>>You are correct, sir; it is the New International Version. I also like the New Living Translation, altho my favorite remains the KJV.
Your intellectual dishonesty here is breathtaking. You “Like” a new translation of the Bible. You then want to hold everyone to a strict interpretation of it’s language. You then dismiss going back to the original source because??? Well you just don’t say.
>>This was the Old Testament Hebrew practice, one of the many that were revolutionized by Jesus of Nazareth
I guess you "like" this unsubstantiated belief as well.
As for 26:
The logic you are assailing is impeccable!
Let’s get the historical order straight shall we?
Abram takes Hagar to wife, has a child by her, has a child by his first wife sari, has a falling out with Hagar sends her away with her son to become the Ishmaelites. Then God asks him to sacrifice his son, Abram is obedient, is called the “Friend of God” has his name changed to Abraham, Sari is renamed Sarah. Abram Takes third wife, with no recorded problems and no loss of Blessings.
If God is unchanging (and he is.)
Then if Abraham Being the “Friend of God” was not a sinner then Polygamy is not a sin now.
Period, End of Story, The end.
Whether or not you “like” it is immaterial.
That said, I think it would take an extraordinary man to successfully live in a polygamous marriage.
I for one am all for marriage, to one wife (all I ever desired).
Polygamy IS biblical, to say anything else is just ignorant, or worse yet willful ignorance.
JM $0.02
Do not be so quick to judge a FReeper of whom you have no real knowledge, nor to dismiss the power of the Holy Spirit in prayer and revelation to persons who pray daily to be Spirit-led and who study several responsible translations that have all gone back to the original Greek and Hebrew for their source material.
You two seem eager to use corollary "evidence" of ancient practices to justify polygamy rather than the plain words of Jesus. I hope for your sakes He finds your justifications pleasing. I must say I am not impressed by them.
Abraham and Sarah didn't have any children. So Sarah decided to 'help' God and had Abraham take Hagar. So they both have children.
From Sarah's stupid idea came the Arabs.
Sarah dies.
Then Abrahan marries Keturah-AFTER Sarah is dead.
Saying polygamy is biblical is true, doesn't mean it was sanctioned by God. Using that method of thinking slavery and stonings, etc. is biblical too.