A  polygamist with 3 wives recently gave his life to Christ and became born again catholic. The pastor asked him to bring one of his wives to the church for a proper wedding ceremony so that God can bless the union. The man took the last wife to the reverend father who insists that it's advisable he brings his 1st wife. He later blessed their union after the man maintained he wants to be with his last wife.

Questions:

1)What will happen to his 2 other wives whom he married over 15 years ago?. Actually, the 1st wife has been with him for about 38 years.

2) Is there anything wrong with it theologically if he decides to present his youngest wife to the pastor as his duly married wife since he is more likely to be attracted to her sexually based on her age?

3) Is this not an act of discrimination in Christianity, when a man is forced to choose one wife from a pool of three that he has been living with for a minimum of one decade?

4) what is the guarantee that he will not be sexually involved with two others if they live in the same home or will he relocate them while still supporting them financially even though he is not involved with them anymore?

5) If your mother is the 1st wife, how will you view the actions of the pastor?

6) If you are faced with this man's dilemma, how will you decide on which wife to present before God as your lawfully wedded wife?

To answer all your questions above, there is no clear cut christian injunction that a christian cannot marry more than one wife. It really is an assumption with very weak biblical foundation. Only church leaders were instructed not to have more than one wife, this can be verified in the following passages:

1 Timothy 3:2:

   2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

1 Timothy 3:12:

   12Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.


The fact that it was only church leaders that were specifically instructed not to have more than one wife implies that the rest of the church members could if they so desired  I think this idea of one wife was introduced when european culture mixed with christianity. Whilst i am not an advocate for polygamy, i believe it is wrong for preachers to present their personal opinions as the word of God and indoctrinate it. Such issues should at best be advisory and not presented as the word of God.

PS: If any one knows any clear cut bible quote which directs christians in general not to marry more than one wife, kindly post it here. I would really like to be corrected of this notion if i am wrong.

KunleOshob:

To answer all your questions above, there is no clear cut christian injunction that a christian cannot marry more than one wife. It really is an assumption with very weak biblical foundation. Only church leaders were instructed not to have more than one wife, this can be verified in the following passages:

1 Timothy 3:2:

   2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

1 Timothy 3:12:

   12Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.


The fact that it was only church leaders that were specifically instructed not to have more than one wife implies that the rest of the church members could if they so desired  I think this idea of one wife was introduced when european culture mixed with christianity. Whilst i am not an advocate for polygamy, i believe it is wrong for preachers to present their personal opinions as the word of God and indoctrinate it. Such issues should at best be advisory and not presented as the word of God.

PS: If any one knows any clear cut bible quote which directs christians in general not to marry more than one wife, kindly post it here. I would really like to be corrected of this notion if i am wrong.

let me also add that, polygamy itself is no sin, the process towards polygamy is the sin.
because, literarily a married man who fancies another woman and proceed wiith his intreasts is likely to fornicate before they are officially married.
So it is best and ideal as a christian to marry only one wife.
@ poster
I don't think d pastor should have done what he did. the man was married to these women before he knew Christ, as such there was no basis for a proper weddin ceremony in church.

PS: If any one knows any clear cut bible quote which directs christians in general not to marry more than one wife, kindly post it here. I would really like to be corrected of this notion if i am wrong.

The bible is clearly against polygamy. I will ask my friends and get the verse and chapter to you later.

Although I am not a Christian I am quite familiar with the bible been from a family of many Christians, attended a more or less Christian school and studied the bible in great detail myself. I could be corrected but I don’t think there is any verse specifically in the bible prohibiting polygamy as many prophets of God practised polygamy. The only verse I can remember is something like “the husband and the wife shall be one” this doesn’t actually mean a man can only marry one wife but stressing the unity in thinking and understanding between a man and his wife.

I think the reverend is wrong for doing this as he has more or less caused problems and discord in a family or how do we explain a wife of 38 years now been regarded as not a wife. If there was unity in these family before the reverend has disunited the family by his actions sometimes we just need to apply wisdom and not literally interpret texts.

Polygamy within limits and practised with human fairness is the solution to adultery for a man who has a high drive and cant hold it btw his pants. Islam sets a limit of 4 and if you exceed this you are just a dog who would go after anything in skirts.

It is a shame that many people preach one man one wife and this same people have tens of girlfriends outside and commit adultery like shit. Wouldn’t a woman be happy if she knew where her husband was when he his not with her rather than not know the hundreds of girls he sleeps with outside then when he dies diff women starts to pop up with kids claiming a share in his estate!!!

earTHMama:

The bible is clearly against polygamy. I will ask my friends and get the verse and chapter to you later.

