Polygamy in Christianity, among scholars and church fathers, and in Western history throughout the ages

 In the name of God , the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. By the

grace of God Almighty, we have previously presented a topic on “ Polygamy in both Judaism and Christianity ” under the title “ Polygamy between Laws, Science and Reality .” We have reached the part on criticizing the evidence for the prohibition of polygamy in the “ Holy Bible ” that some rely on and understand as texts that prohibit “ polygamy .” Then we reached the following points:

1- There is absolutely not a single text in the Old Testament that prohibits polygamy. Rather, it witnesses countless polygamy among the prophets of the Holy Bible, some of whom had two wives, three, ten, or a thousand women....
here.

2- There is no prohibition of polygamy in all of Jewish history except what was done by “ Rabbi Gershom of Ashkenazi ” ( Rabbi Gershon b. Judah of Metz ) at the beginning of the “ eleventh ” century here.


3- There is not a single text in the New Testament “ the Bible ” that prohibits polygamy from the sayings of “ Christ ” or “ the disciples ” or “ Paul ”
here. 1 ) - ( 2 ) - ( 3 ) - ( 4 ) -a

4- The response to the texts that some interpret as a prohibition of polygamy:
here ( 1 ) - ( 2 ) -a

5- The response to the book of “ Anba Shenouda ” ( The Law of One Wife )
here ( 1 ) - ( 2 ) - ( 3 ) -a

I would have liked to complete this section on “ Polygamy throughout the ages of Christianity from ancient times to the present” in the same place, but I saw that this section is very important, as most Christians do not know that their church has given its voice, anciently and modernly, the right to permit polygamy, and that this issue was and still is one of the purely controversial issues between the supporters and opponents of Christian scholars!

We will not prolong the introduction and will quickly enter the topic or this part of the previous topic “ Polygamy between Laws, Science and Reality ” and see whether Christian history from its beginning until now and the Western world have witnessed “polygamy”?!

1- The writer " Matilda Joslyn Gage " in her wonderful book " WOMAN , CHURCH AND STATE " says in the seventh chapter " POLYGAMY " the following:

 She says on page: ( p. 398 ):

It is of indisputed historic record that both the Christian Church and the Christian State in different centuries and under a number of differing circumstances gave their influence in favor of polygamy.

It is historically acknowledged that both the Christian Church and the Christian state in different centuries, and under a number of different circumstances, gave their authority to polygamy.

The Roman Emperor Valentinian I , in the fourth century, permitted Christians to take two wives .

In the eighth century, Charlemagne the Great, asserting his authority over both church and state, practiced polygamy himself, taking six , or according to some documents, nine wives .

King "Valentinian I"
Reign: 364 to 375



He married both of:

1- Marina Severa
2- Princess Justina

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentinian_I

King "Charlemagne"
Reign:768–814



Some of the wives of King "Charlemagne"

* Desiderata of the Lombards
* Fastrada
* Hildegard of Vinzgouw
* Himiltrude
* Luitgard

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categor...of_Charlemagne

The writer Matilda Joslyn Gage continues , saying in her previous book , “ WOMAN , CHURCH AND STATE , ” page 398:399 :

The great German reformer, Luther, although perhaps himself free from the lasciviousness of the old priesthood was not strictly monogamic in principle. When applied to by Philip, Landgrave of Hesse Cassel, for permission to marry a second wife while his first wife, Margaret of Savoy, was still living, he called together a synod of six of the principal reformers--Melancthon and Bucer among them- -who in joint consultation decided "that as the Bible nowhere condemns polygamy, and as it has been invariably practiced by the highest dignitaries of the church," such marriage was legitimate, and the required permission was given.

The great German reformer, Luther ( 1 ) , though perhaps himself free from the licentiousness of the old priesthood, was not entirely a " monogamist " in principle. When he was presented with a request by Philip , Landgrave of Hesse Cassel ( 2 ) , for permission to marry a second wife while his first wife, Margaret of Savo , was still alive, he called for a synod of six of the leading reformers--among whom were Melancthon ( 3 ) and Bucer ( 4 ) --and in the joint consultation it was decided that " while Scripture nowhere condemns polygamy , and as it has always been condemned by the highest authorities of the Church," such a marriage was lawful, and permission was given to it .

