Biblical Theology of Polygyny Marriage

Common sense interpretation of biblical polygyny marriage and refuting false teachings against biblical polygyny.

Here I present BIBLICAL THEOLOGY of Polygyny Marriage.

by John C Wilson

Marriage Instituted By God - Not Adam & Mankind

Scriptures to interpret scriptures . . .

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free". - John 8:32

Want a clear understanding and interpretation which makes sense of all the known facts about the biblical origin of marriage and how God provided marriage Laws? You may be in for some surprises.

We're going to have to start with the most misunderstood, misinterpreted and taken out of historical context scripture there probably is in the bible. We are going to very carefully look at GENESIS 2:22-24 and unpack it using scriptures to interpret scriptures and understand the history revealed in it. Always remember this. God did not ever issue any conflicting or contradictory divine marital laws. Both monogamy and polygyny marriage is taught to us in the bible. God is NOT silent on this subject. He has provided us divine marital laws for both. I'll show you . . .

. . . seeking a true and faithful UNDERSTANDING of what these scriptures are telling us about marriage as it was at the beginning and through generations of biblical marriage history.

22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

GENESIS 2:22-24

Genesis 2:24 & Matthew 19:3-8

Let's Break It Down And Interpret Scripture with Scripture

Adam was speaking from his own authority concerning marriage and not speaking for God in Genesis 2:22-24. Why would anyone assume that what Adam said in Genesis 2:22-24 applies to all people and through all time? The scriptures do not say that. Adam was speaking from his own authority in regard to his marriage with Eve and the marriage of the children they would have together. God's marriage laws did not come until after the Fall in order to address sin. Everything Adam said beginning with Eve being created from his side, Eve being called woman, etc., is all about Adam describing his own marriage with Eve and how he would marry the children they were going to have together.

Adam's description of his marriage with Eve and how he was going to marry off their children is not family law or divine marital law from God for all people through all time. That's another erroneous assumption in and of itself. (The children of Adam & Eve married one another and their children had children together). Adam & Eve had an arranged marriage. But Adam did marry off his sons and daughters together in one husband and one wife marriages to fulfill God's blessing in Genesis 1:28. Adam & Eve's children were not falling off trees like apples. So they were married off in one husband and one wife marriages. As the husband and father of his household, Adam had the parental authority and responsibility for marrying his children. More about that later.

Also in Genesis 2:24 Adam used the expression, “one flesh”. But those of us who use scriptures to interpret scriptures understand that “one flesh” does NOT mean “one wife”. A man having sex with a woman and thereby becoming “one flesh” with her does NOT make that woman his “one wife”. Read 1 Corinthians 6:16. So these are the MAIN reasons for so many misinterpreting Genesis 2:24 to say that marriage was instituted by God to be only between one man and one woman. Adam was the one speaking in Genesis 2:24 and even Adam did NOT say God created marriage to be only between one man and one woman for all people through all time or any other wording conveying any such meaning. Adam did NOT say he was speaking on God's behalf. There is no, "Thus saith the Lord" in Adam's declarations. But Adam was speaking from his own authority when referring to marrying his own children to one another as one husband with one wife in response to God's blessing in Genesis 1:28. In Genesis 2:24 Adam was simply speaking to God concerning his appreciation for Eve and Adam expressing how he would fulfill God's words in Genesis 1:28 to fill the earth when Adam said, "....Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, ...".

Most people forget or just never realize that Genesis 2:24 was spoken by Adam. I have literally lost count of all the commentators on YouTube who FALSELY CLAIM God was the one issuing a marriage commandment in Genesis 2:24. What Adam said of his own volition is NOT a marriage commandment from God. When Jesus referred to the WORDS OF ADAM, Jesus was NOT quoting a marriage commandment from God - but merely reminding the Pharisees and Jesus agreeing with Adam that since woman came from man and joined to one another by God in marriage with that marriage consummated by the sexual act of "one flesh", DIVORCE is NOT from God but simply allowed by Moses. What God has joined together let no man separate. Of course Jesus in responding to the Pharisees did not say marriage is only to be between one man and one woman. That would NOT be quoting Adam and that would contradict the divine polygyny marriage Laws of God which Jesus knew came after the Fall.

Adam had no authority to declare any marriage descriptions, definitions, requirements concerning what marriage is. In other words, Adam could only speak properly to the fact God gave Adam his wife Eve. But for Adam to think he had the authority to state that marriage to be only between one man and woman for all time and for all people would be a marital declaration reserved to God only. God is the One Who instituted marriage. NOT Adam. But Adam did have authority as the head of his household how he would marry off his children to one another. THIS is marriage how Adam applied it in order for Adam & Eve to fulfill God's blessing in Genesis 1:28.

(Reference Matthew 19:3-8). But by referring to Genesis 2:24, Jesus did confirm the validity of Adam's words which explains the (1) physical connection between MALE & FEMALE and (2) God joining them in marriage and Jesus agreeing with Adam in so far as a (3) man leaving his mother and father when the man marries and the man (4) becomes "one flesh" with wife so like a man's father, the man is not alone when he leaves his parents. (5) But "one flesh" is NOT synonyms with "one wife" as made perfectly clear in 1 Corinthians 6:16. So Jesus concluded by telling the Pharisees when God has joined male & female in marriage - no man should separate. The fact a man MAY have more than one wife is covered in other scriptures which I've LISTED. But the number of wives a man may have has nothing to do with Jesus specifically answering the questions asked by the Pharisees about DIVORCE. Jesus answered with what God has joined together, let no man separate. Other scriptures reveal God joins a man with two wives in marriage. No other interpretation possible. Whether one wife or any number of wives, no man should separate what God has joined together.

Some Pharisees were homosexual and had hardened hearts against God and they financially benefited providing divorce.

Those against polygyny are claiming that God tells us whether He approves of polygyny or not by falsely stating God declared monogamous marriage only acceptable marriage design. God didn't do that. Just because God gave Adam only one wife and Adam used the expression, "one flesh" they assume God said that. God didn't.

Getting married to one wife is all it takes to meet this requirement of leaving mother and father and being married. A man doesn't have to

marry multiple wives to be required to leave his parents; thus another reason "wife" is singular in this context. Of course, a man has to marry his first wife before he marries any others IF he marries any others. Just because God blesses polygyny marriage doesn't mean men are required to have two wives or that there will ever be two women who want to be his wives. So it is only natural when speaking of a man getting married in the common vernacular as marrying one wife as a matter of convention. Also Adam was speaking from his own authority & situation where he expressed his intention to marry his children as one husband with one wife and to have them leave mother and father in order to fill the earth. So if Adam at anytime ever said marriage ONLY TO BE between one man and one woman, that man and woman would have been Adam & Eve themselves and the marriage of his own sons and daughters to one another. As their father and head of his own household, Adam had authority (parental responsibility) & the desire to be obedient to fulfill God's words in Genesis 1:28 of filling the earth and give his children in marriage to one another. That's all Adam could speak to as a husband and as a father and the only way Adam had to accomplish obedience to Genesis 1:28. Adam married his children off in one husband and one wife marriage because his children were not falling off trees like apples. Only so many were being born now and then as time progressed and Adam had Genesis 1:28 to fulfill. This was one of the reasons why Adam lived to be 930 years old and many generations after lived for so long. Since Genesis 1:28 was fulfilled (ancient ruins all over the earth prove this), God decreased our life spans. (See Genesis 6:3 where God shortened human life span).

