The following is my attempt at refuting an article, that misrepresents the word of God. I hope I did it justice. what do you think?
Re: http://creation.com/does-the-bible-clea ... h-monogamy Article dated 10/3/15 by Dr. Jonathan Sarfat, PhD, Physical Chemist & Creationist Scientist, Spectroscopist (study of interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiations), Chess master, author of at least 5 books. Dr. Sarfat tours the talk shows and debates with evolutionist.
The words in the bible were chosen carefully to guide us. We are supposed to read out of the bible and not into it. You have to first know what was going on before and after any verse that is picked from a chapter or book in order to have a clear understanding of what the verse is trying to convey.
In Matthew 19:3-6 the rabbis were trying to trip up Jesus during his sermon on the mount with a question about divorce. Jesus answered with a quote from Genesis referring to the fact that Adam and Eve were joined and became one flesh. However, God did not create more than one of each and they were commanded to multiply. God did not make a group of people that could decide how they would configure that command on their own, there was only Adam and Eve. They were to join “be joined” literally translated “to glue” have intercourse and become one by having an offspring that is a part of each of them (becoming one). The passage is being taken out of context so the author of the article can try and make a point. However, with study we find that the passage isn’t about how many wives God allows. With further study it does in fact say to be joined and nothing come between them. This is not to say that another wife comes between them – it is a completely different marriage; it isn’t infringing on the first union.
Ephesians 5:22-23, in context, is addressing the way a man and a woman should love one another. Again, the verse is not speaking of how many or if more than one wife is sinful. The passage that refers to the way that Christ loves or loved the church is the example of how a man should be willing to lay down his life for a wife as Christ did for the church. At the time, there was only one church, the one that has Peter as the cornerstone. Through history more churches and denominations have been established. As a believer I know that Christ claims many churches as his bride. Therefore, the argument can be made that if this passage had been written later…well, reason and logic say (by the standard of this author) that every man would have to have more than one wife to be Christ like. But, again, this is taken out of context to make a false point. This passage wants men to learn, know and be willing to protect and even die for a wife.
The 10th commandment shouldn’t even be in this discussion. It is instruction on not wanting what another man has. Whether it is one of his wives or all. Again, the author is trying to prove a point that is not supported by the chosen passage. My point on this is further demonstrated by the fact that he didn’t even finish this verse. If you continue to read, the verse goes on to say his house, man servant, maidservant, ox or donkey or anything that belongs to him.
1 Timothy 3:2 is a letter that Paul wrote to Timothy while he was in Ephesus and Paul was in Macedonia. He was explaining to Timothy that he needed to take charge and develop the growing church. One of the things Paul was giving instruction on was what kind of man was to be put in charge to lead the church there in Ephesus. Verse three is speaking about this very thing that. The leaders are to be above reproach and should have any upstanding house that is well managed. They should devote their time to the church and its direction. In Halley’s Bible Handbook on page 633 Paul meant “if” a Deacon or Bishop was married he should have only one wife and not be a polygamist. If we read out of this and not into it, Paul had no problem with men that had more than one wife, he just didn’t think they should be leaders in the church. Again, he wasn’t talking about all people just telling Timothy what kind of man to put in charge. Paul didn’t believe that a man with more than one wife would have the time that he would need to devote to the church.
Exodus 21:10 is known as the “book of the covenant” and is the first installment of the law for the Hebrew nation. Yet another example of needing to read out of the bible and not into it, you have to read the verse in the total context. This verse is explaining that it is OK to have more than one wife but you still must support your first wife. If you choose to read on, God talks about widows and fatherless children and the fact that if you take advantage of these he will kill you and your wives.
I could go on but I believe I have made my point. I don’t know what Dr. Sarfat’s agenda is but I do know that if he is trying to manipulate the word of God for his own reasons, I do not want to be standing anywhere close to him when it is judgement day.
Jack P.
Corem Deo
Re: http://creation.com/does-the-bible-clea ... h-monogamy Article dated 10/3/15 by Dr. Jonathan Sarfat, PhD, Physical Chemist & Creationist Scientist, Spectroscopist (study of interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiations), Chess master, author of at least 5 books. Dr. Sarfat tours the talk shows and debates with evolutionist.
The words in the bible were chosen carefully to guide us. We are supposed to read out of the bible and not into it. You have to first know what was going on before and after any verse that is picked from a chapter or book in order to have a clear understanding of what the verse is trying to convey.
In Matthew 19:3-6 the rabbis were trying to trip up Jesus during his sermon on the mount with a question about divorce. Jesus answered with a quote from Genesis referring to the fact that Adam and Eve were joined and became one flesh. However, God did not create more than one of each and they were commanded to multiply. God did not make a group of people that could decide how they would configure that command on their own, there was only Adam and Eve. They were to join “be joined” literally translated “to glue” have intercourse and become one by having an offspring that is a part of each of them (becoming one). The passage is being taken out of context so the author of the article can try and make a point. However, with study we find that the passage isn’t about how many wives God allows. With further study it does in fact say to be joined and nothing come between them. This is not to say that another wife comes between them – it is a completely different marriage; it isn’t infringing on the first union.
Ephesians 5:22-23, in context, is addressing the way a man and a woman should love one another. Again, the verse is not speaking of how many or if more than one wife is sinful. The passage that refers to the way that Christ loves or loved the church is the example of how a man should be willing to lay down his life for a wife as Christ did for the church. At the time, there was only one church, the one that has Peter as the cornerstone. Through history more churches and denominations have been established. As a believer I know that Christ claims many churches as his bride. Therefore, the argument can be made that if this passage had been written later…well, reason and logic say (by the standard of this author) that every man would have to have more than one wife to be Christ like. But, again, this is taken out of context to make a false point. This passage wants men to learn, know and be willing to protect and even die for a wife.
The 10th commandment shouldn’t even be in this discussion. It is instruction on not wanting what another man has. Whether it is one of his wives or all. Again, the author is trying to prove a point that is not supported by the chosen passage. My point on this is further demonstrated by the fact that he didn’t even finish this verse. If you continue to read, the verse goes on to say his house, man servant, maidservant, ox or donkey or anything that belongs to him.
1 Timothy 3:2 is a letter that Paul wrote to Timothy while he was in Ephesus and Paul was in Macedonia. He was explaining to Timothy that he needed to take charge and develop the growing church. One of the things Paul was giving instruction on was what kind of man was to be put in charge to lead the church there in Ephesus. Verse three is speaking about this very thing that. The leaders are to be above reproach and should have any upstanding house that is well managed. They should devote their time to the church and its direction. In Halley’s Bible Handbook on page 633 Paul meant “if” a Deacon or Bishop was married he should have only one wife and not be a polygamist. If we read out of this and not into it, Paul had no problem with men that had more than one wife, he just didn’t think they should be leaders in the church. Again, he wasn’t talking about all people just telling Timothy what kind of man to put in charge. Paul didn’t believe that a man with more than one wife would have the time that he would need to devote to the church.
Exodus 21:10 is known as the “book of the covenant” and is the first installment of the law for the Hebrew nation. Yet another example of needing to read out of the bible and not into it, you have to read the verse in the total context. This verse is explaining that it is OK to have more than one wife but you still must support your first wife. If you choose to read on, God talks about widows and fatherless children and the fact that if you take advantage of these he will kill you and your wives.
I could go on but I believe I have made my point. I don’t know what Dr. Sarfat’s agenda is but I do know that if he is trying to manipulate the word of God for his own reasons, I do not want to be standing anywhere close to him when it is judgement day.
Jack P.
Corem Deo
