New Testament View on Polygamy and Jesus' Teaching on Marriage
The New Testament view on polygamy is rooted in Jesus' teaching on marriage, which emphasizes monogamy as the original divine institution. Jesus cites Genesis 2:24, where it is written that a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, becoming one flesh, to affirm the unity and indissolubility of marriage [1, 2]. This reference to Genesis underscores that monogamy was the original law of marriage, as indicated by the singular "wife" in Genesis 2:24 [5].
In Matthew 19:4-6, Jesus directly references Genesis 2:18-24, reaffirming that marriage is between one man and one woman, becoming "one flesh." This teaching implies that polygamy is not in line with the divine institution of marriage. Calvin, in his commentary on Genesis, notes that the phrase "they two shall be into one flesh" indicates the conjugal bond subsists between two persons only, making polygamy contrary to the divine institution [5].
The New Testament also addresses the issue of divorce, which is related to the discussion on polygamy. Jesus teaches that divorce is only permissible in cases of sexual immorality, and remarriage after divorce constitutes adultery (Matthew 19:9) [4]. This strict stance on divorce further emphasizes the importance of the marital bond between two individuals.
While the New Testament does not directly prohibit polygamy, the emphasis on monogamy and the teachings on marriage and divorce suggest that polygamy is not in line with New Testament teachings. The biblical dictionaries and commentaries affirm that monogamy was the original law of marriage, and the practice of polygamy is seen as a deviation from this original institution [1, 2, 3].
In the Old Testament, polygamy was practiced and regulated but not prohibited. The law of Moses allowed for polygamy, though it also provided regulations to protect the rights of wives [3]. The New Testament's focus on the teachings of Jesus and the apostles shifts the understanding of marriage towards a monogamous relationship, reflecting the original divine intention.
The symbolic use of marriage in the Bible to describe the relationship between God and his people also underscores the importance of fidelity and exclusivity in marriage, further supporting the notion that monogamy is the normative Christian understanding of marriage [6, 7].
The early Christian understanding of marriage, as reflected in the New Testament and interpreted by early commentators, emphasizes the unity and exclusivity of the marital bond, supporting a monogamous understanding of marriage.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Marriage — Was instituted in Paradise when man was in innocence (Gen. 2:18-24). Here we have its original charter, which was confirmed by our Lord, as the basis on which all regulations are to be framed (Matt. 19:4, 5). It is evident that monogamy was the original law of marriage (Matt. 19:5; 1 Cor. 6:16). This law was violated in after times, when corrupt usages began to be introduced (Gen. 4:19; 6:2). We meet with the prevalence of polygamy and concubinage in the patriarchal age (Gen. 16:1-4; 22:21-24; 28:8, 9; 29:23-30, etc.). Polygamy was acknowledged in the Mosa”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Marriage — + Its origin and history .--The institution of marriage dates from the time of man's original creation. (Genesis 2:18-25) From (Genesis 2:24) we may evolve the following principles: (1) The unity of man and wife, as implied in her being formed out of man. (2) The indissolubleness of the marriage bond, except on; the strongest grounds, Comp. (Matthew 19:9) (3) Monogamy, as the original law of marriage (4) The social equality of man and wife. (5) The subordination of the wife to the husband. (1 Corinthians 11:8,9; 1 Timothy 2:13) (6) The respective duties of ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Wife — The ordinance of marriage was sanctioned in Paradise (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4-6). Monogamy was the original law under which man lived, but polygamy early commenced (Gen. 4:19), and continued to prevail all down through Jewish history. The law of Moses regulated but did not prohibit polygamy. A man might have a plurality of wives, but a wife could have only one husband. A wife's legal rights (Ex. 21:10) and her duties (Prov. 31:10-31; 1 Tim. 5:14) are specified. She could be divorced in special cases (Deut. 22:13-21), but could not divorce her husband. Divorce wa”
- Matthew “I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery.” -- Matthew 19:9”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 6.40: forcibly: ‘They two shall be into one flesh,’ and thus Christ cites the place in Matthew 19:5 . But though here no mention is made of two , yet there is no ambiguity in the sense; for Moses had not said that God has assigned many wives, but only one to one man; and in the general direction given, he had put the wife in the singular number. It remains, therefore, that the conjugal bond subsists between two persons only, whence it easily appears, that nothing is less accordant with the divine institution than polygamy. Now, when Chr”
- Ezek (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezek 23:4: 23:4 Marriage is commonly used in the Bible as a symbol for the covenant relationship between God and his people (e.g., Isa 54:1-8; Eph 5:22-33). Adultery symbolizes Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness (e.g., Hos 1–3). God makes his covenants in spite of, not because of, his people’s character (Rom 5:6-11).”
- Ezekiel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezekiel 23:4: 23:4 Marriage is commonly used in the Bible as a symbol for the covenant relationship between God and his people (e.g., Isa 54:1-8; Eph 5:22-33). Adultery symbolizes Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness (e.g., Hos 1–3). God makes his covenants in spite of, not because of, his people’s character (Rom 5:6-11).”