But it is still God Who instituted marriage. Not Adam. God instituted monogamous and polygynous marriage through His divine marital Laws which apply to all mankind through all time. Only God's Laws do not disappear and His marital Laws apply to everyone. If Adam contradicted God's Laws for marriage, Adam was wrong. Not God. But Adam DID have authority to decide how he would marry off his own children to fulfill God's words in Genesis 1:28. Marriage as instituted by Adam for his children was not any kind of law, but simply instructions to his children as their father and the head of his household. Marriage as Adam applied it to his children was NOT a marital law which applies to all people through all time. In fact we must consider if Adam chose arranged marriage just like God did for him and Eve. Marriage instituted by God, yes? Well, an arranged marriage of Adam & Eve is how you say God instituted marriage?

The divine Laws of both monogamy & polygyny from God had to wait until after Eve disobeyed and lead the Fall. Why? Because without the Fall, there was no need for God's Laws. Divorce laws of man also came later, especially when there is money to be made. But this is how we also know and understand that God's divine marital laws did not exist in the beginning. God did not issue marital laws because there were no need for God's Laws before the Fall. So God did not speak to the number of wives a husband may have until later AFTER the Fall and when the populations grew to make those Laws applicable. Which is another reason Adam applied marriage to his children as one husband and one wife. The children were not falling off trees like apples. When Adam spoke Genesis 2:24, the only man and woman was Adam & Eve. It would be a few more decades before the first children of Adam & Eve would be married to each other by Adam.

Marriage from God so God is the One who joins MALE & FEMALE IN MARRIAGE so men and women should not divorce. God also joins a husband with two wives in later generations as revealed in His divine polygyny marital rights we all read in Deuteronomy 21:15-17 and Exodus 21:10. Heterosexual marriage from God; both monogamy and polygyny according to the commandments of God and all who God joins in marriage should not get divorced.

Matthew 19:3-8 does NOT say only monogamy marriage acceptable. If it did, God contradicts Himself since He also provides divine polygyny marital Law.

But some will say to me that Jesus is talking about marriage in the New Testament and God's polygyny marital Laws of Old Testament no longer apply. The problem with that notion is that Jesus Himself told us, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill". - Matthew 5:17. Also consider Luke 16:17 - "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail". God does not contradict Himself with conflicting marital laws. Both monogamy and polygyny are from God and this reconciles any apparent contradictions in both Old and New Testaments concerning marriage. God's consistent divine marital laws also reflect and glorify God's eternal Holy & Righteous character. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. So be it.

Was marriage "originally" designed and intended by God to be between one man and one woman? If monogamous marriage is the "ideal" marriage relationship, then why would God compromise His own righteous judgement if He knew monogamous marriage is the ONLY marriage acceptable to Him? Compromise for sinful fallen human race? That also CONTRADICTS everything all other scriptures reveal to us about Holy & Righteous God. Besides, all the problems which those against polygyny marriage cite are SOLVABLE without resorting to polygyny as the temporary answer.

There is no, "Thus saith the Lord", from the lips of Adam. Adam was speaking from his own authority/perspective. Therefore, God did NOT use Adam to announce ANY of God's Laws also because sin had not yet entered the world. The Fall of the human race had not taken place yet. So it was not time for God to provide His Laws. Later, God would provide us His divine marital laws as needed. Only God's Laws apply as described by God and through all time if so described by God.

So, Adam speaking in Genesis 2:24 does NOT contradict God's divine polygyny marital Laws of Deuteronomy 21:15-17 and Exodus 21:10 and the authority to institute marriage still rests with God when we interpret the scriptures using scriptures. Scriptures to interpret scriptures; no conflict or contradictions in God's divine marital Laws running from the Old and on through the New Testaments of the bible.

Author, John C Wilson

Genesis 1:28: God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

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What Adam declared in Genesis 2:24 was in response to what God said in Genesis 1:28 after God created and presented Eve to Adam. As head of the household, Adam had responsibility to marry off the children to one another to fulfill his obligation to God to fill the earth. Marrying off his children (brothers and sisters to one another in one husband and one wife marriage) and sending them off in various directions to start new tribes was the only way Adam could accomplish God's instructions in Genesis 1:28.

"One Flesh" | Does NOT Unite In Marriage

The expression "one flesh" is also used to falsely claim monogamy only marriage approved by God. But "one flesh" simply refers to sexual union. When a man pays for a prostitute, he is "one flesh" with the prostitute during sex. In polygyny, husband is one flesh with each wife.

But having sex with someone does not make them your spouse.

A man who has sex with a woman and becomes "one flesh" with her doesn't make that woman his "one wife". Faulty assertion. Isn't it? Common sense tells us this. Yet this assertion is one of the main reasons for misinterpreting Genesis 2:24! "One flesh" is NOT "one wife" according to 1 Corinthians 6:16.

What? Common sense interpretation alone should be enough to tell us that "one flesh" does not mean "one wife". But we also have God's own words to help make sure their is no misunderstanding when we read 1 Corinthians 6:16. So we can see how denominationalism or the commandments of men create misinterpretation and confusion.

People who want to believe monogamous marriage is the only marriage approved by God have somehow convinced themselves that "one flesh" in Genesis 2:24 is some kind of mysterious mystical force which unites one man and one woman in marriage. THAT IS A LIE. The New Testament makes this clear in 1 Corinthians 6:16. "One flesh" merely refers to the act of sexual intercourse between a man and any woman he has sex with. So, it is GOD who joins men and women in marriage. It is not sexual relations which joins us in marriage. We can NOW see what a stretch it is to assert "one flesh" joins one man and one woman in marriage. That does NOT. It is GOD who joins men and women in marriage and it is sexual relations which joins heterosexuals as "one flesh" thereby consummating their marriages.

Author, John C Wilson

"One flesh" is NOT synonyms with "one wife".

...for the two become one flesh.

While sexual relations are said to "consummate" the marriage relationship, sexual relations does not make a man and woman a husband and wife. It is a great mistake to assume "one flesh" makes a man and woman a husband & wife because 1 Corinthians 6:16 in the New Testament clarifies Genesis 2:24 for us.

So here again, we see the sad attempt to try to make it look like God declares one man and one woman marriage only acceptable by construing the meaning of "one flesh". God does NOT issue conflicting or contradictory marriage Laws.

