A New Christian Has FIVE Wives. Does He Keep Them?
This question arose in one of my classes this past week. We spent two class sessions discussing the issue. Frankly, there were answers across the board.The Situation
The class is 1 Corinthians and the passage under review was 1 Corinthians 7. Paul is teaching the Corinthian people that they need not worry about their social situation. Rather, they should "remain as you are" and worry more about who they are in Christ.
The question then came out, "What about those on the missionary field who lead folks to Christ who are in a Polygynous relationship"(polygyny: one man, many wives. Different from polygamy: having multiple partners)
The Problem
What shall be done? Is the man to keep his first wife and release/divorce the others? Does he keep all of the wives and only have relations with one? Does he divorce them all? Does he keep all of this wives and follow Paul's words, "Remain as you are?"
The Background info
In Genesis 1 and 2 it appears that God sees marriage as a relationship founded on Him between one man and one woman. Later, though, in the history of salvation we see what appears to be God condoning a man having multiple wives (2 Samuel 12:8; 2 Chronicles 24:1-3). Even so, this was certainly not the norm in the Old Testament days. Somehow I think it to be a mistake to assume that "well, everyone back in those days had many wives, or concubines, or whatever." Well, yes, Song of Songs seems to indicate this and other OT passages do too, but was it the norm? After all, when God first created everything and sin had not yet permeated the earth, he only gave to Adam, Eve, and to Eve God gave Adam, right? It seems to me that it was not the "norm," as many people assume.
Further, in 1 Corinthians 7:2, Paul makes it adequatley clear that "each man is to have his own wife, and each wife her own husband." (1 Corinthians 7:2)
The Results
So, what to do? My prof asked several other profs at the seminary I attend. He asked a NT Greek Professor, an Ethics Professor, a Philosophy Professor, and I myself asked one of our OT/Hebrew Professors.
Can you guess what the initial (I use the term initial in the sense that each of these profs would likely request more time to study and meditate on the issue) answer was from each of these profs?
Well let's hear it? Tell me what you think.
I'll let you know later what the profs all said . . .
posted by Bryan Laramore @ 10:05 AM
2 Addendums:
Ok, here's a guess. He should begin by sitting down with all the wives and explaining his conversion and the teaching of Scripture on marriage. He should then allow those who want to leave and pursue another relationship to go on their way. Possibly some of the wives are not committed to Christ and do not wish to be in such a household. If they leave, he is free. That's the easy part. Those who choose to stay must not be sent away, but then should continue to live in the situation in which they find themselves.
Apparently the new convert lives in a county that permits polygyny, so Romans 13 is not a problem. I believe this paraphrase and amplification is appropriate:
17 However, each one must live his life in the [marital] situation the Lord assigned when God called him. This is what I command in all the churches. 18 Was anyone already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised. 19 Circumcision does not matter and uncircumcision does not matter, but keeping God's commandments does. {{18 Was anyone already [polygynous] when he was called? He should not undo his [polygyny]. Was anyone called while [polygynous]? He should not [become monogynous]. 19 [Polygyny] does not matter and [monogyny] does not matter, but keeping God's commandments does. 20 Each person should remain in the life situation in which he was called}} 20 Each person should remain in the life situation in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? It should not be a concern to you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity. 22 For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ's slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brothers, each person should remain with God in whatever
[marital] situation he was called. 1 Cor 7 HCSB
http://polyamory.meetup.com/389/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Poly_Polygamy_Polygny_And_Jesus
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OrthodoxBiblicalMarriagePolygamy
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PolyPolygamyPolygnyNJesus
http://groups.google.com/group/BiblicalChristianPolygamyPolygyny
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OrthodoxBiblicalMarriagePolygamy2
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