Does God Change His Mind: Polygamy

Sometimes people claim God changes His mind because He once allowed polygamy. 

We don't fully understand why God allowed polygamy in Old Testament times, but it was never shown in a positive light. It typically caused jealousy, rivalry, and other sinful behaviors.(1) 

In addition, Titus 1:6 and 1 Timothy 3:2 explain that leaders in the New Testament church are required to be husbands of one wife. Some translations simply say "faithful to his wife," but the Greek says "one wife." 

Since elders are supposed to model God's standards, we can trust that God's New Testament standard is heterosexual monogamy.(2) 


This confirms God’s original design:
“But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Mark 10:6-9(3) 

God allowed polygamy during Old Testament times. It was part of His permissive will just like divorce (Matthew 19:8). But His perfect design for marriage never changed (Genesis 2:24).
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This is part of a series. To read others in the series:
Does God Change His Mind: Nineveh
Does God Change His Mind: Hezekiah

(1) Jealousy among wives: Hannah and Peninnah (1 Samuel 1:1-8); Rachel and Leah (Genesis 29:30-33). Jealousy, murder, incest, and rape between siblings from different mothers: Jacob’s family (Genesis 35:22-25; Genesis 37:12-36); David’s family (2 Samuel 13). Despite his many wives, David seems to have spent his later years without a meaningful relationship with any of his wives (1 Kings 1:1-2).

(2) See also Ephesians 5:31.

(3) Please note that God never approved or allowed homosexuality, transgenderism, or sex outside of marriage. Throughout the Old Testament and New Testament, these practices are condemned. To read more: God's View of Homosexuality, What the Bible Teaches about Transgenderism, and Sex Outside of Marriage. To read more on polygamy: Why Did God Allow Polygamy?

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