"One flesh" is an expression ADAM spoke regarding his physical connection with Eve and it also refers to heterosexual relations God created for "one flesh" marriage intimacy. So in a polygynous marriage, a husband consummates his marriage to both wives and is "one flesh" with each wife through sexual relations. Christian husband does NOT have sex with both wives at the same time as being "one flesh" with each wife is for heterosexual marriage intimacy between each wife with husband.

The divine Laws of marriage had to wait until after Eve disobeyed and lead the Fall. Why? Because without the Fall, there was no need for God's Laws. This is how we also know and understand that God's divine marital laws did not exist in the beginning. Neither God or Adam issued marital laws because there were no need for God's Laws until after the Fall. Thus, Adam could only speak from his own experience which is what he did. God's divine marital Laws concerning a husband with two wives and monogamy instructions would also only come in due time with population growth when those Laws could then be applied. God gave us His commandments which do not change or expire because they are given to us to address sin and provide us instructions for all time.

EVE alone was a good reason for Adam to have only one wife. Eve had already tempted Adam to disobey God. Other wives under Eve's influence wouldn't have been a good situation. So God's divine polygyny marriage Laws came later for others as the populations grew and His marital Laws then be applied.

Author, John C Wilson

TO SUMMARIZE/CONCLUDE ADAM'S WORDS IN GENESIS 2:24

In Genesis 2:24 ADAM TALKING about how the woman was made from his side and for that reason male and female are made FOR one another. (Heterosexual Marriage). When God joins MALE & FEMALE in marriage, they are not to be separated by divorce which Moses allowed. But as Jesus made sure the Pharisees knew, God joining MALE & FEMALE in marriage no man should separate but it was because of the hardened hearts of the people Moses permitted divorce.

When male & female have been joined in marriage by God and when they have sex together, they have become "one flesh" which consummates their marriage. But it is God Who does the joining in heterosexual marriage. Having sex with someone does NOT make them your spouse, but it does consummate the marriage as long as you are joined in heterosexual marriage by God! Adam would marry his sons and daughters to one another as one husband with one wife (other reason wife is in singular form) and they would leave mother & father and go out in all directions to start new tribes as their mission was to fill the earth as God blessed in Genesis 1:28. But Adam's words in Genesis 2:24 are NOT marriage law which applies to all people through all time. Only God's divine marital Laws apply to all people through all time. BEFORE the Fall, there was no need for God's divine marital laws as we understand from reading 1 Timothy 1:9. Therefore, Genesis 2:24 is not a marriage law from God and not from Adam either, of course. God institutes marriage. Not Adam. AFTER sin entered the world, then God provided us with His divine marital laws which are FOR polygyny and monogamy marriage.

Becoming "one flesh" through sexual relations also means God's plan for sexual relations is one-on-one MALE WITH FEMALE to consummate marriage - "one flesh". God does not condone sexual immorality. A husband having sex with his two wives at the same time would be sexual immorality. God created sexual relations to be for "one-on-one flesh" intimacy in heterosexual marriage which ADAM recognized and declared when describing the woman who God made from him and with whom he would become "one flesh" when he and Eve would consummate their own marriage. So all MEN would not be alone and that is why God created female for male and sons leave their mothers and fathers in their own marriages and consummate their own heterosexual marriages as "one flesh" with their wives according to the words of Adam.

Author, John C Wilson

Genesis 2:24 was spoken by Adam.

Adam's words were NOT marital law.

However, Jesus confirmed the validity of Adam's basic statement in Matthew 19:3-8. But Jesus did NOT go so far as to contradict God's divine polygynous marriage Laws by stating marriage only between one man and one woman. "One flesh" is NOT synonymous with "one wife". Therefore, Adam didn't say marriage between one man and one woman either unless referring to his own marriage with Eve and how he was marrying his children to one another. Also Adam didn't have the authority to issue divine marital laws to all people for all time. Marriage instituted by God, not Adam. God's marriage Laws which came AFTER Adam (after the Fall) and which existed at the time of Christ in Matthew 19:3-8 clearly includes polygyny when Jesus spoke these words. Matthew 5:18 Jesus stated God's Law does not disappear. So now we can understand why Jesus was able to tell the parable of the polygynous marriage in which the groom, Jesus, marries the five wise & faithful virgins. (Matthew 25:1-12). Of course people who don't agree with God's divine polygyny marriage Laws have difficulty with this parable told by Jesus. Those of us who accept God's divine polygyny marriage Laws accept & understand.

Author, John C Wilson

God did not institute marriage by parroting Adam's words in Genesis 2:24 about heterosexuality and Adam's description of his marriage to Eve and how Adam was going to fill the earth with their children.

To be clear, we do NOT receive and obey commandments from Adam. We have no commandments from Adam to be obeyed. Marriage Law and commandments concerning marriage come from God. God is the One Who instituted marriage. God has given us both monogamous and polygynous marriage Laws which provide divine marital rights from God Himself. Both monogamous and polygynous marriage Laws play a part in helping mankind to fulfill God's blessing in Genesis 1:28. Do not make God's divine polygyny marriage Laws a stumbling block to honest and proper scriptural interpretation.

The number of wives a husband has doesn't answer the Pharisees questions about divorce. Genesis 2:24 has nothing to do with the number of wives a husband may have. God tells us in His divine marital Laws a man may have more than one wife. Jesus answered their question about divorce by declaring no man should separate what God has joined in marriage.

Marriage of The Children of Adam & Eve

"One flesh" is NOT synonyms with "one wife" as explained in 1 Corinthians 6:16. A husband who has two wives is "one flesh" with each wife through consummation of their joining by God in marriage. Of course it is true that Adam had only one wife; Eve. But God had a number of reasons which should be obvious to us why God gave Adam only one wife. Eve made her choices to be who she was. But there is also more to it than that which I address later.

But in the beginning with the first man and woman, Eve was given to Adam in marriage to be his wife. Adam had no choice. The marriage of Adam & Eve was an arranged marriage by God.

This among the reasons why Adam's words in Genesis 2:24 NOT marital law to govern all people through all time. The marriage of Adam & Eve is truly unique in many ways. Even their children and all descendants since had marriages truly different than that of first man and first woman. Today, people also don't get married and concern themselves with leaving their parents to help ensure growing the earth's human population.

Unlike Adam & Eve, God does NOT arrange marriages for any of us today. Or even IF we will even marry. Marriage and married life for us today is NOT the same as it was for Adam & Eve. Also any children married people have today if they do have any children do not marry one another as Adam & Eve's children did.

In Genesis 2:24 Adam was truly speaking from his own authority describing his own marriage with Eve and how marriage would be with their children. When Adam's children married one another, Adam wanted them to leave him and Eve to help fulfill God's words in Genesis 1:28 to fill the earth, etc. So Adam spoke of a man leaving his mother and father when the man got married. This from Genesis 2:24 only applies to the children of Adam & Eve who were married to one another. In modern times, children are not required by Genesis 2:24 to leave their parents when they get married or stay with parents until they get married because Adam and his descendants fulfilled Genesis 1:28 and then God decreased human life span in Genesis 6:3.

