But recurrent Christian groups, committed to the continuance of revelation, did not exclude the pos sibility of new divine authorizations. This was the basis on which the Anabaptists at Muenster re vived polygamy. For the most part, however, the patriarchs were revered but not imitated by the church. And not uncommonly their derelictions were rendered innocuous through allegory.2 Save. Then, for occasional exceptions, the Christian church throughout her history has insisted on monogamy.