Plural marriage in early Christianity - Revision history

GregSmith at 01:48, 18 May 2024

2024-05-18T01:48:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:48, 18 May 2024
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	Critics point to New Testament scriptures such as {{b\|1\|Timothy\|3\|2}}; {{b\|1\|Timothy\|3\|12}}; {{b\|\|Titus\|1\|6}} to argue that the early Christian Church was opposed to any plural marriages. The Latter-day Saints do not take their doctrine from ancient Christian writers, but from canonized scriptures and the living prophets. However, the perspectives of early Christians demonstrates the plural marriage was not the absolutely forbidden idea that some modern sectarians might wish it to be.		Critics point to New Testament scriptures such as {{b\|1\|Timothy\|3\|2}}; {{b\|1\|Timothy\|3\|12}}; {{b\|\|Titus\|1\|6}} to argue that the early Christian Church was opposed to any plural marriages. The Latter-day Saints do not take their doctrine from ancient Christian writers, but from canonized scriptures and the living prophets. However, the perspectives of early Christians demonstrates the plural marriage was not the absolutely forbidden idea that some modern sectarians might wish it to be.

	{{SeeAlso\|Plural marriage and the Bible\|Is polygamy against the Bible's teachings?}}		{{SeeAlso\|Plural marriage and the Bible\|l1=Is polygamy against the Bible's teachings?}}

	==Paul==		==Paul==

GregSmith at 01:48, 18 May 2024

2024-05-18T01:48:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:48, 18 May 2024
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	Critics point to New Testament scriptures such as {{b\|1\|Timothy\|3\|2}}; {{b\|1\|Timothy\|3\|12}}; {{b\|\|Titus\|1\|6}} to argue that the early Christian Church was opposed to any plural marriages. The Latter-day Saints do not take their doctrine from ancient Christian writers, but from canonized scriptures and the living prophets. However, the perspectives of early Christians demonstrates the plural marriage was not the absolutely forbidden idea that some modern sectarians might wish it to be.		Critics point to New Testament scriptures such as {{b\|1\|Timothy\|3\|2}}; {{b\|1\|Timothy\|3\|12}}; {{b\|\|Titus\|1\|6}} to argue that the early Christian Church was opposed to any plural marriages. The Latter-day Saints do not take their doctrine from ancient Christian writers, but from canonized scriptures and the living prophets. However, the perspectives of early Christians demonstrates the plural marriage was not the absolutely forbidden idea that some modern sectarians might wish it to be.

	{{~~main~~\|~~Polygamy not Biblical~~}}		{{SeeAlso\|Plural marriage and the Bible\|Is polygamy against the Bible's teachings?}}

	==Paul==		==Paul==

GregSmith at 01:47, 18 May 2024

2024-05-18T01:47:41Z

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 =How did early Christians view plural marriage?=

GregSmith at 01:47, 18 May 2024

2024-05-18T01:47:26Z

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	{{Main Page}}		{{Main Page}}
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	{{Navigation:Plural marriage}}		{{Navigation:Plural marriage}}

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	\|H=Plural marriage in early Christianity		\|H=Plural marriage in early Christianity
	\|S=		\|S=
	\|L1=~~Question:~~ How did early Christians view plural marriage?		\|L1=How did early Christians view plural marriage?
	\|L2=Paul		\|L2=Paul
	\|L3=Tertullian		\|L3=Tertullian
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	=~~=Question:~~ How did early Christians view plural marriage?==		=How did early Christians view plural marriage?=
	===The perspectives of early Christians demonstrates the plural marriage was not the absolutely forbidden idea that some modern sectarians might wish it to be===		==The perspectives of early Christians demonstrates the plural marriage was not the absolutely forbidden idea that some modern sectarians might wish it to be==

