Because of the culture shock of polygyny to the western/American mind, please be reminded that just after Jesus-Jehovah gave the ten commandments to Moses in Ex 20, in Ex 21 He regulated polygyny for Israel:
"7 When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. 8 If she does not please her master, who has designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has broken faith with her. 9 If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter. 10 If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital rights. 11 And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money." Ex 21 ESV
Again in Deut 21 we see Jesus-Jehovah regulating polygyny for Israel under the Law:
"15 “If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him children, and if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved, 16 then on the day when he assigns his possessions as an inheritance to his sons, he may not treat the son of the loved as the firstborn in preference to the son of the unloved, who is the firstborn, 17 but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his" Deut 21 ESV.
These are OT Laws that Jesus commanded His Apostles to keep and the Apostles continued to keep them even after the Holy Spirit released the believing Gentiles from having to keep the OT Law (Galatians, Ephes 2, Colos 2).
***"Matt 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. . . . . 23:1Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, 3so practice and observe whatever they tell you— but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. ESV
***Acts 21:18On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, 21and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. 22What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. 25But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality."
And finally in Ezek 23 we see Jesus-Jehovah portraying Himself as a polygynist:
***"1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother. . . . 4 Oholah was the name of the elder and Oholibah the name of her sister. They became mine, and they bore sons and daughters [to me]."
Given God's commands to bereft women (widows, abandoned, deserted) to marry, it is a moral and spiritual tragedy to see how fall short of God's plan American Christianity is, and a reason for the powerlessness of the Christian church today. This is one of the main needs of Biblical polygyny today.
***James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after [abandoned, fatherless, orphaned] children and bereft [abandoned or widowed] women in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
***1 Tim 5:3 Support widows who are genuinely widows. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn to practice their religion toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God. 5 The real widow, left all alone, has put her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers; 6 however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. 7 Command this, so that they won't be blamed. 8 Now if anyone does not provide for his own relatives, and especially for his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9 No widow should be placed on the official support list unless she is at least 60 years old, has been the wife of one husband, 10 and is well known for good works —that is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints' feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to every good work. . . . 14 Therefore, I want younger widows to marry, have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us. . . . 16 If any believing woman has widows, she should help them, and the church should not be burdened, so that it can help those who are genuinely widows.
***1 Cor 7:8 I say to the unmarried and to bereft [abandoned or widowed] women: It is good for them if they remain [unmarried] as I am. 9 But if they are not consistently abstaining from sinning sexually, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with desire.
***"So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin." James 4:16-17
***Deut 25:5 If brothers live together and one of them dies and has no son, his wife shall not be married to a stranger outside the family. Her husband's [single or married] brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. [If he refuses to marry her and have children by her] 9then his brother's wife shall come to him in the sight of the elders, and pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face; and she shall declare, 'Thus it is done to the man who does not build up his brother's house.'
One may ask about King David's and King Solomon's polygyny. King Solomon sinned in two ways in his polygyny. He multiplied wives to himself (Deut 17:17) and he married unsaved and ungodly women (Prov 5:20; 1 Kings 11:1-3;Ezra 9:1,2). David is a different case. While Jesus-Jehovah rebuked and punished David for his adultery with Bath-sheba, while David had more than six wives (2 Sam 2:2; 3:2-4; 12:7,8), Jesus-Jehovah blessed and put His seal of approval on David (1Chron 17). Obviously David's adultery and David's polygyny are quite distinct and different in the eyes of God. From Deuteronomy and Revelations we know that God's curse is on those who add their word to the Word of God, and from Mat 13 and Mark 7 we know Jesus condemns those who teach their own word instead of the Word of God, so one must be very careful about declaring polygyny to be sin when the Word of God does not do so.
