Is Polygamy Biblical? – The Stream

What does the Bible actually say about polygyny—and what doesn’t it say?

In this 40-minute video, Peter Demos speaks with Pastor Rich Tidwell to examine his views on polygyny (plural marriage). This is a sensitive, controversial topic — and this conversation doesn’t rely on soundbites. It walks through the key scriptures Tidwell cites, the theological definitions he argues from and the objections he believes don’t hold up under close reading.

This episode is the first in a series of three where this topic is presented as an exploration of the arguments and the questions they raise — so listeners can think carefully, check the text and discern wisely.

A question worth wrestling with: If someone claims “the Bible permits it,” what standard should we use to evaluate that claim — prooftexts, patterns, commands, or the full counsel of Scripture?

Peter Demos is the author of On the Duty of Christian Civil Disobedience and the host of Uncommon Sense in Current Times. A Christian business leader from Tennessee, Demos uses his biblical perspective and insight gained from his own struggles to lead others to truth and authenticity in a broken world. To learn more, visit peterdemos.org.