	Critics point to New Testament scriptures such as {{b\|1\|Timothy\|3\|2}}; {{b\|1\|Timothy\|3\|12}}; {{b\|\|Titus\|1\|6}} to argue that the early Christian Church was opposed to any plural marriages. The Latter-day Saints do not take their doctrine from ancient Christian writers, but from canonized scriptures and the living prophets. However, the perspectives of early Christians demonstrates the plural marriage was not the absolutely forbidden idea that some modern sectarians might wish it to be.		Critics point to New Testament scriptures such as {{b\|1\|Timothy\|3\|2}}; {{b\|1\|Timothy\|3\|12}}; {{b\|\|Titus\|1\|6}} to argue that the early Christian Church was opposed to any plural marriages. The Latter-day Saints do not take their doctrine from ancient Christian writers, but from canonized scriptures and the living prophets. However, the perspectives of early Christians demonstrates the plural marriage was not the absolutely forbidden idea that some modern sectarians might wish it to be.
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	{{main\|Polygamy not Biblical}}		{{main\|Polygamy not Biblical}}

	===Paul===		==Paul==
	The listed scriptures do indeed include Paul's instructions to some leaders to be both ''married'' and potentially monogamous. The Greek in the New Testament is not as definitive as the critics might wish. The text can "be read as excluding (a) the single, (b) the polygamous, (c) the divorced, [or] (d) those remarried after being widowed. The words can also convey the connotation 'devoted solely to his wife.'"<ref>{{NTBarney2_1\|start=240a}}</ref> One's attitude toward polygamy will probably influence the interpretation one chooses—but we must not lose sight of the fact that it ''is'' an interpretation.		The listed scriptures do indeed include Paul's instructions to some leaders to be both ''married'' and potentially monogamous. The Greek in the New Testament is not as definitive as the critics might wish. The text can "be read as excluding (a) the single, (b) the polygamous, (c) the divorced, [or] (d) those remarried after being widowed. The words can also convey the connotation 'devoted solely to his wife.'"<ref>{{NTBarney2_1\|start=240a}}</ref> One's attitude toward polygamy will probably influence the interpretation one chooses—but we must not lose sight of the fact that it ''is'' an interpretation.

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	However, critics go too far when they conclude that early Christians believed in an absolute prohibition on plural marriages.		However, critics go too far when they conclude that early Christians believed in an absolute prohibition on plural marriages.

	===Tertullian===		==Tertullian==

	<blockquote>		<blockquote>
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	Tertullian's perspective is strikingly similar to {{s\|\|Jacob\|2\|30}}, in which monogamy is the norm, but God may command exceptions to "raise up seed."		Tertullian's perspective is strikingly similar to {{s\|\|Jacob\|2\|30}}, in which monogamy is the norm, but God may command exceptions to "raise up seed."

	===Justin Martyr===		==Justin Martyr==

	Justin Martyr argued that David's sin was only in the matter of Uriah's wife, and echoed a common early Christian idea that marriage was a "mystery," or sacred rite of the type which Latter-day Saints associate with temple worship:		Justin Martyr argued that David's sin was only in the matter of Uriah's wife, and echoed a common early Christian idea that marriage was a "mystery," or sacred rite of the type which Latter-day Saints associate with temple worship:
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	Justin saw the patriarchs' marriages not as corruptions or something which God 'winked at,' but acts with significant ritual and religious power.		Justin saw the patriarchs' marriages not as corruptions or something which God 'winked at,' but acts with significant ritual and religious power.

	===Augustine===		==Augustine==

	Even Augustine, a towering figure in Christian theology, held that polygamy was not something that was a crime before God, but rather a matter that depended more upon cultural biases:		Even Augustine, a towering figure in Christian theology, held that polygamy was not something that was a crime before God, but rather a matter that depended more upon cultural biases:
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	</blockquote>		</blockquote>

	{{~~endnotes~~ sources}}		{{Endnotes sources}}
	<!-- PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE -->		<!-- PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE -->
			[[de:Frage: Wie sahen die frühen Christen die Mehrzahl der Ehe?]]
			[[es:Pregunta: ¿Cómo vieron los cristianos primitivos el matrimonio plural?]]
			[[fi:Kysymys: Miten varhaiset kristityt näkivät moniavioisuus?]]
			[[pt:Pergunta: Como os cristãos primitivos viram o casamento plural?]]

