3. On becoming a Christian may a polygamist continue as such on the basis of Caesar’s laws? Why, or why not?

³ In apostolic times polygamy, the marriage of a man to several living wives, was legal in many lands.

Can he continue to live with several wives and have God’s approval through Christ, just because polygamy is the local law and practice?

Polygamy was introduced by Lamech, a descendant of wicked Cain, for Lamech took two wives to himself. (Gen. 4:19-24)

Polygamy was not of Jacob’s original planning.

● Jehovah allowed polygamy among the Jews, but not among Christians.

Frequently when persons hear or read that polygamy was tolerated in ancient Israel or among Hebrew patriarchs they form notions of God as winking at loose sexual practices.

In apostolic times polygamy was practiced among non-Christians, and even among the Hebrews or Jews (from among whom the first members of the Christian congregation were taken) there were notable cases of polygamy.

Polygamy for Christians?

● Under the heading “Polygamy Is African Way of Life,” the Lagos, Nigeria, “Sunday Times” published an article by priest N. S. S. Iwe.

Nevertheless, the official position of most churches has remained against polygamy, although being prone to consider the secondary wives of polygamists more leniently.

Early in 1972 the Vatican yielded to pressure and issued new rules for the initiating of adults, calling for a category of “sympathizers” for those who practice polygamy.

10. How did Jehovah view the practice of polygamy, and what indicates that he never abandoned his original standard of monogamy?

¹⁰ Polygamy:a According to Jehovah’s original purpose, a wife would not share her husband with another woman.

After the rebellion in Eden, the practice of polygamy first appeared in the line of Cain.

Adjust the Bible to Polygamy?

IN Bijeen (Together), a Roman Catholic magazine from the Netherlands, columnist Sjef Donders discussed the conflict that exists in some African countries between the Biblical command on monogamy and the accepted custom of polygamy.

Monogamy or Polygamy?

To resolve this question, the Anglican Church in Uganda has appointed a group to study “polygamy and the Christian family.”

Polygamy is generally accepted by most of the church members, and practices based on non-Christian superstitions in connection with weddings, burials and the like are tolerated in the churches.

An example of this is seen with regard to polygamy.

One of the big changes was our view of polygamy.

But until 1947 when the missionaries came, polygamy was common in the congregations.

Also, do not many religions retain as members even persons who live together immorally and individuals practicing polygamy?

The promiscuity and polygamy characteristic of African society is simply inconceivable among Witnesses.