But YET everyone knows and takes for granted we are not living under any laws of Adam which would require a man to leave home when he gets married or that God requires a man to stay with parents until he gets married. In Genesis 2:24 ADAM was simply talking with God about his own marriage with Eve and that of his own children at the beginning of time. How did Adam's words in Genesis 2:24 become marriage Law from God? It is NOT. Monogamous marriage from God instituted as arranged marriage as it was for Adam & Eve? People against polygyny say that God instituted marriage in Genesis 2:24 but seem to forget Adam & Eve had an arranged marriage by God. Well, the marriages of Adam & Eve's sons & daughters to one another in one husband and one wife marriage was "arranged" by God I think only in the sense of the timing of their births. But as head of his household, Adam may have selected the brother & sister he would marry to each other. We can only speculate about such things since the bible provides no scriptures specifically describing how Adam & Eve coupled particular brothers and sisters with each other in marriage. Curiosity and common sense naturally raises these questions and where the bible is silent we can only speculate. Whether brothers & sisters were coupled by Adam through arranged marriage like himself and Eve and/or through God via brother & sister twins at birth is unknown. This is not important enough that it is explained to us in the scriptures. So we should remain silent where scriptures are silent.

But people who do not like polygynous marriage have construed, taken out of historical context and assumed/assigned divine authority to ADAM'S WORDS in Genesis 2:24 to claim God designed marriage to be only between one man and one woman for all people through all time. By doing this, they conveniently forget Adam's words are NOT divine and it is GOD who instituted marriage. Desperate & dishonest or out of sincere ignorance because they reject God's divine polygynous marriage Laws. If you HONESTLY WANT A DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE, LOOK TO GOD'S DIVINE MARRIAGE LAWS.

BUT WHAT'S WORSE? Those against polygyny also make it a point to use their construed version of Adam's words in Genesis 2:24 TO MAKE GOD'S DIVINE MARITAL LAWS OF NO EFFECT (because they assume ADAM commanded marriage to be only between one man and one woman for all people and through all time and so God's divine marital laws FOR polygyny must be wrong and/or temporary. They regard ADAM and/or ADAM'S words above or with higher regard than the divine marital laws of God).

THEY ALSO FALSELY CLAIM GOD'S LAWS HAVE EXPIRED TO FIT THEIR NARRATIVE. THEY CLAIM GOD'S DIVINE MARITAL LAWS ARE NO LONGER VALID ALL WHILE UPHOLDING THEIR CONSTRUED VERSION OF ADAM'S WORDS IN GENESIS 2:24. THEY CLAIM POLYGYNY WAS MEANT TO BE TEMPORARY. GOD JUST TEMPORARILY APPROVED POLGYNY WHILE THEY CLAIM GOD WAS AGAINST IT. A VERY DISHONEST AND DECEITFUL MARRIAGE THEOLOGY. BUT ALL THIS THEY DO MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THEIR MISUNDERSTANDING OF ADAM'S WORDS IN GENESIS 2:24 AND SOME BECAUSE THEY JUST REFUSE TO ADMIT THEY ARE WRONG.

LISTEN TO THIS. WHETHER ADAM'S WORDS ARE CONSTRUED OR NOT, WE ARE TO OBEY COMMANDMENTS WHICH COME FROM GOD, NOT ADAM. YET THERE ARE SOME WHO DOUBLE DOWN AND INSIST TO HOLD THEIR CONSTRUED VERSION OF ADAM'S WORDS HIGHER THAN THEY DO THE DIVINE MARITAL LAWS OF GOD. THAT IS SUCH A TERRIBLY WRONG THING TO DO.

This of course being another reason why in practice we see the truth that we all know what Adam said in Genesis 2:24 is NOT a divine marital law which applies to all of mankind through all time and must be obeyed. One of the reasons for marriage for all of us today does NOT include populating the earth. Whether it is our own marriage or that of any of our children, populating the earth is not even a concern as it was for the first man and woman at the beginning of time. Only at the time of Adam & Eve marriage was designed with other goals in mind which were temporary. For example, the marrying of brothers and sisters to one another. The design and definition (purpose of and who married) of marriage is not the same as it was since ADAM SPOKE Genesis 2:24. But yet, so many preachers, theologians and laymen refer to Genesis 2:24 as they assert THAT to be God's divine design for marriage even for all people and through all time. If we define marriage according to God's divine marital Laws of polygyny and monogamy, then there are no contradictions and confusion. God blesses both.

Adam's words in Genesis 2:24 are not marital law from God. Adam's expression, "one flesh" does NOT mean "one wife" and God's divine marital Laws for monogamy and polygyny IS God's design for marriage for all people through all time. People who stubbornly hang their hat on their misunderstanding and construed interpretation of ADAM'S WORDS in Genesis 2:24 AND doubling down on that ARE TOTALLY IGNORING AND/OR CONSTRUING GOD'S DIVINE MARITAL LAWS FOR GOD'S FULL REVELATION OF WHAT MARRIAGE IS.

I hate sounding like a broken record, but there is often different lessons of truth wrapped up in the same scriptures. I just can't address each element all at the same time because each point becomes diluted. So please forgive me for having to refer to the same scriptures several times with different points in order to summarize their full impact.

Instead read God's divine marital Laws for both monogamous and polygynous marriage and FAITHFULLY ACCEPT - then there is a clear and concise DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE FROM GOD. Accept, believe and obey the commandments of God. Not Adam. Not man.

Marriage as designed by God is clearly defined in GOD'S OWN DIVINE MARRIAGE LAWS and there is no confusion and no contradictions when we simply accept what God tells us about marriage in His divine marital laws for polygyny and monogamy marriage. There is no controversy. You either accept the divine marital Laws of God concerning polygyny and monogamy marriage, or you do not.

God's divine marriage laws are all we need to know how God designed marriage.

So why are you looking elsewhere? Why are you looking in the wrong places? Why are you twisting and construing the words of a mere man - Adam? Taking Adam's words out of historical context. Ignoring that Adam was marrying his own children to one another to fulfill his obligation to fill the earth as God instructed in Genesis 1:28. Ignoring that Adam & Eve had an arranged marriage. Erroneously assuming and asserting that Adam's words in Genesis 2:24 was to be applied to all people through all time. Adam did not speak for God nor did Adam claim what he said would apply to all people through all time. Adam was talking to God and responding to God about Genesis 1:28.

God's divine marriage laws are in the bible for the whole world to see and they are clear and concise.

Inferred From The Scriptures

The children of Adam & Eve were not falling off trees like apples. So Adam married off his children to one another as one husband with one wife and sent them out into the world to fill it as God instructed in Genesis 1:28. The children went out in different directions and started new tribes and had their own children who also had children and this is how filling the earth began.

