‘Traditional’ Marriage – Since When? By Esther Jones
Biblical marriage, goes the argument, has historically been one man and one woman. To allow gays their civil rights would obviously be akin to allowing polygamy. Everyone knows what The Bible has to say about that.
Or do they?
Exodus 21:10 states that if a man marries a new wife, he must ensure that he continues to care for the first. Deuteronomy 21:15-17 tells us the firstborn son must take precedence, even if the husband loves his mother less than his other wives. So, in the words of the Bible, marriage is between one man and as many women as he can afford.
Early Christianity wasn't exactly clear on the issue either. The dialogue of Justin Martyr and Trypho includes polygamy. Eusebius of Caesarea wrote “On the Numerous Progeny of the Ancients,” boosting the usefulness of polygamy in spreading one's seed.
Martin Luther himself said “I confess that I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict the Scripture. If a man wishes to marry more than one wife, he should be asked whether he is satisfied in his conscience that he may do so in accordance with the word of God. In such a case, the civil authority has nothing to do in the matter.”
Phillipe I of Hesse had the support of the Lutheran church in his polygamous marriages, and Philipp Melanchthon counseled Henry the VIII to, instead of schism, simply engage in polygamy. After all, why risk the wrath of the church when one can simply marry multiple women?
One-man/one-woman is a relatively recent development in human history. The Greeks accepted homosexuality, the Romans were omnisexual, and Judeo-Christian culture was brimming with polygamy.
Based on that history, there seems to be a shocking lack of support for truly traditional marriages.
Esther Jones is a writer based in Bellingham Washington