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( 1 ):(Luther) "Luther": Martin Luther (Martin Luther) (Eisleben, November 10, 1483 - Eisleben, February 18, 1546), a famous German Christian religious reformer, considered the spiritual father of the Protestant Reformation. (

2 ):(Philip, Landgrave of Hesse Cassel) "Philip, Landgrave of Hesse Cassel": Philip, Landgrave of Hesse, (Marburg, November 13, 1504 - Kassel, March 31, 1567), nicknamed the Gentleman ("der Großmütige"), the pioneer of the Protestant Reformation and one of the most important German Reformation rulers.

( 3 ): (Melancthon) "Melancthon": Philip Melancthon (Britten, February 16, 1497 - Wittenberg, April 19, 1560) German humanist and theologian, personal friend of Martin Luther and one of the most prominent figures of the Protestant Reformation.

( 4 ): (Bucer) "Bucer": Martin Bucer (Martin Bucer) (November 11, 1491 - February 28, 1551) was a Protestant reformer in Strasbourg who influenced Lutheran Calvinism and the doctrines and practices of Anglicanism.

We continue on page "399"

Luther himself with both the Old and the New Testaments in hand, saying, “I confess for my part that if a man wishes to marry two or more wives, I cannot forbid him, nor is his conduct ant to the Holy Scriptures.” Thus we have the degrading proof that the doctrine of polygamy was brought into reformation by its earliest promoters under assertion that it was not inconsistent with the Bible or the principles of the Gospel.

" Luther " ( 1 ) himself, holding the " Holy Book " with its " Old " ( Torah ) and " New " ( Bible ) Testaments, says: " I confess for my part that if a man desires to marry two or more wives, I cannot forbid him, and his behavior does not contradict the Holy Books."
Thus we have evidence that the doctrine of polygamy was brought to the Reformation by its early promoters under the claim that it was not in contradiction with the Holy Book or the principles of the Gospel.
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( 1 ):(Luther) "Luther": Martin Luther (Martin Luther) (Eisleben, November 10, 1483 - Eisleben, February 18, 1546), a famous German Christian religious reformer, considered the spiritual father of the Protestant Reformation.

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We are still continuing with the wonderful book “WOMAN, CHURCH AND STATE” page “402:403”:

The number of eminent Protestants both lay and clerical who have sanctioned polygamy has not been small. In the sixteenth century a former Capuchin monk, a general of that order who had been converted to the Protestant faith, published a work entitled “Dialogues in favor of Polygamy.” In the latter part of the seventeenth century, John Lyser, another divine of the reformed church strongly defended it in a work entitled “Polygamia Triumphatrix” or the triumphant defender of polygamy. Rev. Dr. Madden, still another Protestant divine, in a treatise called "Thalypthora," maintained that Paul's injunction that bishops should be the husbands of one wife, signified that laymen were permitted to marry more than one. The scholarly William Ellery Channing could find no prohibition of polygamy in the New Testament. In his "Remarks on the Character and Writings of John Milton" he says, "We believe it to be an indisputable fact that although Christianity was first preached in Asia which had been from the earliest days the seat of polygamy, the apostles never denounced it as a crime and never required their conversions to put away all wives but one. No express prohibition of polygamy is found in the New Testament.

The number of prominent Protestants , both lay and clerical, who approved of polygamy was not small. In the sixteenth century , the Capuchin monk , a convert to the Protestant faith, published a work entitled Dialogues in Favor of Polygamy . In the latter part of the seventeenth century , John Lyser , another Reformed priest, defended polygamy forcefully in a work entitled Polygamia Triumphatrix , or The Triumphant Defense of Polygamy . The Rev. Dr. Madden , still a Protestant minister, in a treatise called Thalypthora , "claimed that the teaching of St. Paul , that bishops should be the husbands of one wife ( 1 ), shows that all other men, the laymen ( other than priests or deacons ) , were permitted to marry more than one wife. The scholar William Ellery Channing found no prohibition of polygamy in the New Testament . In his "Observations on the Person and Writings of John Milton " he says, " We hold it to be a fact that although Christianity was first preached in Asia , which from the earliest days was the seat of polygamy , while the Apostles never condemned it as a crime, nor did they ever require believers to divorce all their other wives and remain single. " On one wife only. There is no clear prohibition ( prohibition ) of polygamy in the New Testament. 