Finally, we know that today the word regulating the official and public practice of polygyny in America is the Word in Romans 13, where we in America are instructed to obey the laws of the land, America, As St. Augustine said, where the law prohibits the public and official practice of polygyny, it would be a sin, the sin of disobedience, for a child of God to publicly and officially practice polygyny. In countries where the public and official practice of polygyny is legal, polygynists are still bound to observe the Word in Romans 14, here paraphrased for application:
'1As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. . . . 13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by [your polygyny you] are no longer walking in love. By what you [do], do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of [monogyny or polygyny] but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 20 Do not, for the sake of [polygyny], destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he [does]. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything [including polygyny] that causes your brother to stumble. 22 The faith/conviction that you have [about living in polygyny], keep between yourself and God [privately and discretely]. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts [about what he does] is condemned if he [does it], because the [doing] is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. '
Finally, we know that today the word regulating the official and public practice of polygyny in America is the Word in Romans 13, where we in America are instructed to obey the laws of the land, America, As St. Augustine said, where the law prohibits the public and official practice of polygyny, it would be a sin, the sin of disobedience, for a child of God to publicly and officially practice polygyny. It is understood that many states in the USA have laws regulating attempts to officially and legally do polygyny, but many states like California have no law at all against or regulating unofficial, private and discreet common law polygyny. Such nofficial, private and discreet common law polygyny is still regulated by the following passages in 1 Cor 8, Romans 14 and 1 Cor 10. In countries where the public and official practice of polygyny is legal, polygynists are still bound to observe the Word.
Another Word regulating the practice of polygyny is 1 Cor 8, again paraphrased for application:
1Cor 8: 8 It is true that a particular kind of [marriage] will not bring us into God’s presence; we are neither inferior to others if we abstain from [polygyny], nor superior to them if we [practice] it. 9 But take care lest this liberty of yours should prove a hindrance to the progress of weak believers. 10 For if any one were to see you, who know the real truth of this matter, [practicing polygyny], would not his conscience (supposing him to be a weak believer) be emboldened to [practice polygyny as well but with doubts]? 11 Why, your knowledge becomes the ruin of the weak believer--your brother, for whom Christ died! 12 Moreover when you thus sin against the brethren and wound their weak consciences, you are, in reality, sinning against Christ. 13 Therefore if [my polygyny] causes my brother to fall, never again to the end of my days will I [openly and publically practice polygyny to the knowledge of weak believers], for fear I should cause my brother to fall. [Derived from 1 Cor 8:8-13]
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I don't believe 1 Cor 8:8-13 applies to polygyny, but applies to the controversies identified by the Apostles in Acts 21 and Act 15:"28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell." I believe that 1 Cor 8:8-13 and should be understood in the following manner:
7 . . . some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled [because they have doubts about the godliness of eating food offered to idols]. . . . 9 But take care that this right of yours [to eat food offered to idols] does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge [e.g. "8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do."] eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols [even though he has doubts about it]? 11 And so by your knowledge [and behavior] this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13Therefore, if [eating] food [offered to idols] makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat [offered to an idol], lest I make my brother stumble.
Another Word regulating the practice of polygyny is 1 Cor 10, again paraphrased for application:
'23 "All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 No one should seek his own benefit, but the benefit of his neighbor. 25 [Practice any legal form of marriage you wish] without raising any question on the ground of conscience. . . . 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to [a public and official polygynous meeting] and you are disposed to go, [partake in the event] without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “[The public and official practice of polygyny is illegal here and sinful],” then do not [attend] it [or argue about or pass judgment on the doubtful and disputable issues, opinions and reasonings about polygyny], for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my [polygynous] liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake [of polygyny] with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? 31 So, whether you [practice monogyny or polygyny], or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.'
Romans 14, here paraphrased for application:
'1As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions, or doubtful issues. . . . 13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by [your polygyny you] are no longer walking in love. By what you [do], do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of [monogyny or polygyny] but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 20 Do not, for the sake of [polygyny], destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he [does]. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything [including polygyny] that causes your brother to stumble. 22 The faith/conviction that you have [about living in polygyny], keep between yourself and God [privately and discretely]. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts [about what he does] is condemned if he [does it], because the [doing] is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. 15:15: 1 Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves. 2 Each one of us must please his neighbor for his good, in order to build him up.