I doubt if you would be able to find it, on the contrary biblical laws accomodated polygamy and example of such laws can be found in

Deuteronomy 21:15-17
15 “Suppose a man has two wives, but he loves one and not the other, and both have given him sons. And suppose the firstborn son is the son of the wife he does not love. 16 When the man divides his inheritance, he may not give the larger inheritance to his younger son, the son of the wife he loves, as if he were the firstborn son.

Also several Men close to God in the bible had more than one wife and there is no record of this practise being condenmed any were in the bible. Examples of such men are Abraham, Moses, King David, king Solomon and Job.

I doubt if you would be able to find it, on the contrary biblical laws accomodated polygamy and example of such laws can be found in

Deuteronomy 21:15-17
15 “Suppose a man has two wives, but he loves one and not the other, and both have given him sons. And suppose the firstborn son is the son of the wife he does not love. 16 When the man divides his inheritance, he may not give the larger inheritance to his younger son, the son of the wife he loves, as if he were the firstborn son.

Also several Men close to God in the bible had more than one wife and there is no record of this practise being condenmed any were in the bible. Examples of such men are Abraham, Moses, King David, king Solomon and Job.

It's in the new testament when christ said that any man that leaves his wife for another is guilty of adultery.

earTHMama:

It's in the new testament when christ said that any man that leaves his wife for another is guilty of adultery.

Leaving one's wife for another is totally different from marrying an additional wife which is poligamy. Besides if you read your bible well from the original translations, you would know that adultery was essentially to do with married women. It only concerned men when a married woman was involved. I know you would tend to disagree with me on this statement but it is the obvious truth. I suggest you get a bible concordance and research the topic from the original hebrew language.

earTHMama:

It's in the new testament when christ said that any man that leaves his wife for another is guilty of adultery.

FUNMI @ WORK AGAIN

Hi KunleOshob.  You are on a shaky ground here, very shaky!

Analytical:

Hi KunleOshob. You are on a shaky ground here, very shaky!

There is no point in making allegations that you cannot back with sound clear cut and unambiguos scriptural doctrine. If you do have any sound scripture on the topic post it here else hold your peace.

KunleOshob:

To answer all your questions above, there is no clear cut christian injunction that a christian cannot marry more than one wife. It really is an assumption with very weak biblical foundation. Only church leaders were instructed not to have more than one wife, this can be verified in the following passages:

1 Timothy 3:2:

   2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

1 Timothy 3:12:

   12Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.


The fact that it was only church leaders that were specifically instructed not to have more than one wife implies that the rest of the church members could if they so desired  I think this idea of one wife was introduced when european culture mixed with christianity. Whilst i am not an advocate for polygamy, i believe it is wrong for preachers to present their personal opinions as the word of God and indoctrinate it. Such issues should at best be advisory and not presented as the word of God.

PS: If any one knows any clear cut bible quote which directs christians in general not to marry more than one wife, kindly post it here. I would really like to be corrected of this notion if i am wrong.

Church leaders were not born church leaders they became leaders after their conduct and life was examined when they were church members
like u stated their family was checked. If all members become polygamist then who becomes a deacon or bishop? all christian should endeavor to become leaders so,

@ topic
the man should have been left alone with his wives (my opinion) since he married them b4 he became a xtian though there is a school of though that says he do restitution but,

KunleOshob:

To answer all your questions above, there is no clear cut christian injunction that a christian cannot marry more than one wife. It really is an assumption with very weak biblical foundation. Only church leaders were instructed not to have more than one wife, this can be verified in the following passages:

1 Timothy 3:2:

   2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

1 Timothy 3:12:

   12Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.


The fact that it was only church leaders that were specifically instructed not to have more than one wife implies that the rest of the church members could if they so desired  I think this idea of one wife was introduced when european culture mixed with christianity. Whilst i am not an advocate for polygamy, i believe it is wrong for preachers to present their personal opinions as the word of God and indoctrinate it. Such issues should at best be advisory and not presented as the word of God.

PS: If any one knows any clear cut bible quote which directs christians in general not to marry more than one wife, kindly post it here. I would really like to be corrected of this notion if i am wrong.

A balst of fresh air.

Thank you, KunleOshob, for a clear-headed answer.