	[[fi:Kysymys: Miten varhaiset kristityt näkivät moniavioisuus?]]		[[fi:Kysymys: Miten varhaiset kristityt näkivät moniavioisuus?]]
	[[de:Frage: Wie sahen die frühen Christen die Mehrzahl der Ehe?]]		[[de:Frage: Wie sahen die frühen Christen die Mehrzahl der Ehe?]]
	[[es:Pregunta: ¿Cómo vieron los cristianos primitivos el matrimonio plural?]]		[[es:Pregunta: ¿Cómo vieron los cristianos primitivos el matrimonio plural?]]
	[[pt:Pergunta: Como os cristãos primitivos viram o casamento plural?]]		[[pt:Pergunta: Como os cristãos primitivos viram o casamento plural?]]

GregSmith at 23:16, 5 May 2024

2024-05-05T23:16:23Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:16, 5 May 2024
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	{{Navigation:Plural marriage}}		{{Navigation:Plural marriage}}

	{{~~Header~~}}		{{H2
			\|L=Plural marriage in early Christianity
			\|H=Plural marriage in early Christianity
			\|S=
			\|L1=Question: How did early Christians view plural marriage?
			\|L2=Paul
			\|L3=Tertullian
			\|L4=Justin Martyr
			\|L5=Augustine
			}}

	==Question: How did early Christians view plural marriage?==		==Question: How did early Christians view plural marriage?==

GregSmith: /* top */Bot replace {{FairMormon}} with {{Main Page}} and remove extra lines around {{Header}}

2024-04-13T21:08:44Z

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	{{Navigation:Plural marriage}}		{{Navigation:Plural marriage}}


	{{Header}}		{{Header}}

GregSmith: bot - remove old references code

2024-04-13T02:58:22Z

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← Older revision		Revision as of 02:58, 13 April 2024
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	[[es:Pregunta: ¿Cómo vieron los cristianos primitivos el matrimonio plural?]]		[[es:Pregunta: ¿Cómo vieron los cristianos primitivos el matrimonio plural?]]
	[[pt:Pergunta: Como os cristãos primitivos viram o casamento plural?]]		[[pt:Pergunta: Como os cristãos primitivos viram o casamento plural?]]

	~~==References==~~
	~~{{Reflist}}~~

GregSmith: Bot, replaced: {{Navigation plural marriage}} → {{Navigation:Plural marriage}}

2024-04-12T19:26:18Z

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← Older revision		Revision as of 19:26, 12 April 2024
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	~~#REDIRECT~~ [~~[Accounts~~ of ~~Joseph Smith~~'s ~~First Vision~~/~~1842 Wentworth Letter~~]]		{{FairMormon}}
			{{Navigation:Plural marriage}}


			{{Header}}

			==Question: How did early Christians view plural marriage?==
			===The perspectives of early Christians demonstrates the plural marriage was not the absolutely forbidden idea that some modern sectarians might wish it to be===

			Critics point to New Testament scriptures such as {{b\|1\|Timothy\|3\|2}}; {{b\|1\|Timothy\|3\|12}}; {{b\|\|Titus\|1\|6}} to argue that the early Christian Church was opposed to any plural marriages. The Latter-day Saints do not take their doctrine from ancient Christian writers, but from canonized scriptures and the living prophets. However, the perspectives of early Christians demonstrates the plural marriage was not the absolutely forbidden idea that some modern sectarians might wish it to be.

			{{main\|Polygamy not Biblical}}

			===Paul===
			The listed scriptures do indeed include Paul's instructions to some leaders to be both ''married'' and potentially monogamous. The Greek in the New Testament is not as definitive as the critics might wish. The text can "be read as excluding (a) the single, (b) the polygamous, (c) the divorced, [or] (d) those remarried after being widowed. The words can also convey the connotation 'devoted solely to his wife.'"<ref>{{NTBarney2_1\|start=240a}}</ref> One's attitude toward polygamy will probably influence the interpretation one chooses—but we must not lose sight of the fact that it ''is'' an interpretation.

			In any case, Latter-day Saints agree that the 'standard' instruction to all believers is monogamy—exceptions can only be commanded by God through His prophet (see {{s\|\|Jacob\|2\|30}}).

			However, critics go too far when they conclude that early Christians believed in an absolute prohibition on plural marriages.

