Thank you Daniel and Angela for taking the time to visit with me to share your views and why you’ve been separated from our church. Daniel, I am impressed that you have read the Bible so many times, and that you have done so much research on this topic. You are obviously a very intelligent man, and I definitely don’t claim in any way to be a scholar. After prayer and meditating with God this morning, I have to say that I stand by Pastor Dan. The Bible is very specific on this topic. I hope you will take the time to read through some of the research I have found. I’ve listed a few New Testament scriptures that back up my conclusions.
Thanks again and Peace Be With You through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I love you both and will continue to pray for your reverence to God, and my discernment of the truth.
<Name removed>
Notes on Polygamy
“It is impossible for a man and woman to become one flesh when one of them is married to more than one spouse.
While polygamous marriages are recorded in the Bible, one should not conclude that God approved of them. The Bible records deeds of wickedness as well as righteousness. At no time does God give approval for multiple spouses. In fact, from the beginning God intended for marriage to be between one man and one woman. In the Old Testament, God prohibited kings from having multiple wives, and in the New Testament He prohibited church leaders from having multiple wives. One should not conclude that God approves of multiple husbands either. Kings and elders are to be examples for others to follow (Deuteronomy 17:15-17; Hebrews 13:7; 1 Peter 5:3). God’s pattern for the family is monogamous marriages.”
“Those who seek approval for polygamy in the pages of scripture ignore the lesson we are to learn from the original marriage that God created in Genesis 2:18-25. The lesson is that God did not give Adam multiple wives but one wife. She was Eve. They also ignore Deuteronomy 17:17; 1 Corinthians 7:2 and 1 Timothy 3:2. They ignore the fact that God allows us to sin and be disobedient. They ignore the truth that God will judge those who sin, if not here in this life then in the life to come.”
“1 Corinthians 7:2 Does Not Teach Polygamy
Polygamists want us to believe that 1 Corinthians 7:2 reveals God approves of polygamy. They state that the relationship between the husband and wife are different and, supposedly, heautou and idios reveal a difference in ownership. However, they miss the most obvious point that idios reveals the husband is the exclusive property of the wife. The family is the property of the husband.
Notice that even though the meaning of heautou and idios are relatively close in meaning, idios still has a weakened sense of “private.” That is, the husband is possessed by the wife. He is her exclusive property. Notice that Mark 4:34 is a good example of idios.
. . . and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples. Mark 4:34 (NASB)
Jesus’ disciples were His disciples. They were not the disciples of another teacher.Therefore, the husband is the exclusive property of the wife. No other woman owns him.
In addition, note that 1 Corinthians 7:4 reveals that the body of the husband belongs to the wife and the wife’s body belongs to the husband.
The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 1 Corinthians 7:4 (NASB)
The two English words “own” come from the same Greek word which is idios. That is, each spouse’s body is the exclusive property of the other spouse. The husband and wife are not independent of one another.”
Twisting Gods Word
2 Timothy 4:3-4
As he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
2 Peter 3:16
As he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
Romans 16:17-20
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Revelation 22:18-19
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
Galatians 1:6-9
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Isaiah 5:20
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
1 Timothy 6:3-5
If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
2 Peter 2:1
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
2 Peter 1:20-21
Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
(Taking His Name 'in vain' does NOT mean saying the GD word - at best that's just His title.)