It's important to read scripture free of pre-conceived notions. 
.
P.S.: the Albert Einstein quote isn't exactly complete; the part left out is the punchline ;-)

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

cleave to his wife. if u are really cleaving i m sure there won't be space for another woman

Matt 19:4
4He answered,  "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? 6So they are no longer two but one flesh.What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."

jokepearl:

Church leaders were not born church leaders they became leaders after their conduct and life was examined when they were church members
like u stated their family was checked. If all members become polygamist then who becomes a deacon or bishop? all christian should endeavor to become leaders so,

I am not an advocate for polygamy neither do i endorse or support it, however i often get ticked off when issues that lack sound scriptural basis are being presented to us as the word of God just becos a certain pastor or denomination as an opinion he/ she feels is compelling. The fact still remains that there is no where in the bible that condenms polygamy despite the fact that polygamy was common in the time the biblical books were written.

So KunleOshob, I ask you, where do the deacon and bishop come from?  Outside the christian community or from outer space?  Who are the ones that become deacons, bishops or any position of leadership according to the scriptures?  Are they not those whose lives and conducts have been found to be blameless, stable and responsible, according to those criteria you are alienating the rest of the church from?

I am willing to engage on this, but can you do this house a favour by highlighting where God approved polygamy in such a clearcut manner you are inviting?

Waiting. . .

Oooops! I replied before seeing your latest post. Does that alter your former position?

Jokepearl, you are on the right track. Let's wait for KunleOshob.

jokepearl:

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

cleave to his wife. if u are really cleaving i m sure there won't be space for another woman

Matt 19:4
4He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? 6So they are no longer two but one flesh.What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."

These are still not clear cut directives against polygamy as we know great men of God in the bible were involved in polygamy.

Analytical:

So KunleOshob, I ask you, where do the deacon and bishop come from? Outside the christian community or from outer space? Who are the ones that become deacons, bishops or any position of leadership according to the scriptures? Are they not those whose lives and conducts have been found to be blameless, stable and responsible, according to those criteria you are alienating the rest of the church from?

I am willing to engage on this, but can you do this house a favour by highlighting where God approved polygamy in such a clearcut manner you are inviting?

Waiting. . .

We are not all cut out to be deacons or bishops, the fact that those who aspire for those positions were singled could even imply that those not interested in the positions were free to have more than one wife. I never for once said that God approved polygamy, all i suggested is that i m not aware of any clear cut biblical injunction against it.

@OP

TITUS 1:5-6

5. For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—

6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.

For reasons of this scripture, I believe the early church allowed polygamists to remain amongst them without letting them hold sensitive positions. Since the man was already a polygamist with children to cater for, it would be unwise to make him divorce his other wives. This does not mean a christian should go out of their way and marry more than one wife. My personal understanding of this situation is that new converts with more than one wife can be allowed to keep their wives but not become pastors or leaders in church.

@kunle

Eph 5:33 ''Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.''

1 Cor 7:2 ''Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

These scriptures I believe advocates monogamy as the way to go as christians.

There is no clear cut christian injunction that a christian cannot marry more than one wife. It really is an assumption with very weak biblical foundation. Only church leaders were instructed not to have more than one wife

---

The fact that it was only church leaders that were specifically instructed not to have more than one wife implies that the rest of the church members could if they so desired

Let me start by saying the scripture posted by Jokepearl is a good place to start.  That is straight from the Lord Jesus Himself.  Let me expand more a little bit.

Matthew 19:
3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he (that is, GOD) which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they two shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

Notice the verses above and my emphases:  it's always 'a man', then 'his wife' (not wives); they 'two', not 'three', 'four', 'many', but 'two' shall be one flesh.  The same narrative is contained in Mark 10:2-12

I think this idea of one wife was introduced when european culture mixed with Christianity

Haba KunleOshob, is God a European?  Notice the verses 4-5 of the scripture above where Jesus was speaking, referring to what GOD said and did, in the beginning!  Note that GOD said it.  He instituted 'one man, one woman' marriage ever before culture, language, or even sin entered the scene!

Look at it in the beginning:

Genesis 2
22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Now, how does that sound like a European culture, folks?  It is also not polygamy.  The tenses are very clear, and the number very specific.  From the beginning, the blueprint for marriage by the Creator of it was for one man, one woman.  That is how you get the correct optimal function.  Any other number is an aberration, a departure from the original design and is bound to malfunction!

Let me provide one more scripture before tackling one of the examples you gave.

Ephesians 5:
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

God bless you ow11 for the added scriptures.  I posted mine without reading yours.  Thank you too for the added understanding.