In God's timing when the populations grew larger and various tribes came to be, love lead the way to polygyny marriage. This probably happened long before the first recorded polygyny marriage stated in Genesis 4:19. How can I say this? Love is the fulfillment of the Law. There is no doubt in my mind personally that godly men fell in love with different godly women and so a husband took to himself two women for wives with the consent of the wives. I infer from scriptures that unlike Adam & Eve, it has not been necessary for any others to be joined through arranged marriage. Neither in monogamous or polygynous marriages. Arranged marriage was only necessary at the beginning of time for Adam & Eve. Also, for a time, their children since there were no other people in the world for Adam & Eve's children to marry.

When we take the time to carefully consider these lives, we realize certain realities. When the brothers and sisters went off in different directions as a husband & wife to fill the earth and start new tribes, sometimes one of them died for any number of reasons. When a husband died, it is easy to see why that wife joined in marriage with one of the other couples. Since Adam's words were not divine marital laws, polygyny between husband with two wives was not forbidden or immoral. God had not yet forbidden brother and sister marriage. Of course not because this was the only way Adam could marry his children together to populate the earth. It was necessary to save the life of the widowed wife that polygyny marriage was entered into out of love; love the origin of polygyny marriage. Love is the fulfillment of the law and there was already love among many of those people as they were all brothers and sisters from Adam & Eve. They all knew the mission to fill the earth as blessed by God to do so and by their father Adam who taught them the importance of this obedience to God. There were only so many men and women and so very reasonable to expect literal sisters shared a brother as their husband when one sister would become a widow. Some of Adam & Eve's married children traveled far and wide from the home of Adam & Eve. So when a widowed sister lived a lot closer to another brother and sister who were married, it is easy to understand and even expect she was accepted by them as another wife of the husband. Also bear in mind that populating the earth with families, children and growing tribes was a lot more effective when a husband had two or more wives.

The Law is not written for righteous people. So where there is love, there is fulfillment of God's Law. (Consider 1 Timothy 1:9). But when abuse in marriage came to be, God would have Laws and instructions provided to protect both monogamous and polygynous marriages. In fact, God's divine marital Laws and instructions FOR both monogamous and polygynous marriages are written against marital abuses. Marriage is not an excuse or license to abuse spouses and children. But because of sin, God provided us with His divine marital laws FOR both monogamous and polygynous marriages because God approves of both and provided these Laws to help protect women from unloving husbands. Marriage from God is based on love. Love is the whole reason God approves of both monogamous and polygynous marriage. "Love is the fulfillment of the law". - Romans 13:10

Author, John C Wilson

Was Eve Really So Bad?

Some of you may be thinking I'm coming down hard on Eve. This shows, at least in my mind, how denominationalism or organized religion has manipulated or indoctrinated your minds to ignore the gravity of what Eve did but yet you are fully aware of the gravity of what Judas Iscariot did. Judas Iscariot was one of the Twelve Apostles. He is notorious for betraying Jesus by disclosing Jesus' whereabouts for 30 pieces of silver. Judas brought men to arrest Jesus and identified him with a kiss. Jesus was then arrested, tried, and executed. What do you think the difference is between how we think and feel about Judas Iscariot because of what he did and how we think and feel about Eve because of what she did? Judas is widely viewed with contempt. Why wouldn't Eve be viewed the same? Eve disobeyed God and enticed her husband Adam to join her and he did then sin entered this world for all of us. Eve was one very good reason for Adam to have no other wives.

As Adam's first wife, Eve would have become the matriarch of the wives. Especially considering she disobeyed God and even went as far as enticing her husband Adam to also disobey God - Eve would have truly tried to assume authority and leadership of all those around her which wouldn't have been good for Adam's family. To put it another way. Before the Fall, Eve would be considered a foolish virgin and the groom would say to her, "I know you not." And the groom would close the door and that virgin not allowed into the marriage. The husband is to be the head of his own household. Eve is the reason God instructed women to submit to their husbands and to remain silent in church. Refusal to respect these instructions from God is perpetuation of Eve's spirit.

Eve's spirit of disobedience was so bad that God even assigned the cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. Adam & Eve were the only two people at that time! (Read Genesis 3:24 for reference). EVE alone was a good reason for Adam to have only one wife. Eve had already tempted Adam to disobey God. Other wives under Eve's influence wouldn't have been a good situation especially with Eve being the first wife and therefore would have been the matriarch of the wives. There is no record of Adam & Eve apologizing or repenting to God for their disobedience. Thus, the probable reason God assigned the cherubim knowing if He did not do that, Eve and/or Adam would go to the tree of life which would be an additional act of disobedience. This is how we know God anticipated further disobedience from Eve and therefore we can be confident in our conclusion Eve would not have been a good matriarch wife if God had given Adam other wives.

Permit me to break this down one step further in understanding Eve: A woman such as Eve who would disobey God and entice her husband to disobey God is a woman who would see other wives of Adam as competition against her own authority Eve usurped. Eve would have been hateful towards any other wives Adam could have had. So God's divine polygyny marriage Laws came later for others as the populations grew and God's marital Laws could then be applied. All women should love and support one another when they are wives and especially mothers in the same family with one husband.

Author, John C Wilson

God does NOT issue conflicting or contradictory marriage Laws.

Do not make God's divine polygyny marriage Laws a stumbling block to honest scriptural interpretations.

LOVE is the fulfillment of God's Laws.

God's Divine Marital Commandments For Polygyny

God's commandment helps ensure the inheritance rights of both wives children. These divine marital Laws of God shows us that God honors polygynous marriages by recognizing these women as WIVES and providing them with MARITAL RIGHTS which extend to the children.

God's commandment helps ensure each wife fairly treated by husband. These divine marital Laws of God shows us that God honors polygynous marriages. These divine marital Laws of God shows us that God honors polygynous marriages by recognizing these women as WIVES and providing them with MARITAL RIGHTS.

"Love is the fulfillment of the Law". - Romans 13:10

You might think God would provide those wives with a divorce option when they have a cruel husband. But what God has joined together, let no man separate. So God joines a husband with his two wives in marriage because polygyny marriage is from God. This is how we know POLYGYNY IS FROM GOD; NOT MAN-MADE. God's Laws do not come from man.

Marriage was instituted by God, not Adam. Not man.

A man can't force God to recognize two women as the wives of a man. If God is against polygyny God would NOT recognize any woman as another wife of a man. Marriage originated with God. Only if God recognizes other women as a man's WIVES, then polygyny is from God. If mankind is the one who created polygyny and made his own laws for it, God does NOT have to recognize that. But God DOES recognize the WIVES in His Laws because polygyny is marriage which comes from God - God's laws do NOT come from man. God provides divine polygyny marital rights to women. God determined it is RIGHTEOUS to provide divine polygyny marital rights to wives since God is FOR polygyny but knows there are husbands who would be cruel. You might think God would provide those wives with a divorce option. But what God has joined together, let no man separate. So God joines a husband with his two wives in marriage because polygny marriage is from God, the divine polygyny marital rights are provided in God's commandments. God's commandments do not disappear (Matthew 5:18). God's divine polygyny marriage Laws referred to here PROVES that a husband is "one flesh" with each wife when joined in marriage by God. A Christian husband does NOT have sex with both wives at the same time as being "one flesh" with each wife is for heterosexual marriage intimacy between each wife with husband.