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 (1) : (1 Timothy 3:2) : ( A bishop must therefore be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, hospitable, apt to teach,) - (1 Timothy 3:12) : ( Let deacons be the husband of one wife, ruling their children and their own households well, )



Page "404"

Is it not evident from Paul's instruction respecting the qualifications of a bishop, viz., that he "should be the husband of one wife" that polygamy was permitted in the primitive church under the apostles, and that too in circumstances precisely similar to those in which churches are gathered among the heathen at the present day. If so, why should a different standard be set up than that set up by the apostles?”

It is not clear from the teachings of " St. Paul " except about the qualifications of the bishop, viz., that " the bishop or deacon must be the husband of one wife" ( 1 ), and thus " polygamy " was permitted in the " early church " ( primitive church ) ( among the laity "other than priests or deacons" ) under the " apostles " ( disciples of Christ ), and also in circumstances similar to those churches gathered among the pagans at the present time. If this is the case, why is a standard set contrary to that of the apostles ( who permitted polygamy and did not prohibit it )?! Page "405"

That polygamy is not regarded as contrary to the principles of Christianity was again most forcibly shown in its endorsement by missionaries located in those countries where this custom prevails. One of the most notable instances of recent church action in recognizing polygamy as sustained by Christianity, occurred a few years ago in Calcutta during a Conference upon the question. This body was convened by the missionaries of England and America located in India. Its immediate cause was the application of Indian conversions, the husbands of several wives, for admission to the church. A missionary conference of the several Christian denominations was therefore called for the purpose of deciding upon this grave request. It included representatives of the Episcopal, Baptist, Presbyterian and Congregationalist churches. Taking the Bible as authority full consideration was given to the subject. Quotations from that “holy book” proved to the satisfaction of the conference that not alone did the Bible favor polygamy, but that God Himself supported, regulated and sustained the institution. In addition it was declared that these converted polygamists "had given credible evidence of their personal piety." The conference therefore unanimously rendered favorable decision for retention of the polygamous members within the respective churches to which they belonged, upon the ground that as both the Jews and the early Christians had practiced polygamy, it was allowable to the new conversions.

If a convert before becoming a Christian, has married more wives than one, in accordance with the practice of the Jews and primitive Christian churches, he shall be permitted to keep them all.

Polygamy was not considered to be contrary to the principles of Christianity, so it was once again strongly presented and approved by the missionaries of those countries ( in which polygamy existed ) as a reality where this custom prevailed.

One of the most conspicuous instances of the present Church ( 2 ) in its recognition of polygamy as a fixed matter in Christianity, occurred a few years ago in Calcutta during a church council on this question. This council was held by missionaries from England and America based in India . Its immediate cause was regarding the " Indian converts ", who were married to several wives, regarding joining the Church. A missionary council was held, consisting of " several Christian denominations ", called upon to decide on this serious request. This council included representatives from the Episcopal, Baptist, Presbyterian and Congregationalist churches , arbitrating to the Holy Scriptures as the final and decisive authority on this subject . Based on the " Holy Scripture " it has been proven to the convincing end of the Church Council that it is not only the " Holy Scripture " that supports polygamy, but that "God" himself has supported, organized and established this system. In addition, it has been declared that these " converted polygamists " have given true evidence of their piety.

The synod unanimously ruled that polygamists could keep their wives within their own churches, as both Jews and early Christians had practiced polygamy , and it was permissible for new converts. If a convert had had more than one wife before becoming a Christian,under Jewish practice and early Christian churches, he would be permitted to keep them all.