			===Tertullian===

			<blockquote>
			As I think, moreover, each pronouncement and arrangement is (the act) of one and the same God; who did then indeed, in the beginning, send forth a sowing of the race by an indulgent laxity granted to the reins of connubial alliances, until the world should be replenished, until the material of the new discipline should attain to forwardness: now, however, at the extreme boundaries of the times, has checked (the command) which He had sent out, and recalled the indulgence which He had granted; not without a reasonable ground for the extension (of that indulgence) in the beginning, and the limitation of it in the end.<ref>{{Anf\| author=Tertullian\|article=Exhortation to Chastity\|citation=6\|vol=6\|start=53\|end=54}}</ref>
			</blockquote>

			Tertullian's perspective is strikingly similar to {{s\|\|Jacob\|2\|30}}, in which monogamy is the norm, but God may command exceptions to "raise up seed."

			===Justin Martyr===

			Justin Martyr argued that David's sin was only in the matter of Uriah's wife, and echoed a common early Christian idea that marriage was a "mystery," or sacred rite of the type which Latter-day Saints associate with temple worship:

			<blockquote>
			And this one fall of David, in the matter of Uriah's wife, proves, sirs," I said, "that the patriarchs had many wives, not to commit fornication, but that a certain dispensation and all mysteries might be accomplished by them; since, if it were allowable to take any wife, or as many wives as one chooses, and how he chooses, which the men of your nation do over all the earth, wherever they sojourn, or wherever they have been sent, taking women under the name of marriage, much more would David have been permitted to do this.<ref>{{Anf1\| author=Justin Martyr\|article=Dialogue With Trypho\|citation=141\|vol=1\|start=270}}</ref>
			</blockquote>

			Justin saw the patriarchs' marriages not as corruptions or something which God 'winked at,' but acts with significant ritual and religious power.

			===Augustine===

			Even Augustine, a towering figure in Christian theology, held that polygamy was not something that was a crime before God, but rather a matter that depended more upon cultural biases:

			<blockquote>
			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 [secular] laws forbid it.<ref>{{NPNF1_1 \| author=Augustine\|article=Reply to Faustus 22:47\|vol=4\|start=288}}</ref>
			</blockquote>

			{{endnotes sources}}
			<!-- PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE -->
			[[fi:Kysymys: Miten varhaiset kristityt näkivät moniavioisuus?]]
			[[de:Frage: Wie sahen die frühen Christen die Mehrzahl der Ehe?]]
			[[es:Pregunta: ¿Cómo vieron los cristianos primitivos el matrimonio plural?]]
			[[pt:Pergunta: Como os cristãos primitivos viram o casamento plural?]]

			==References==
			{{Reflist}}

DavidSmith: DavidSmith moved page Mormonism and polygamy/Lamanites to become "white and delightsome" through polygamous marriage to Plural marriage (or polygamy)/Lamanites to become "white and delightsome" through polygamous marriage: content consolidation

2023-09-24T20:53:20Z

DavidSmith moved page Mormonism and polygamy/Lamanites to become "white and delightsome" through polygamous marriage to Plural marriage (or polygamy)/Lamanites to become "white and delightsome" through polygamous marriage: content consolidation

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:53, 24 September 2023
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	#REDIRECT [[~~Initiation~~ of ~~the practice of plural marriage~~/~~CriticalSources~~]]		#REDIRECT [[Accounts of Joseph Smith's First Vision/1842 Wentworth Letter]]

DavidSmith at 01:07, 17 September 2023

2023-09-17T01:07:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:07, 17 September 2023
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	~~{{FairMormon}}~~		#REDIRECT [[Initiation of the practice of plural marriage/CriticalSources]]
	~~<onlyinclude>~~
	~~==Question: How did early Christians view plural marriage?==~~
	~~===The perspectives~~ of ~~early Christians demonstrates~~ the ~~plural marriage was not the absolutely forbidden idea that some modern sectarians might wish it to be===~~

	Critics point to New Testament scriptures such as {{b\|1\|Timothy\|3\|2}}; {{b\|1\|Timothy\|3\|12}}; {{b\|\|Titus\|1\|6}} to argue that the early Christian Church was opposed to any plural marriages. The Latter-day Saints do not take their doctrine from ancient Christian writers, but from canonized scriptures and the living prophets. However, the perspectives of early Christians demonstrates the plural marriage was not the absolutely forbidden idea that some modern sectarians might wish it to be.

