
2. Almost always illustrating strife, family conflict, and generational problems that result from not following God’s design;
3. Never held up as God’s ideal: God’s ideal is given to us in Genesis when God institutes marriage.

Furthermore, polygamy destroys the picture of Christ and the church that marriage is supposed to represent. Ephesians 5:31–32 gives another purpose to marriage:

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

Our marriages represent the unique, covenant relationship that Christ, the bridegroom, has with His bride, the church. There is only one Christ, and there is only one church (the universal body of Christ). Polygamy (and other perversions of God’s design such as gay “marriage” or adultery, etc.) destroys this picture by introducing more than one “church” or more than one “Christ.”

Polygamy in any form is a departure from God’s very good design for marriage.

Polygamy in any form is a departure from God’s very good design for marriage. It’s neither the will of God nor the image that God wants here on earth, as this second wife claims. God has already revealed His will to us and what image He wants here on earth: He wants faithful, Christ-honoring marriages of one man and one woman who are joined together for life, illustrating to a watching world the love and faithfulness of Christ to His bride, the church.

When we start with Scripture first, polygamy is unbiblical!

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.