The Biblical Case For and Against Plural Marriage
Is polygyny actually permitted by Scripture—or is it a misreading of the Bible shaped by culture, confirmation bias and flawed theology?
In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times, I walk listeners through both sides of one of the most controversial theological debates in the modern church: the biblical case for and against polygyny.
On one side, Pastor Rich Tidwell argues that plural marriage is biblically lawful—and in some cases even prescribed—based on Old Testament precedent and the claim that “sex is marriage.” On the other, I work through dismantling his framework, showing why descriptive biblical narratives are not prescriptive commands, why the “sex = marriage” premise collapses logically and morally, and why both Jewish history and the New Testament consistently point to monogamy as God’s design.
This episode isn’t about shock value—it’s about discernment. If Christians can call anything “biblical” by isolating verses, what guardrails remain? 💭 A different way to reflect this week: • When Scripture describes something, how do we know whether God is revealing truth—or warning us through human failure? • What happens when we confuse what God allows with what God desires?