I believe those verses are also to discourage the prevalent pagan polygamous practices that are being carried wholesome into the church by the new converts of the early church (and us too!) so that they will know they can never be entrusted with service and leadership in the church.  Christians should not marry more than one wife.  References to marriage in the New Testament is always one man, one woman. People that practised polygamy in the Old Testament had terrible family lives.

Besides if you read your bible well from the original translations, you would know that adultery was essentially to do with married women. It only concerned men when a married woman was involved.

Does that mean when God said 'Thou shall not commit adultery' He had the women in mind, KunleOshob?  This is very laughable!

Also several Men close to God in the bible had more than one wife and there is no record of this practise being condenmed any were in the bible. Examples of such men are Abraham, Moses, King David, king Solomon and Job.

---

These are still not clear cut directives against polygamy as we know great men of God in the bible were involved in polygamy.

Like I said, people that practised it because of the hardness of their hearts and other reasons (Abraham-childlessness and Sarah's pressure, David-affluence, covetousness, Solomon-affluence, foolishness) paid for it with abysmal family lives.  Which one of these would you want your marriage to emulate?  We are all familiar with their troubles and travails.

Let's examine Abraham closely.  He actually made amends later for his own.  Nevertheless, he had to bear the burden throughout his generations!

Gen 16:
2 So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
3 After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. [/color]

Please follow closely:

-  This happened before Abram had his encounter with God (so to say, before his conversion!)

-  He listened to the voice of his wife, Sarai, and not to the voice of God

-  Hagai then became his wife.

[color=#000099]4 He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight.
5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her sight. May the LORD judge between you and me.”
6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your power; do to her what is good in your sight.” So Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence.

- Now trouble has started in this family! This is all too familiar in any polygamous home.  I grew up in one so I should know!

- Wife against wife (verse 4); wives against husband (verse 5) and husband against wives (verse 6), with divide and rule tactics that breeds disunity, separation, hatred, malice, unforgiveness and other vices!

7 Now the angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur.
8 He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from and where are you going?” And she said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”
9 Then the angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority.”

- Just notice how the angel of the LORD (giving a message from GOD) called her.  This is revealing!!  She was addressed as Sarai's maid and not Abram's wife!  The angel was speaking the mind of God, folks.  As far as God is concerned, she is not his wife but Sarai's maid. (verse 8 )

- And then verse 9, as 'your mistress' not to 'your husband'.  This is instructive.

Follow me to Genesis 17.  It was after these incidences that Abram met with God and see what God said:

1 Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him,
“I am God Almighty;
Walk before Me, and be blameless.

Does this not sound like those references in Timothy and Titus?  Then God went ahead to make a covenant with him, with blessings.  He changed his name to Abraham and his wife to Sarah.  He was concerned for Ishmael and God blessed the boy too, but Hagar was to be put away.  Abraham will take responsibility for his son Ishmael but God was specific on who He recognised as his wife- Sarah!

Gen 21
9 Now Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking.
10 Therefore she said to Abraham, “Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac.”
11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son.
12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named.
13 “And of the son of the maid I will make a nation also, because he is your descendant.”
14 So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba.

Notice what God said to Abraham in verse 12 and how He also referred to Hagar!  As Abraham's maid, not wife!

So as not to bore us with this long story, I will leave it at that.  God never accepted Hagar as Abraham's wife!  He put her away, but that did not stop Abraham from taking care of the woman and taking responsibility for his son.  If you study that story very well, he made provision for Ishmael and his other sons from another woman (when Sarah died).

I guess we can draw a parallel between this story and the subject of this thread.

God bless y'all.

@Analytical,

So how will you approach the polygamists case if you are his pastor?. Get him to divorce two of his wives and which ones?

earTHMama, there is a good parallel between the life of Abraham (above) and your subject.  It's not easy to do, I must tell you.  It's one of those things I find very difficult to counsel.  I happened to be from a polygamous home (last wife) and wouldn't imagine what it will be for my mum to be put away.  That is me in my humanity.

If the man married his 1st wife legally or traditionally (not just impregnating her), then he should present her.  The other two are his burdens financially and upkeepwise, but not legally or sexually.  He should provide for them, but if they want to leave they are free to remarry.  That is the cross he has to bear for following Christ.  The children are his children, so he must take care of them in every way.  Whichever way, it will take grace to do.  This is my humble opinion.