Author, John C Wilson

Polygyny First Mentioned In The Bible | Genesis 4:19

The first recorded biblical text concerning polygyny is found at Genesis 4:19. It doesn't say Lamech or any one else invented or created polygyny, it just states that Lamech took two wives. This doesn't mean other men didn't already have two wives. Just means this is the first recorded biblical text on polygyny because of things we need to know about Lamech and his place in biblical history. Since God is the One who instituted marriage and God is the One who recognizes the women as becoming WIVES in marriage and God is the One who provided us with divine marital Laws FOR polygyny, we know and understand that Lamech, no matter how we characterize him, did not turn God against polygyny! Evil as Lamech was.

Adam and Eve brought sin and the Fall to the human race, but we don't use that to question the validity of monogamous marriage. Do we? Why? It wouldn't be fair. It wouldn't be logical. We can't judge the validity of marriage just because the one's married are sinners.

Yet, those against polygyny want to use Lamech as a reason to try to convince the rest of us polygyny is an evil thing despite God's own divine polygyny marriage Laws! They even spin a tale and paint a picture that polygny marriage must be condemned because Lamech came from the line of Cain. Since Cain was a murderer, Lamech must be the evil creator of polygyny they reason. Of course, this is nothing but foolish human rhetoric against written and spoken by those who refuse to accept that God provided us divine polygyny marriage Laws which are just as valid and real as those for monogamy.

How do you who do that not realize you are JUDGING GOD AND HIS LAWS?! We see God recognizes the marriages of both monogamy and polygyny in the scriptures no matter what we may think of those who are in those marriages. We simply accept they were in valid marriages as long as God recognizes them as husband and wives and their marriages in accordance with God's Will and His Laws. Please, be careful that you do NOT find yourself judging God and His divine marital Laws by twisting scriptures in a sad and intellectually dishonest attempt trying to make it look like God is against polygyny. Do not let polygyny be a stumbling block to honest and proper scriptural interpretation.

How we may judge Lamech and understand his place in biblical history has nothing to do with and does NOT change the fact that God provided us His divine polygynous marriage laws. God recognizes and blesses polygynous marriage by giving the women God recognizes as WIVES of a man, divine marital rights as WIVES. Lamech himself and all the rest of us should always respect and love God's divine marital rights given to WIVES.

People today who do NOT respect and honor the divine marital rights given to WIVES of one husband by God are just as guilty as Lamech in so far as not respecting God's divine marital laws. Ironic that those against polygyny use Lamech as an example of an evil person and so they reason polygyny must be evil. Lamech was evil because he ignored the commandments and divine marital laws of God! When blind follow the blind, you both fall into a ditch.

"Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years of Jehoiada the priest. Jehoiada chose two wives for him, and he had sons and daughters". - 2 Chronicles 24:2-3.

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The scriptures here simply stating a man who found favor with God took two wives. God did not rebuke him or any kind of problems with having two godly wives. Godly wives are like wise virgins who a groom accepts for marriage. Foolish virgins are not accepted by the groom for marriage. Jesus told a parable in which He accepted marriage with five wise virgins. Jesus rejected marriage with five foolish virgins. There are spiritual and marital lessons here for men considering polygyny marriage told by Jesus. If polygyny marriage is meant for you and your wife(s), this parable may help you with understanding God's will for you in marriage. (See the parable at Matthew 25:1-12). So as a man, a good way to start understanding this parable might be to ask yourself, "Would Jesus consider Eve to have been a wise virgin or a foolish virgin?" How you come to understand this and would answer this question may help you to determine marriage with a second wife. Better, if you and your wife are considering a 2nd wife in the family, do you consider the prospective 2nd wife to be wise or foolish in her character and in her faith?

Author, John C Wilson

People need to be very careful about claiming they have reasons to doubt, disobey or in claiming a commandment from God no longer applies. It is best and safe to go by what God says about His Laws then to listen to outside voices as Eve did. Since the Fall when sin entered the world, God gave us His commandments which do not change or expire because they are given to us to address SIN. As Christians will live under grace and we obey God's Laws out of love.

There are men who use sources outside the bible to question the authority, authenticity, authorship and application of bible scriptures. Same thing Eve did. She used the words of serpent (outside God's word) to question God's commandments and disobey. So you follow Eve's lead? Don't be like Eve. She is certainly no role model. Don't be like the serpent either. Creating doubt in the minds of people concerning God's Laws. I suggest you carefully and thoughtfully consider the words in Deuteronomy 4:2.

Author, John C Wilson

Don't find and listen to teachers who teach the commandments of men which CONTRADICT the Word of God and question the authority of God's Word.

Their favorite strategy to turn you away from God's commandments is to claim the commandments have disappeared or no longer valid. This is because they can't deny God provided the commandments so the next best thing is to claim God's commandments have expired.

Who's VOICE do you listen to? Do you listen to God's voice and love and obey His commandments? Or do you listen to voices which question the very commandments of God? And worse, do you seek to listen only to voices which speak against God's commandments? You don't like God's polygyny marital Law? So you find "experts", "scholars" and "teachers" who speak against God's polygyny Law.

But you have no excuse for gathering your teachers around you to simply parrot what you want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:3 exposes this.

Author, John C Wilson

While the words and laws of man may change and disappear, the same is NOT true about the words and commandments of God.

Marriage sacred. Marriage comes from God. God the authority for marriage. God has BOTH polygymous and monogamous marriage Laws. Easy to understand why. Love is the fulfillment of God's Law. No scriptures tell us any of the marital Laws have expired. God's marital Laws come from God, not man. God's marital Laws do not change or disappear because they are here to address sin.

Who does God write marital laws for? MARRIED people. Of course, God has to RESPECT, RECOGNIZE and HONOR the marriage relationship of a husband and wife to provide marital laws for them to obey. God did the SAME for husband with TWO WIVES!

Author, John C Wilson

Some people want to judge men with multiple wives as being lustful. All about lust is why men want multiple wives they claim. BUT THAT ISN'T WHAT GOD SAID nor did God give that as any reason for His creating Laws FOR polygyny. Judge not that you be not judged.

You read God's own words and yet you judge. You have stated God would not make Laws which condone or approve of sin. Yet God has Laws FOR polygyny then you hypocritically claim men only want multiple wives to commit sexual immorality. Therefore, you have judged the Laws of God. You effectively accuse God of hypocrisy for His making Laws for polygyny which you claim provides for sexual immorality. Do you not fully understand your own words?

Be more careful HOW you speak against the Laws of God. Who are you to judge others and even God Himself? God created Laws FOR polygyny because God determined it is RIGHTEOUS to have divine marital laws for polygyny. Who do you who disagree with God's Laws think you are? A very terrible burden of PROOF that God terminated any Law He provided to us is on YOU. I have PROOF He issued the commandments. It is YOUR burden to PROVE God terminated His Laws according to His own words.