	~~{{main\|Polygamy not Biblical}}~~

	~~===Paul===~~
	The listed scriptures do indeed include Paul's instructions to some leaders to be both ''married'' and potentially monogamous. The Greek in the New Testament is not as definitive as the critics might wish. The text can "be read as excluding (a) the single, (b) the polygamous, (c) the divorced, [or] (d) those remarried after being widowed. The words can also convey the connotation 'devoted solely to his wife.'"<ref>{{NTBarney2_1\|start=240a}}</ref> One's attitude toward polygamy will probably influence the interpretation one chooses—but we must not lose sight of ~~the fact that it ''is'' an interpretation.~~

	~~In any case, Latter-day Saints agree that the 'standard' instruction to all believers is monogamy—exceptions can only be commanded by God through His prophet (see {{s\|\|Jacob\|2\|30}}).~~

	~~However, critics go too far when they conclude that early Christians believed in an absolute prohibition on~~ plural ~~marriages.~~

	~~===Tertullian===~~

	~~<blockquote>~~
	As I think, moreover, each pronouncement and arrangement is (the act) of one and the same God; who did then indeed, in the beginning, send forth a sowing of the race by an indulgent laxity granted to the reins of connubial alliances, until the world should be replenished, until the material of the new discipline should attain to forwardness: now, however, at the extreme boundaries of the times, has checked (the command) which He had sent out, and recalled the indulgence which He had granted; not without a reasonable ground for the extension (of that indulgence) in the beginning, and the limitation of it in the end.<ref>{{Anf\| author=Tertullian\|article=Exhortation to Chastity\|citation=6\|vol=6\|start=53\|end=54}}</ref>
	~~</blockquote>~~

	~~Tertullian's perspective is strikingly similar to {{s\|\|Jacob\|2\|30}}, in which monogamy is the norm, but God may command exceptions to "raise up seed."~~

	~~===Justin Martyr===~~

	~~Justin Martyr argued that David's sin was only in the matter of Uriah's wife, and echoed a common early Christian idea that~~ marriage ~~was a "mystery," or sacred rite of the type which Latter-day Saints associate with temple worship:~~

	~~<blockquote>~~
	And this one fall of David, in the matter of Uriah's wife, proves, sirs," I said, "that the patriarchs had many wives, not to commit fornication, but that a certain dispensation and all mysteries might be accomplished by them; since, if it were allowable to take any wife, or as many wives as one chooses, and how he chooses, which the men of your nation do over all the earth, wherever they sojourn, or wherever they have been sent, taking women under the name of marriage, much more would David have been permitted to do this.<ref>{{Anf1\| author=Justin Martyr\|article=Dialogue With Trypho\|citation=141\|vol=1\|start=270}}</ref>
	~~</blockquote>~~

	~~Justin saw the patriarchs' marriages not as corruptions or something which God 'winked at,' but acts with significant ritual and religious power.~~

	~~===Augustine===~~

	~~Even Augustine, a towering figure in Christian theology, held that polygamy was not something that was a crime before God, but rather a matter that depended more upon cultural biases:~~

	~~<blockquote>~~
	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 [secular] laws forbid it.<ref>{{NPNF1_1 \| author=Augustine\|article=Reply to Faustus 22:47\|vol=4\|start=288}}</~~ref>~~
	~~</blockquote>~~
	~~</onlyinclude>~~
	~~{{endnotes sources}}~~
	~~<!-- PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE -->~~
	~~[[fi:Kysymys: Miten varhaiset kristityt näkivät moniavioisuus?]]~~
	~~[[de:Frage: Wie sahen die frühen Christen die Mehrzahl der Ehe?]]~~
	~~[[es:Pregunta: ¿Cómo vieron los cristianos primitivos el matrimonio plural?]]~~
	~~[[pt:Pergunta: Como os cristãos primitivos viram o casamento plural?~~]]