I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Luther argues that polygamy is not explicitly forbidden by the Bible, so it cannot be categorically banned on scriptural grounds alone.
- In plain terms
- The Bible does not explicitly ban having multiple wives, so it is not a sin by that standard.
- What can you take from it?
- Scriptural interpretation limits what can be strictly forbidden in marriage practices.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What limits should exist on religious liberty in marriage?
- How do we interpret silence in sacred texts?
Another view
This view ignores broader ethical and social implications beyond literal scriptural reading.
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