What is the Bible and Quran saying about polygamy?

Recently there has been discussions about marriage specifically regarding the issue of polygamy and whether the Bible endorses it or not. 

A WhatsApp video I watched showed an ‘Osofo’ justifying why he has more than one wife with quotes from the scriptures supporting his actions.  Other pastors also have preached against polygamy also with quotes from the Bible and so which is the correct stand of the Bible? 

Our traditional setting allows for polygamy and it is part of our culture but because it is part of our culture, does not mean the Bible endorses it? 

When we go to the Muslim religion and therefore to the Quran, we see that the Quran does not forbid polygamy but wait a minute, there is a condition that when obeyed allows a Muslim to engage in polygamy but it is impossible to obey, hence Muslims who know their Quran well, abhor polygamy. 

There is a historical background as to why our forefathers engaged in polygamy.  In the olden days farming was the order of the day and because agriculture was not mechanised, it was labour intensive so it made a lot of sense to marry more to produce more children and therefore readily available labour to engage in various farming activities.

Now let us go into the Bible and examine whether the Bible endorses polygamy or not because a lot of people make the argument that the Patriarchs were all polygamous. 

The first patriach was Adam and he had only one wife called Eve.  The next patriach was Noah and he had one wife. The striking thing is that God did not instruct him to marry more than one woman even though he was going to destroy the entire human race except Noah and those in the ark, which should have been the logical thing to do so he can quickly replenish the population after the flood.  

The next patriach was Abraham and he had one wife.  Some will argue that he slept with Hagar and got Ishmael but the fact is that he did not marry her. Next was Isaac and he had one wife followed by Jacob who had more than one wife but his case is the exception and not the norm.  He was tricked by his uncle into marrying a woman she did not love and so had to marry the one he really loved later on in addition. 

David married more than one but check the problems that came his way and his son Solomon whose lust was way beyond normal.  He too, just look at the problems he encountered.  

In the New Testament the Bible is clear on marriage.  It is one man one wife.  It should be noted that the New Testament dispensation is where the whole world falls under in terms of how God wants everybody to live to please him. 

The Old Testament was mostly specifically designed for the Israelites, the chosen people of God but the New Testament is for the whole of mankind.

In Timothy the Bible states categorically the qualifications of some desiring the office of a leader of a Bishop which among others include “…the husband of one wife…” according to 1 Timothy 3:2.  Jesus, the Saviour himself, who according to John 1:1 was there at the very beginning of creation, in response to a question about divorce has explained that marriage was instituted by God and that it is one man one wife issue according to Mathew 19:4-5. 

It is therefore quite disheartening to hear people who claim to be men of God declaring that the Bible does not speak against polygamy.  What they ought to realise is that the word of God does not adapt to any culture rather it is the culture that must adapt to the word of God. 

Therefore if your culture permits polygamy, you need to align it to what the Bible says and not the other way round.  Out of ignorance, others out of desire for sinful pleasures want God to endorse what God’s word does not permit and go about deceiving people. 

It is one man one wife, finito.

Laud Kissi Mensah