Exploding The Myth - 25 Exemplary Monogamous Fathers In The Bible I can remember early in my Christian life hearing two statements. The first: “Matthew 28:19 & 20 is one of the few instances in the Bible where the holy Trinity is directly taught”. The second: “Ephesians 5:18 is the only direct command in the Bible to be filled with the Sprit”. Both of these caught me by surprise and that next year I chose these two topics as themes to look for as I read through the Bible. What I discovered was that the first statement was false. There are many instances in Scriptures of direct references to the Holy Trinity. I found the second though to be true. There is indeed only one command in the entirety of the Bible to “be filled with the Spirit”. This brings me to Father’s Day. Once again I heard in more than one setting a oft repeated refrain, “The examples of monogamous and godly fathers in the Bible are few and far between”. Having heard this so often I found that I was believing it without studying it. As a result I chose in my reading program to look for godly, monogamous fathers in the Bible. What I found was the exact opposite of what is often stated. There are in fact many monogamous marriages headed by exemplary fathers throughout Holy Scripture. I therefor present you with 25 of these in this blog. 25 Exemplary Monogamous Fathers in the Bible
1. Noah – though not perfect, both Noah and his children were monogamous. Unlike Lot, whose testimony was of such a nature that his children laughed at his admonitions, Noah lived a life whereby his children both believed him and obeyed him without question, and that to their salvation. 2. Moses’ Parents: Exodus 6:20 “Amram married his father's sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses; and the length of Amram's life was one hundred and thirty-seven years.” Moses parents were both monogamous and a godly couple of faith. It was the faith and godliness of this couple which preserved Moses, as well as raising up Moses’ brother Aaron and sister Miriam. Hebrews 11:23 “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict.” 3. Jethro, Zipporah’s father and Moses’ Father-in-law: Exodus chapters three and eighteen give insight into the wisdom of Jethro, his loving guidance of his son-in-law Moses and the resulting character instilled in his daughter Zipporah. 4. Moses and Zipporah: In Exodus 4:24 – 26 Zipporah saves Moses’ life as she recognizes the importance of obedience to God in all areas of the family. There is no indication in Scripture that Moses and Zipporah had anything less than a happy and fruitful marriage. Unlike so many during the exodus, Zipporah never embarrassed nor criticized her husband Moses. 5. Aaron – Exodus 6:23 – 27 reveals Aaron as a godly and monogamous husband and father. He bore sons who followed him as priests and were also monogamous in their marriages. 6. Eleazar – Aaron’s son was also monogamous and no critical things were ever said of his marriage or family. 7. Joshua – There are no indications that Joshua had anything other than a godly and loving monogamous marriage and family. God the Holy Spirit chose Joshua to give the admonition in Joshua 24:14-15, which has been used and claimed by so many through the years who aspire to Joshua’s example. "Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." 8. Ruth and Boaz: The Book of Ruth reveals the godly nature of this couple in both courtship and marriage. 9. Jesse - It was David’s father Jesse, a faithful Jew and father who raised up David 1 Samuel 16:1 “Now the LORD said to Samuel, " How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons." 10. Manoah and his wife - Samson’s Parents: Judges chapter thirteen exhibits both a good marriage and a willingness to raise their child in accordance with the commands of God. 11. Uriah – Uriah the Hittite, the Husband of Bathsheba, in II Samuel 11 is revealed to be nothing less than a faithful and monogamous husband. 12. King Lemur of Proverbs 31 – King Lemur is Proverbs 31 disavows polygamy in response to the godly advice of his mother. 13. Ezra – As a priest and scribe it is inconceivable that he was polygamous. In term of his family no criticism is given in Scripture – in contrast with other priests such as Eli. 14. Nehemiah – The active condemnation of Nehemiah concerning mixed marriages and sins within marriages makes it inconceivable that he himself would have been an unfaithful and polygamous man. 15. Job – the husband of one wife who blessed his children and loved his wife. 16. Ezekiel – in Ezekiel chapter 8 is revealed to be a loving, monogamous husband 17. Amos - Luke 3:24-25 “the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Hesli, the son of Naggai,” Both Amos and his parents were monogamous. No critical information is given concerning their marriages or children. Certainly Amos’ father Nahum did an admirable job. 18. Zachariah and Elizabeth: Luke chapter one illustrates both their godly marriage and their obedience to God in raising a godly son. 19. Joseph and Mary: Luke chapter two, Matthew chapters one and two, again, describing both their marriage and their obedience to God in raising a godly son. It is Joseph of whom God the Holy Spirit states in Matthew 1:19 “And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man…” 20. Priscilla and Aquila: In the Book of Acts, (Acts chapter eighteen, also Romans 16:3; I Corinthians 16:19; II Timothy 4:19) examples are given of a godly couple ministering together and serving the Lord in their home. 21. Cornelius – In Acts chapter 10 this monogamous husband who brought his family with him into faith in Christ was chosen by God to introduce the Gospel to the Gentiles. 22. Phillip – In Acts 21 we learn that Philip had four virgin daughters who ministered actively in the church. He was monogamous and his family and raised pure and chaste daughters in the midst of a wicked and decadent culture. 23. Timothy – Timothy as the pastor of the church of Ephesus received this admonition from his spiritual leader – the Apostle Paul. As such we can rest assured that he was both monogamous and an exemplary family man. 1 Timothy 3:2, 4 & 5 “An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife…He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5(but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),” 24. Titus – The same can be said of Titus in Titus 1:6 “namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe,” 25. Leaders of the House Churches - Beyond these 24 men there are many House churches mentioned in the Bible which offer good insight into the state of marriages and families in the New Testament. (Romans 16:15; I Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 1:2) These were strong Christian monogamous families that had a reputation which allowed them to host a church. Again they would have been subject to the command of God the Holy Spirit in 1 Timothy 3:2, 4 & 5 “An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife…He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5(but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),” and Titus 1:6 “namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe,”
Last but not least, given the prevailing error that most marriages in the Bible were headed by dysfunctional, polygamous fathers, this template is imposed on those in Holy Scripture of which no information is given. This must stop. Given the above list we may instead assume that there were many more godly monogamous men who lead their families in the fear and reverence of the Lord. We should give those who are not condemned for their actions the benefit of the doubt rather than assuming the worst. So what is the application? 1. Ask yourself “Does the Bible say…” rather than simply accepting without proof truths within Holy Scripture. 2. Take ownership of what you believe. Be an Ezra - Ezra 7:10 “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.” 3. Last but not least – get in the practice of reading through the Bible once each year following a theme. A simple concordance search will not be adequate in knowing what God the Holy Spirit is teaching on many subjects. For example, in my reading program I was looking for passages speaking directly to the Holy Trinity. As you can see from the results the sole use of a concordance would not have supplied a true picture The Holy Trinity - Matthew 28:19 & 20 Matthew 1:20 – 22; 3:9 – 11, 16, 17; 4:1 – 4; 28:19, 20 Mark 1:1 – 8 Luke 1:35; 2:27, 28; 3:21, 22; 10:21; 11:13, 14 John 6:63 – 65; 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26; 16:5 – 7, 8 – 10 Acts 20:28 Romans 5:5, 6 II Corinthians 1:21, 22; 13:14 Ephesians 2:18; 4:4-6 II Thessalonians 3:13, 14, 16 I Peter 1:2 II Peter 1:16, 17, 21 I John 3:13,14; 4:13, 14; 5:7 – 9 Jude 20, 21, 25 Revelation 1:6, 9, 10
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