THE NEW TESTAMENT AND PLURAL MARRIAGE Part Two By Ogden Kraut

THE NEW TESTAMENT
AND
PLURAL MARRIAGE Part Two

ByOgden Kraut

In Paul’s sermons on fleshly sins—such as in Romans 7, Galatians 5, and many other epistles—he never mentioned that a man in plural marriage was living in sin. Why not? He defends monogamous marriage, and rightly so, but why did he avoid either a positive or negative comment on the subject of polygamy? The Jews practiced it; the Arabs practiced it; the Old Testament prophets and patriarchs practiced it; yet it is not even slightly referred to by Paul or any of the other disciples. In fact, in all of Christ’s teachings about both sins and virtues of the flesh, even He did not mention it. Isn’t it strange that nothing was said about it? Certainly some references must have been made. If plural marriage was as terrible as most people suppose, then the Lord would surely have given us more reputable evidence to rely on than these few isolated verses in 1st Corinthians.

Why do we wrangle over the positive statements on monogamy, which are commendable, but fail to find one simple New Testament reference about plural marriage? If it is a sin, why didn’t they say so? If it is a virtue, why didn’t they admit it? The Old Testament is full of examples of prophets, patriarchs, kings and righteous men who lived plural marriage, and not one disciple of Jesus said a word against them for such a lifestyle.