The Bible presents a complex view: the Old Testament records many polygamists (like Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon), but also shows the negative consequences, while Jesus and New Testament teachings emphasize monogamy ("one man, one wife") as God's ideal design, making the practice debatable for Christians, though some groups still practice it, viewing it as permitted in the Old Covenant but not the New.
Deuteronomy 21:15-17 - “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, 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 ...
Exodus 21:10-11 New Living Translation (NLT)
“If a man who has married a slave wife takes another wife for himself, he must not neglect the rights of the first wife to food, clothing, and sexual intimacy. If he fails in any of these three obligations, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment.
While some believe that Deuteronomy 24:1-4 provides support for the practice of divorce and remarriage, it in fact does the opposite, since it says that a woman is defiled if she remarries, which suggests that she is in fact still married in God's eyes to her first husband.
In fact, the purpose for a biblical divorce is to make clear that the faithful partner is free to remarry, but only in the Lord (Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Cor. 7:39). Those who divorce on any other grounds have sinned against God and their partners, and for them to marry another is an act of “adultery” (Mark 10:11-12).
Matthew 19:9 condemns the remarriage of the “innocent party” as adultery.
Under Indian law, monogamy is the legal norm, and a second marriage is generally considered invalid if the first marriage has not been legally dissolved. However, if the second marriage is legally valid, the second wife may be entitled to certain rights, including maintenance, inheritance, and property rights.
God clearly allows for remarrying your previously divorced spouse (1 Corinthians 7:10-11) unless either spouse had subsequently remarried someone else (Deuteronomy 24:1-4).
There's no defined role for a “second wife” and there's a good chance that she may invite conflict with the rest of the family. The new spouse can be considerably younger and be seen as a competitor or intruder by the children—the more so, the older they are.
Jesus criticized polygamy as a warped version of the lifelong committed relationship of a one-plus-one marriage. Our society recognizes that this is a very special relationship, and we strive toward it, but in many cases, we fail.
The 2-2-2 rule for couples is a relationship guideline suggesting couples schedule regular quality time: a date night every 2 weeks, a weekend getaway every 2 months, and a longer, week-long vacation every 2 years to maintain romance and connection by stepping away from daily routines. It's a flexible framework to ensure intentional time together, preventing couples from getting too caught up in life's demands.
Financial obligations as a second wife can be multifaceted. Your partner may have financial responsibilities from their previous marriage, such as alimony or child support payments. These obligations can impact your household budget and financial planning.
While many factors contribute, many experts point to poor communication (especially criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling) and a breakdown in emotional connection/trust, often stemming from dishonesty or disrespect, as the #1 things that destroy marriages, eroding intimacy and making partners feel unheard and unloved over time. Infidelity, financial stress, and shifting priorities (like putting family/in-laws above spouse) are also major contributors that feed these core issues.
Luke 16:18 (ESV) – “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.”
This article explores the three commonly accepted biblical grounds for divorce—adultery, abandonment, and abuse—and their relevance today.
If you divorced without cause and remarry then you live in Adultry; if you divorced for adultery and reconciliation was not achievable and God freed you from that marriage (because God can still restore a marriage even after unfaithfulness). Based on scripture then you would be free to re- marry.
7 Great Benefits of Being A Second Wife?
What Is the IPC Section for Second Marriage? Section 494 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), now Section 82(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) deals with bigamy, stating that anyone who marries while their spouse is still alive and without obtaining a Legal divorce is guilty of a criminal offence.
Answer. In neither case is the wife's consent necessary. God has given Muslim men the concession to marry more than one wife. Therefore, when a man feels that his circumstances make it desirable or expedient to take another wife, he may go ahead and do so.
The argument against remarriage is clear and simple and seemingly irrefutable: Jesus said whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery (Matthew 5:32, 19:9, Mark 10:11, Luke 16:18).
The short answer: If sin was involved in your past divorce, yes, that needs repentance—but once confessed, it is forgiven in Christ. If you've remarried, your new marriage is a covenant before God. God's call is not to tear apart that relationship, but to make it holy and faithful.
God permits divorce on the grounds of sexual sin.
Advocates of the permanence view argue the clearest texts about divorce mention no exceptions (Mark 10:1–9; Luke 16:18) and that it's explicitly stated one is only free to be remarried after the death of one's spouse (Rom. 7:2–3; 1 Cor. 7:39).
The 777 rule for marriage is a relationship guideline to keep couples connected by scheduling specific, regular quality time: a date night every 7 days, a night away (getaway) every 7 weeks, and a romantic holiday every 7 months, often without kids, to foster intimacy, reduce stress, and prevent routine from overtaking the relationship. It's about consistent, intentional efforts to prioritize the partnership.
The four behaviors that predict over 90% of divorces, known as Dr. John Gottman's "Four Horsemen," are Criticism, Contempt, Defensiveness, and Stonewalling, which erode connection, respect, and safety, leading to relationship breakdown. These destructive communication patterns, if persistent, signal that a marriage is likely to end, with contempt being the most damaging.
The 5-5-5 rule in marriage refers to two main communication techniques: one where couples spend 5 minutes each speaking and 5 minutes dialoguing (5-5-5), and another where a person asks if an issue will matter in 5 minutes, 5 days, and 5 years to gain perspective. Both methods aim to de-escalate conflict, encourage active listening, and focus on long-term understanding rather than immediate reactions, fostering healthier communication and connection.