Author, John C Wilson

These divine marital rights are bestowed upon WIVES of one husband by our Creator. As they are from God, they ARE divine and unalienable rights for all wives of one husband across all time and for all people.

Do these divine marital rights listed above given to WIVES from God sound like something temporary to you? These divine marital rights are not temporary. Marriage was never intended to be temporary. God always wants the wives of a man to have these marital rights. There is nothing temporary about monogamous or polygynous marriage in the eyes of God. Common sense is the first and best principle for interpreting these scriptures. Nothing in the scriptures tell us God instituted a "temporary approval" of polygyny marriage. The only people making the claim that polygyny is temporary are those who reject polygyny because they think polygyny contradicts Adam's words in Genesis 2:24. They want their construed interpretation of Adam's words in Genesis 2:24 to apply to all people through all time and they do NOT. We bow down to God. Not Adam. If there were an actual conflict in words or commandments, Adam would be wrong. Not God. We obey God. Not Adam. God is the One Who institutes marriage which applies to all people through all time. Not Adam.

Polygyny: God's Temporary Little Bandaid?

The Winder Family.

Anti-polygynists state some reasons God permitted polygyny: (1) Not enough men. (2) Keep women safe. (3) Wives help each other with children. (4) Female friendship between wives. (5) Help build wealth as family. (6) Many females died in childbirth. (7) A large number of children (males mostly) was needed to work the fields or with the herds. (8) In nomadic tribes it was important for every female to be attached to a household (for safety & security).

That was back then they say and so there is no reason for God to allow polygyny marriage any longer. They assert it was just a "temporary thing" (they assume without God's own words explaining why it was suppose to be temporary) to help otherwise single women to survive. Poor single ladies just couldn't stay single for long I guess. BUT ALL THESE REASONS STILL EXIST TODAY!

Leaning upon their own human wisdom to figure out reasons why God meant for His polygyny marital Laws to be temporary, they created a grocery list of reasons why God's Law MUST STILL BE APPLIED. All these situations and conditions STILL EXIST AROUND THE WORLD.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHY WOULD THE SOLUTION BE POLYGYNY IF GOD VIEWS POLYGNY AS SINFUL/IMMORAL? MARRIAGE IS NOT REQUIRED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. GOD HAS THE WISDOM TO SOLVE THESE CONCERNS WITHOUT RESORTING TO POLYGYNY. EVEN EVIL AND SINFUL MANKIND HAS LAWS AGAINST POLYGYNY WHILE AT THE SAME TIME KEEPING WOMEN FROM HAVING TO ENTER POLYGYNY MARRIAGE.

Author, John C Wilson

In the New Testament when Jesus speaks of the Law He says to keep the commandments. He was referring to the Old Testament commandments. Be careful when claiming some of God's laws are no longer valid. Whose wisdom do you use to make that determination? God's words, yours or someone who parrots what you like to hear? Here is what Jesus had to say about God's Law and the commandments. Who do you believe?

Since the Fall when sin entered the world, God gave us His commandments which do not change or expire because they are given to us to address SIN.

Don't find and listen to teachers who teach the commandments of men which CONTRADICT the Word of God and question the authority of God's Word.

Do not be like Eve who tempted her husband to disobey God's commandment. Do not be like the serpent who told half-truths to deceive Eve into disobeying God's commandment. Read and believe what Jesus said about the commandments. While Adam could not have other wives because of Eve, God provided His divine polygyny marriage Laws later for others in due time when population growth allowed His Laws to be applied.

Author, John C Wilson

God does not condemn polygyny because love fulfills the law. What is true is that polygyny is meant for some men and women and monogamy is meant for other men and women. However, a man with more than one wife cannot be a leader in the church as detailed in 1 Timothy 3:2.

"2 An overseer must not give people a reason to criticize him, and he must have only one wife. He must be self-controlled, wise, respected by others, ready to welcome guests, and able to teach." - 1 Timothy 3:2

Not that a church leader is required to be married. But if he is, he must have only one wife. This scripture incidentally reveals that the early church made no issue against men with multiple wives. This scripture certainly didn't require a man to be married - yet, if he was married he could only have one wife. In other words, men with multiple wives were accepted in the church but if a man with multiple wives in the church wanted to be a deacon, minister or hold any other office in the church, he was forbidden because he has more than one wife. Men with more than one wife were not forbidden from attending church nor were they excommunicated from the church. A man with one wife was considered having better self-control which is better for a church leader.

The apostle Paul preferred people not get married. But if they do, a husband is held with higher regard if he has one wife because this strongly indicates he has greater self-control. Let each man and woman decide for themselves whether monogamous or polygynous marriage is right for them.

There are some who want to argue that this means ALL Christians should meet these qualifications. Well, if that were true, then why were these qualifications required only of those who are suppose to meet these qualifications for the specific position? This is scripture telling us the qualifications required and now WE want to assume we know much more than the scriptures by saying these qualifications should apply at all Christians? That is wrong! God distinguishes these qualifications for a reason. Do not assume authority or some notion that your knowledge or wisdom is better than what the scriptures state. These qualifications for that specific position are from God. Don't attempt to change what God says.

REALITY IS, not all Christians qualify with all those characteristics. Which is a good thing because these qualifications ARE for a particular position in the church. Sad that instead of accepting and being happy these qualities are required for particular positions in the church, people want to twist it as though it suppose to apply to all Christians - especially the requirement to be the husband of one wife. But this error is committed in a failed attempt to try to make it look like ALL men are required to have one wife if a man is married. That is sad desperation to twist God's words here to fit a personal narrative and agenda because they refuse & reject God's own divine polygyny marital Laws. Instead, they prefer to hold onto their construed interpretation of ADAM'S WORDS in Genesis 2:24 and construe other scriptures based on their misunderstanding of Adam's words in Genesis 2:24.

Author, John C Wilson

How can one's heart be turned against the Love & Happiness of a husband and his two wives and only be happy for the Love & Happiness of interracial married people and other people?

To be honest, I really don't think people who have hardened hearts against polygyny have a biblical bases for that discrimination.

God is NOT going to condemn polygynous husbands and their wives to hell on the grounds of polygyny. Polygynous husband & wives are most often Christians themselves saved by faith in Christ and His work.

Both Old and New Testaments give us absolutely no reason to be so prejudiced against polygyny.

Of all the controversial subjects I've discussed with people over the years, the high emotions and attitudes which I see against polygyny is so much greater. Homosexuality, the divinity of Jesus, the triune nature of God, the resurrection of Jesus and so many others do not receive such great resistance. Yet, polygyny marriage divinely supported by God's Laws.

The Parable of the 10 Virgins

What difference did it make that these women were virgins? Why did that matter? If they were just bridesmaids, then call them that. But notice that they were identified as virgins and also that it was the groom and not a bride who met up with them and the five virgins went in with the groom to the marriage. Socially appropriate for virgins to be meeting up with the groom late at night? This implies groom has intimate relationship with these women. One woman who is suppose to be the only bride is never mentioned.

