[UUPoly-L] New Testament and polygamy

[JasmineGld@aol.com]

In a message dated 9/25/2009 3:11:19 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
ejjabla@comcast.net writes:

> multiple wives were allowed in the Old 
>  Testament.  And nowhere was it said it was it was sinful.  Just  seemed 
to 
> disappear by the time of the New Testament (perhaps having  more than one 
> wife just got to be too expensive).


I just learned something fascinating, indirectly from the  Nightline 
comments. The part I already knew: the instruction in 1 Timothy and  Titus 
prohibiting multiple wives is directed to the elders or deacons --  church 
leadership. It does not apply to general followers of the church.  

The part I just learned: the "one wife" restriction had the effect  of 
protecting the church from a takeover of all the church  leadership by the 
wealthiest men. Wealthy men could afford multiple wives.  Poor men could afford 
only one wife at most. So the "one wife" restriction was  a double win for 
the church. It ensured that men of different income levels  would be needed to 
fill leadership roles, and it ensured that any wealthy man  who made the 
cut was sincerely dedicated to the church enough to forego  willingly his 
right to multiple wives. This had the effect of weeding out  wealthy men who 
were looking for power, without saying it out loud. Not at all  unlike the 
maneuvers churches use today to keep an unwanted person off a  committee without 
telling them to their face. 





Of course, the rule also weeded out sincerely dedicated men who  already 
had multiple wives, or needed/chose to marry a second wife for any of a  
number of reasons that made good sense two thousand years ago. And I'm not even  
touching the issue of women in leadership -- too complex for this 
discussion. 
 
Nevertheless, the "one wife for elders" rule can be understood as a social  
justice action addressing classism. Or as simple protection for the 
integrity of  church leadership, in which addressing classism was an unintended 
benefit. 
 
Jasmine