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The Discrete and Godly Practice of Biblical Christian Polygyny
Another Word regulating the practice of polygyny is 1 Cor 10, again paraphrased for application:
'23 "All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 No one should seek his own benefit, but the benefit of his neighbor. 25 [Practice any legal form of marriage you wish] without raising any question on the ground of conscience. . . . 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to [a public and official polygynous meeting] and you are disposed to go, [partake in the event] without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “[The public and official practice of polygyny is illegal here and sinful],” then do not [attend] it [or argue about or pass judgment on the doubtful and disputable issues, opinions and reasonings about polygyny], for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my [polygynous] liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake [of polygyny] with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? 31 So, whether you [practice monogyny or polygyny], or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.'
"Rom 14:1 Accept and welcome anyone who is weak in faith, but don't argue about or pass judgment on doubtful and disputable issues, opinions and reasonings [like those about polygyny]. . . . 19 We should therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food [or polygyny]. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble; [and similarly marriage is holy, but it is wrong for one to be polygynous in such a way that causes someone to stumble into sin] 21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or [be polygynous] by which your brother stumbles [into sin]. 22 Your personal convictions [on polygyny based on the Word of God]--exercise [them] as in God's presence, keeping them to yourself [privately, discretely and secretly if necessary, with likeminded people as in 1 Cor 10:23-33]. Blessed (happy, to be envied) is he who has no reason to judge himself for what he approves [as to polygyny]. 23 But the man who has doubts (misgivings, an uneasy conscience) about eating [or being polygynous], and then eats [or is polygynous], stands condemned [before God], because he is not true to his convictions and he does not act from faith [based on the Word of God]. For whatever does not originate and proceed from faith [based on the Word of God] is sin. 15:1 Now we who are strong [in our liberty in Christ] have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength [in their faith], and not to please ourselves. 2 Each one of us must please his neighbor for his good, in order to build him up. 3 For even the Messiah did not please Himself. . . . From the AmpBible & etc
To not discern, recognize, rightfully appreciate and behave with wise and kind Love with the body of Christ, the body of His believers, when in fellowship with a body of believers, is to bring Father's promised discipline on one's self, often in the form of weakness, sickness and even the death of one's body.
". 29For anyone who eats and drinks [the Lord's communion supper periodically] without discerning, recognizing and rightfully appreciating the body [of Christ, His disciples], eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But If we were properly evaluating ourselves, we would not be judged. 32But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world." 1 Cor 11 ESV
ON THE OTHER HAND, if one becomes polygynous in obedience to God's explicit command,
then one must obey Jesus in the matter, and in this case it is Jesus and His Word that is offending, grieving and stumbling the one who upset about that one's polygyny. Consider the following situations:
[1] The bereft woman is under 1 Cor 7:8,9 command to marry, to be married. No godly and single Christian brother steps up to the plate to marry her, either because none of the brothers want to or are able to. The only godly Christian brother who is able (1Jn3:16,17,18) and willing (2 Cor 8:12) to marry her is already married. Married brothers are not excused from marrying a bereft woman (Deut 25:5-10). Since no other godly Christian male will marry the bereft woman under command to marry, and he is able to be husband to her, then he should marry her. It is best to practice polygyny secretly, privately and discretely (Romans 14) in hostile environments if at all possible, but if it is not possible to for the couple in this situation, then they must be polygynous "under fire", experiencing persecution for obeying Jesus.
[2] The believing brother's wife leaves him and divorces him. She marries another while still claiming to be a genuine disciple of Jesus. She has become snared in sin (2 tim 2:24ff). If they were both genuinely saved and free in the Lord to marry when they married, then they are maritally bound in the Kingdom of God as long as both live (1Cor7:10,11,39; Rom 7:1-3; Mark 10:1-15). The brother is subjected to all manner of predicted sexual temptations due to her being gone (1 Cor 7:1-5). He fails to consistently continue to abstain from sex sin, and so comes under command to marry (1 Cor 7:1,2,8,9). Obediently he marries another godly Christian sister in polygyny, since he is still maritally bound to the wife that left him. He may suffer persecution or loss of privileges in his local assembly because of his complicated marital status. He tries to practice his polygyny privately, secretly and discretely (Rom 14) but some in his assembly learn of it and are offended, grieved, and stumbled because of it. The offense, stumbling, grieving is because of his obedience to Christ, so it is Christ and His Word that is offending, stumbling and grieving them, and that matter is between them and Christ.