And sitting each under his vine, i.e., each man possessing his own married wife. For you are aware that the prophetic word says, 'And his wife shall be like a fruitful vine.'…Justin Martyr (A.D. 160) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.1 pg.254

If, then, the teaching of the prophets and of Himself moves you, it is better for you to follow God than your imprudent and blind masters, who even till this time permit each man to have four or five wives; and if any one see a beautiful woman and desire to have her, they quote the doings of Jacob [called] Israel, and of the other patriarchs, and maintain that it is not wrong to do such things; for they are miserably ignorant in this matter. Justin Martyr (A.D. 160) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.1 pg.266

Others, again, following upon Basilides and Carpocrates, have introduced promiscuous intercourse and a plurality of wives, and are indifferent about eating meats sacrificed to idols, maintaining that God does not greatly regard such matters. Irenaeus (A.D. 180) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.1 pg. 353

But far be it from Christians to conceive any such deeds; for with them temperance dwells, self-restraint is practiced, monogamy is observed, chastity is guarded. Theophilus (A.D. 180) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.2 pg.115

But the followers of Carpocrates and Epiphanes think that wives should be common property. Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 195) Miscellanies, book III ch. 2

But it is the same man and Lord who makes the old new, by no longer allowing several marriages (for at that time God required it when men had to increase and multiply), and by teaching single marriage for the sake of begetting children and looking after domestic affairs, for which purpose woman was given as a "helpmeet." Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 195) Miscellanies, book III ch.12

For he also lays down that the bishop who is to rule the Church must be a man who governs his own household well. A household pleasing to the Lord consists of a marriage with one wife.. "To the pure," he says, "all things are pure: but to the defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure, but their mind and conscience are polluted." Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 195) Miscellanies, book III ch.18

And thus, from the time of Abraham, the custom of marrying with sisters has ceased; and from the times of the prophets the contracting of marriage with several wives has been done away with; for we read, “Go not after your lusts, but refrain yourself front your appetites;”… Lest, however, we should seem prolix in collecting the testimonies of the prophets, let us again point out how chastity succeeded to marriage with one wife, taking away by degrees the lusts of the flesh, until it removed entirely the inclination for sexual intercourse engendered by habit. Methodius (A.D. 311) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.6 pg.312

SEE ALSO: MARRIAGE, DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE

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