But come to think of it, it seems the church was only interested in making him a recognised member (with whatever benefits that go with it like communion etc) and not establishing him in the faith.  I don't think a 'proper' full blown wedding is necessary- the man has been married.  They can arrange for what they call marriage 'blessing'.

But come to think of it, it seems the church was only interested in making him a recognised member (with whatever benefits that go with it like communion etc) and not establishing him in the faith. I don't think a 'proper' full blown wedding is necessary- the man has been married. They can arrange for what they call marriage 'blessing'.

Nope, the church gave the same advise akin to yours. They even extended an invitation to his other wives who is angry at them for making their husband desert their bed. Some relatives are raining curses on the rev father that made this man accept Christ but fail to realize the man was in deep shit before accepting Christ. He has a large family with grown children. the children of the first wife can afford to take care of their mum because their dad is no more capable of feeding himself how much less his three wives. It's one thing to say before the church that you will alienate yourself from an old sex partner and another to do it especially when the sex partner is living with you in the same house.

@Analytical
Tanx for your response but i must still comment that you failed to state any where in the bible were it was expressly stated that a man should not marry more than one wife even when there are several examples of polygamist in the bible that were never condenmed by God. All your inferences can at best be said to imply a man is expected to marry one wife. There was never any such directive. Mind you i am not advocating polygamy, one woman is enough problem talkless of two or three i am just trying to be clear what the bible directs and not what men interprete the bible to mean.

Analytical:

Does that mean when God said 'Thou shall not commit adultery' He had the women in mind, KunleOshob? This is very laughable!

This is the meaning of Adultery from the original hebrew text as translated in Strong's bible concordance:

{5003} .a"n; — na'aph, naw-af'; a primitive root; to commit adultery;
figuratively, to apostatize: — adulterer(-ess), commit(-ing)
adultery, woman that breaketh wedlock.

Please note that from the original translation it was specifically directed at women

If ANY man comes to Christ,he becomes a new creature,old things pass away,all things become new. Any body who truly accepts Christ as Lord should break off every relationship unrecognised/unapproved by God.Analytical has explained it already.they say wisdom is profitable to direct. It's not just void marriages,also occult associations and evil societies belonged to are to be broken up with. I.ld rather displease and disappoint men than displease God.

If ANY man comes to Christ,he becomes a new creature,old things pass away,all things become new. Any body who truly accepts Christ as Lord should break off every relationship unrecognised/unapproved by God.Analytical has explained it already.they say wisdom is profitable to direct. It's not just void marriages,also occult associations and evil societies belonged to are to be broken up with. I.ld rather displease and disappoint men than displease God.

If ANY man comes to Christ,he becomes a new creature,old things pass away,all things become new. Any body who truly accepts Christ as Lord should break off every relationship unrecognised/unapproved by God.Analytical has explained it already.they say wisdom is profitable to direct. It's not just void marriages,also occult associations and evil societies belonged to are to be broken up with. I[b].ld rather displease and disappoint men than displease God[/b]

KunleOshob:

This is the meaning of Adultery from the original hebrew text as translated in Strong's bible concordance:

{5003} .a"n; — na'aph, naw-af'; a primitive root; to commit adultery;
figuratively, to apostatize: — adulterer(-ess), commit(-ing)
adultery, woman that breaketh wedlock.

Please note that from the original translation it was specifically directed at women

KunleOshob, how readest thou?  Let God be true and all men liars!  I use study materials too.  One must be able to rightly divide the word.  They are supposed to be study aids and not replacing the Divine Word of God.  If any commentary runs contrary to the Written Word, then The Word superceeds.

Going back to Strong's, I can't even see how what you quoted above speaks specifically at women alone!  if you check the definition very well the way it was written: adulterer(-ess).  This is giving the male and female use of the word- the female use being the (-ess) in braces, i.e adulteress.  In other words adulterer refers to a male and adulteress, a female.  So from that definition from Strong- it should simply be read as:

               adulterer commits adultery; adulteress is a woman that breaketh wedlock

Please, we should be careful how we interpret and use these aids.  God couldn't have been mincing words with that word 'adultery' when he penned the 7th commandment with His own finger on that table of stone in the wilderness in Exodus 20:14 (also in Deut 5:18)

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

He wasn't just referring to any gender.  'Thou', 'You'! Male or Female!!  In fact, let me add a few scriptures for better understanding:

Prov. 6:32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

Matt 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Luke 16:18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

Mark 10:11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

Matt 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart

I won't stretch this if I were you.  You are simply misinterpreting Strong's definition.

God bless.