=*=*=*= (1) : (The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy 3:2) - ( A bishop must be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, self-controlling, of good behavior, hospitable, apt to teach,) - (The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy 3:12) - ( Let deacons be the husband of one wife, ruling their children and their own households well, ) ( 2 ): This book was written by “Woman, Church and State” ( WOMAN, CHURCH AND STATE ) in the year " 1893 " in the " nineteenth "=*=*=*= 

And with the last quote from the book " WOMAN , CHURCH AND STATE " by Matilda Joslyn Gage and Chapter VII : POLYGAMY :

We continue on page "406"

Rev. David O. Allen, DD, missionary of the American Board in India for twenty-five years and from whose report of the action of the missionary conference the above facts were gained, said: If polygamy was unlawful, then Leah was the only wife of Jacob and none but her children were legitimate. Rachel as well as Bilhah and Zilpah were merely mistresses and their children, six in number, were bastards, the offspring of adulterous connection. And yet there is no intimation of any such views and feelings in Laban's family, or in Jacob's family, or in Jewish history. Bilhah and Zilpah are called Jacob's wives (Genesis xxxvii: 2.). God honored the sons of Rachael, Bilhah and Zilpah equally with the sons of Leah, made them patriarchs of seven of the tribes of the nation and gave them equal inheritances in Canaan.

We continue on page "407:406"

Nor is this judgment at all strange as we find polygamy endorsed by the majority of Christian sects. Nor can we be surprised that the Mormons of Utah and the adjoining states should look upon the opposition of the United States to their practice of polygamy, as an unjust interference with an established custom of the Christian church, recognized and indorsed through the ages, as not alone part of the Jewish and early Christian practice, but permitted as allowable at the present day.

We should not be surprised by the position of the Mormons ( 4 ) in the state of Utah ( 5 ) and neighboring states, where they should view the opposition of the United States to their practice of polygamy as an unjust interference in a custom recognized and approved by the religious establishment and the Christian Church, throughout the ages, not only as part of the early Jewish and Christian practice, but as something that is permitted to this day. =*=*=*=


( 1 ): (Leah) “Leah”: a Hebrew name meaning (( wild cow )) and she is the eldest daughter of “ Laban ” and “ the first wife of the prophet Jacob ” and she was less beautiful than her younger sister “ Rachel ” ( the second wife of the prophet Jacob ) because her eyes were weak. By a trick, her father married her to “ Jacob ” after he had served seven years for “ Rachel ”. She bore him six sons: " Reuben ", " Simeon ", " Levi ", " Judah ", " Issachar ", and " Zebulun ", and a daughter named " Dinah ".

(2): Clear evidence that the Lord did not consider " polygamy " as a forbidden or unrecognized relationship, as Jacob's children from " his other three wives " were considered part of the congregation of the Lord, which is evidence that they were legitimate children through a legitimate path , as the children of an illegitimate relationship cannot enter the "congregation of the Lord" according to what is stated in : (Deuteronomy 23:2 ) - [ A bastard shall not enter the congregation of the Lord. Even to the tenth generation no one of them shall enter the congregation of the Lord. ] But all the sons of Jacob were leaders over the tribes of the nations and inherited the inheritance of Canaan without distinction or discrimination between the sons of “Leah” or “Rachel” or “Bilhah” or “Zilphah”

(3): (Genesis 37:2 ) - [ These are the generations of Jacob: Joseph, when he was seventeen years old, was tending the flock with his brothers, and he was a lad with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought their evil slander to their father. ]

( 4 ):Mormon is a term given to followers of the " Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints " ( LDS Church ), a church with more than " 12 million members worldwide ." This religious sect was founded in 1830 by " Joseph Smith ." The church practices " polygamy .""This was practiced by an elite group of its followers, and some fundamentalist Mormon minorities who broke away from the Mormon majority still practice this custom in the western United States, Canada, and Mexico.

( 5 ): "Utah State": It is a state in the United States. It is located in the west of the country, bordered by " Arizona " to the south, " Nevada " to the west, " Idaho " and " Wyoming " to the north, and " Colorado " to the east. Its capital is " Salt Lake City " and its most important city as well. The " Mormon " sects practice " polygamy " there after a long dispute with the American government.

St. Augustine (1), “one of the greatest fathers of the Church among all Christian sects,” says: “ The law of one wife is a custom, not a cult .” And the priest Stephen E. Robinson (2), says: “Polygamy was forbidden because of Roman custom, not scriptural custom !”