Matthew 25: 1-12 "1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not".

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We even lovingly call Jesus "Son of David" (David a polygynist and man after God’s heart).

The bridegroom is Jesus and the virgins are the church. Christians. Virgins represent purity in the parable and THAT is the church, the bride, that Jesus the groom is to marry. So in the parable, the groom is to marry the virgins. End of story. It's clear. There isn't one bride. There are five virgins which represent the true Church and the groom is Jesus who marries the multiple virgins. These are multiple virgins are because virginity represents purity.

"That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish". - EPHESIANS 5:27

Anyone who still doubts that the five virgins in the parable are the ones the groom is to marry should simply ask yourself this: Why it was such a "big deal" to a groom that mere bridesmaids didn't have oil in their lamps and that he would refuse to open the door and tell them to leave and even go so far as to say to them, "I know you not". In other words, it is with these virgins who he thought he knew and loved and was to marry but they greatly disappointed him. It is because the one groom was to marry all of these virgins who were to become his brides on the wedding day. Polygamous marriages existed then and still exist today.

Finally, if we do not accept that the virgins were to become brides for the groom to marry - then where is the bride? The parable symbolizes Jesus using the groom but where is the all-important one bride which suppose to be the symbol of the Church? Throughout this parable the virgins and THEIR relationship to the groom is important but no one bride which is suppose to be the Church is identified - except for the five virgins and the groom. BY THE WAY, THE SCRIPTURES DO NOT IDENTIFY THE VIRGINS AS SUPPOSEDLY BEING "BRIDESMAIDS". THE SCRIPTURES TELL US THESE WOMEN WERE VIRGINS. Only people against polygamy prefer to ASSUME OR ASSERT the women were bridesmaids. No, they were virgins as the bible clearly states and which the bible also clearly states would make these brides-to-be (yes, BRIDES-TO-BE because they were NOT bridesmaids, so who were they?) "holy and without blemish" according to Ephesians 5:27.

How pathetic and desperate to refer to the virgins as "bridesmaids". Using labels or other titles to desperately change the FACT WHO THESE WOMEN WERE TO THE GROOM! These women were VIRGINS and there is a reason there is an undeniable relationship described between these VIRGINS AND THE GROOM.

Since the women liberation movement and other social change movements - virginity is not as valued in our society as it was in Jesus' culture and day. So this IS another contributing factor as to why modern Americans can especially find it easy to assume the virgins were merely "bridesmaids". But no, they were not simply bridesmaids. They were highly valued brides according to this parable! There is absolutely no reason whatsoever for it to matter to a man whether bridesmaids are virgins or not. But it does matter to a man if the bride(s) are virgins. At least, it use to matter.

"We should always be ready with our lamps trimmed and full of oil so we won’t be caught in the darkness when the bridegroom (Jesus) comes!" but even here we are assuming we should be the wise virgins! Not the bride! The bride is suppose to be the Church which marries the groom Jesus. But yes, in this parable, the wise virgins are the ones with the most important relationship with the groom - they are to be the brides. Oh, and throughout this story the virgins are only concerned about the groom and never any concern about a bride. These virgins all knew they were to be the brides on the wedding day. I believe we can all see how extremely important the relationship of the virgins are to the groom in this parable. But we only want to accept that fact . . . just up to a certain point.

Most people refuse to accept what appears obvious to me because of their bias against polygynous marriage. Even while at the same time they know polygamous marriage was alive and well in that part of the world and throughout the writings of Moses which they were all very well versed in. Anyway, that bias leads to a confused understanding of that parable. Because the whole parable makes more sense logically, historically and culturally when it is understood as taking place in the context of a groom simply marrying five virgins.

Well, Jesus could have explained about being wise and prepared with probably thousands of other parables instead. With an open mind and heart, maybe one parable can teach more than one lesson. Yes? Also consider this. Do you think it is thoughtful and considerate to the five wise virgins the groom lets into the marriage that he now supposedly is expected to reject four of them for marriage? Suppose to make his decision right there at the marriage site and reject the other four? Really? I don't think so. In this parable Jesus is telling us the groom allows the five virgins in to the marriage because they are wise and were faithful to the groom. The groom marries these five wise virgins only since the other five virgins did not remain faithful to wait and have wisdom to be prepared for him when he arrived to marry them. The marriage in this parable is a polygamous marriage. I don't see a more accurate, honest and fully coherent way of understanding this parable otherwise.

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But religious scholars and theologians don't like this narrative. They didn't like it in the Old Testament as well. They don't like that God in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament had NO ISSUE with men having more than one wife. That's why so many anti-polygynists hate this parable Jesus spoke. Jesus used a polygynist marriage in a parable and that goes against the world elite narrative. Jesus using a polygynist marriage in a parable without condemning polygynist marriage. Why didn't Jesus tell this parable but simply with one bride which represents the church and the bridegroom which represents Jesus? In other New Testament scriptures the word Bride is used to symbolize His Church. But Jesus had no problem with polygyny and thus the reason Jesus had no issue with a groomsman representing Jesus and five virgins representing who Jesus is to marry. They hate this. Because we also see in the New Testament, Jesus Himself telling a parable using polygyny marriage because Jesus had no issue against polygyny marriage knowing that is what works best for some men and women as in the Old Testament.

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Then, finally, there are those who say that the parable is probably not based on a true story. Well, it doesn't have to be based on a true story. The point is Jesus has no problem using a POLYGYNOUS MARRIAGE to illustrate a spiritual truth. Whether the polygyny marriage He used to illustrate or teach the spiritual truth actually happened or not still reveals to us that Jesus made no issue against polygyny. In fact, Jesus used the story of a man marrying multiple women during the same wedding ceremony to teach a spiritual truth. So Jesus definitely had no problem or issues with polygyny. In the parable, the groom represented Jesus Himself! Before the Fall and expulsion of Adam & Eve from the garden, I wonder which group of virgins Adam's wife Eve would fall under.

We even lovingly call Jesus "Son of David" (David a polygynist and man after God’s heart) and then question where God stands on polygyny. 8 wives: 18+ children: King David is described in the Hebrew Bible as king of the United Monarchy of Israel and Judah. Many important figures had more than one wife, such as in the instances of Esau (Gen 26:34; 28:6-9), Jacob (Gen 29:15-28), Elkanah (1 Samuel 1:1-8), David (1 Samuel 25:39-44; 2 Samuel 3:2-5; 5:13-16), and Solomon (1 Kings 11:1-3). Think it was just because of their culture and what men wanted? Those men of God would NOT have had more than one wife if polygyny did not come from God. No scriptural instances of God telling them to FREE WOMEN who God did not recognize and accept as wives in the marriages with those men!

Author, John C Wilson

True Love starts with Love of the Truth. - John C Wilson

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