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A Case for Biblical Monogamy

In: Religion Topics

Submitted By nanamaxy
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TYNDALE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

marriage: a case for biblical monogamy

maxwell nana addi research methods
November 25, 2014

Introduction
The earliest relationships among humans were certainly those between men and women, who came together and produced children. In the earliest days, such a relationship began to be called “marriage.” In the Judeo-Christian tradition, based on the book of Genesis, marriage began in the garden of Eden when God made one woman, Eve, out of one man, Adam. Marriage has been explained differently by various cultures throughout history as to whether or not it should be monogamous or polygamous. Scholars explain this in different ways. W. Schmidt’s theory asserts that marriage began as monogamy and decayed into polygamy later on. The opposite thesis of this theory is that of J.J. Bachofen. Bachofen argued that marriage began as a random selection of a partner subsequently leading to polygamy and group marriages. From group marriages, marriage moved to monogamy. These two views show the two different poles of understanding about the origin of marriage: as either monogamous or polygamous.
On the other hand, Köstenberger and Jones argue that placing too much premium on the freedom of man has led to a decay in the understanding of marriage. They state that “many hail the decline of the biblical-traditional model of marriage and the family and its replacement by new competing moralities as major progress.” This paper will focus on monogamy as the ideal example of marriage from creation. Also, the paper will make a case for monogamy, which is a union of one man and woman, by citing and explaining passages from the Bible.

Monogamy from Creation
The fact that Adam was a single individual and a single woman, Eve was made for him (Genesis 2:22-23) to begin the first ever marriage is evidence that God intended marriage to be monogamous.

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