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The well-known Christian encyclopedia ( Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: First Series ) ( 3 ) and Post-Nicene Fathers ( 4 ), “First Series: Volume IV ” ( The Writings Against the Manichaeans and Against the Donatists ) - page “ 289 ” states the following:

Again, Jacob the son of Isaac is charged with having committed a great crime because he had four wives. But here there is no ground for a criminal accusation: For a plurality of wives was no crime when it was the custom; and it is a crime now, because it is no longer the custom. There are sins against nature, and sins against custom, and sins against the laws. In which, then, of these senses did Jacob sin in having a plurality of wives? As regards nature, he used the women not for sensual gratification, but for the procreation of children. For custom, this was the common practice at that time in those countries. And for the laws, no prohibition existed. The only reason of its being a crime now to do this, is because custom and the laws forbid it.

Translation: For the second time,Jacob, sonof Isaac, is accused of committing a great crime by taking four wives ( 5 ). But there is no basis for this criminal accusation: since polygamy was not a crime when it was the custom; but it is a crime now that it is no longer the custom. There are sins against nature, sins against custom, and sins against the law (custom). So in this case, did Jacob sin by taking several wives? Naturally, he (Jacob) did not take these wives because of sexual desire, but with the aim of increasing the offspring (producing children). As for custom, this was the general practice at that time and in that country. As for custom and law, there was no prohibition on it. The only reason why (polygamy) is a crime now is that custom and custom forbid it.

Then St. Augustine asserts that the principle of “polygamy” was prohibited because of “Greco-Roman custom” and not according to the teachings of the Holy Bible or “church councils”:

This is stated in the samefamous Christian encyclopedia ( Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: First Series ), “Volume III” entitled ( On the Holy Trinity; Doctrinal Treatises; Moral Treatises ) - page “ 402 ” as follows:

for it is in a man's power to put away a wife that is barren, and marry one of whom to have children. And yet it is not allowed; and now indeed in our times, and after the usage of Rome, neither to marry in addition, so as to have more than one wife living:

Translation: It was within the power of a man to divorce his barren wife and marry another who had children. But this is no longer possible;in fact, in our time, after the Roman custom (the laws of the Romans), it is no longer possible to take an additional wife , or to take two wives, one of whom is still alive.>>Dr.StephenE. Robinson comments on the words ofSt. Augustineinhisbook "MormonsChristians?"saying:

I do not deny that polygamy is now abhorred in Western culture generally and in modern Christianity particularly. What I deny is that the source of that abhorrence is biblical. It is derived not from the biblical heritage but the classical-the abhorrence of polygamy comes from Greece and Rome. As orthodox a figure as Saint Augustine knew that the prohibition of plural marriage in the church of his day was only a matter of Roman custom:

Translation: I do not deny that "polygamy" is now abhorred in Western culture and modern Christianity in particular. But what I abhor is that the source of this abhorrence is the Bible. The abhorrence of polygamy is not derived from the Bible, but from the abhorrence of Greek and Roman fundamentalism for this matter (polygamy). AsprominentOrthodox saints such asSt.Augustine,know very well that the prohibition of polygamy in the church in his day was due to Greek custom.

=*=*=*=*= ( 1 )St. Augustine : St. Augustine (November 13, 354 - August 28, 430), one of the most important influential figures in Western Christianity. The Catholic and Anglican churches consider him a saint and one of the prominent church fathers and the patron saint of the Augustinian monastic tradition. Many Protestants, especially Calvinists, consider him one of the theological sources of the Protestant Reformation teachings on grace and salvation. Some Orthodox churches, such as the Coptic Orthodox Church, consider him a saint.( 2 )Rev. Stephen E. Robinson "Stephen Robinson" : Stephen Edward Robinson (born 1947) is a member of the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints", and a Mormon scholar and apologist. ( 3 ): The Council of Nicaea: The First Ecumenical Council ( 325 AD ) is one of the seven ecumenical councils according to the Roman and Byzantine churches and one of the four ecumenical councils according to the Eastern Coptic, Armenian and Syriac churches. ( 4 ) Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: First Series : A Select Library of the Writings of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, commonly known as the NPNF , is a collection of books containing translations of early Christian writings into English. It was published between 1886 and 1900. Unlike the Ante-Nicene Writings, which were produced using earlier translations of the Post-Nicene Fathers, the Ante-Nicene Christian Library (ANCL ) is a collection of books containing translations of early Christian writings into English.( 5 ) TheWives of the Prophet Jacob : Leah , Rachel , Bilhah , and Zilpah =*=*=*=*=