I stumbled on Aleem A. Adeola’s Facebook post which he titled, “MEN ARE NATURALLY POLYGAMOUS” which he called a trending doctrine, a strategically devised strategy, a motto from the pit of hell, an inspiring inspiration sponsored and masterminded from the devil.
While the “men are naturally polygamous” theory may be challengeable, the demonization of polygamy by a Muslim or Christian portrays a shallow understanding of Islam and Christianity respectively. While Christians in the West are used to one wife and hundred concubines, African Christians are divided on polygamy. In fact, there are pastors who have more than a wife.
This article is a refutation to Aleem A. Adeola’s demonization of polygamy and his misinterpretation of Bible verses. His empty sermon was more of criticism without evidence. The only evidence he gave was on divorce. He wrote;
“The plant of this demonic seed is budding in many hearts, many young men are already subscribing to it. It’s a painful admission that some pastors and ministers are buying the idea lobbying their bases of argument to the biblical characters in the old testament- Moses, David, Solomon, Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, etc. You’ve been deceived!”
What Adeola failed to show us is why it is wrong to base our argument on these prophets of God. Yeah! You know someone who argues for polygamy would make this argument but you stating it does not invalidate their argument. If one’s argument is based on Jesus’ life, then, no one should get married.
It is necessary we know that nowhere in the Bible was monogamy and polygamy directly enjoined or forbidden. Let us start with Exodus 21:10,
“If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage shall he not diminish“.
It is vivid, glaring and clear that this verse does not forbid polygamy rather it makes it permissible. The verse quoted above was a law given to Moses, then we find the supposed Lord and personal saviour of the Christians saying,
“St. Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil”
Hence, we can see Jesus in the Bible never forbade polygamy, how could he when he wasn’t even married?
Let us take biblical figures as a case study…
ABRAHAM – FATHER OF FAITH
Married Sarah, Hagar and Keturah
JACOB(ISRAEL)
God also blessed Jacob (THE POLYGAMIST) who begat the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel with two wives, Leah and Rachel, and two concubines, Bilhah and Zilpah (Genesis 29:23-30, 30:4-9, 32:22)
GIDEON
God blessed mighty Gideon (THE POLYGAMIST), “And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour” (Judges 6:12). “And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives” (Judges 8:30).
KING DAVID
The Bible says in 1 Kings 15:5 “Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite“
David married up to seven wives and the only thing God saw wrong with his actions was regarding the matter of Uriah. His polygamous lifestyle wasn’t frowned at. After David had sinned, read what God said to him,
“I anointed you king over my people Israel and I delivered you out of the hands of Saul, AND I GAVE YOU YOUR MASTER’S DAUGHTERS AND YOUR MASTER’S WIVES INTO YOUR BOSOM, AND I ALSO GAVE YOU THE DAUGHTERS OF ISRAEL AND OF JUDAH; AND IF THEY WERE TOO FEW YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME, AND I WOULD HAVE ADDED TO YOU TWICE THAT MANY” (Samuel 12:7-8, original Aramaic Bible).
What more proof do we need to believe polygamy isn’t a sin? Even Paul attested to the greatness of this polygamy without bringing their marriage into question. Abraham, Jacob (Israel), Moses, Gideon, David, Solomon, Elkanah, and many other chosen, beloved patriarchs and servants of God (saints) had many wives. The book of Hebrews states that the world was not worthy of these greats (THE POLYGAMISTS).
“And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again…(Hebrews 11:32-38)
Nowhere in the NT was it enjoined neither forbidden. However, Jesus was reported to have said he came not to destroy the law which involves that of exodus 21:10 (as written above). Not even Paul wrote anything in condemnation of polygamy. Even if he did, he did not marry, hence not an authority on marital affairs.
However, Christians use this verse to say no to polygamy,
“Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh“
Christians accuse us of cherry-picking verses when no one does it better than then. Adeola quoted Matthew 19:4-8 which verse 5 reads,
“KJV:And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?”
Here, Jesys quoted the Old Testament which the Christians claim is obsolete. The same OT that says a man shall leave father and mother…also has in its pages verses that support polygamy. Unlike Islam where polygamy (polygyny more appropriate) is restricted, polygamy in Christianity is unrestricted.
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This refutation is for academic and religious purposes.. While men can decide if they want to be polygamous or not, we should know that the Qur’an and the Bible did not forbid it. Any Christian who preaches against it has been influenced by the western culture and not the Bible’s.
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