What does it mean that a biblical passage is descriptive rather than prescriptive?

Answer

When studying the Bible, it is important to determine whether the verse or passage at hand is descriptive or prescriptive. The difference is this: a passage is descriptive if it is simply describing something that happened, while a passage is prescriptive if it is specifically teaching that something should happen. Simply put, is it a description or a command? Is the passage describing something (it happened) or is it prescribing something (it should happen)? The difference is important. When a biblical passage is only describing something but is interpreted as prescribing something, it can lead to erroneous thinking and behavior.

Take the story of David and Goliath, for example. Goliath was blaspheming the God of Israel and mocking God’s people, and David fought him with a sling and a stone, killed him, and cut off his head (1 Samuel 17). If we take this passage as descriptive (which it is), then there are many things we can learn from the history, such as the value of trusting God. However, if we take 1 Samuel 17 as prescriptive (which it’s not), then we might make the error of slinging rocks at blasphemers everywhere. The Bible relates the account of David’s victory for our edification, but the Bible never commands us to follow his actions on the battlefield.

A less dramatic example of the descriptive vs. prescriptive issue concerns how the New Testament describes the early Christians meeting in homes (Acts 2:46; Acts 20:20; Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15). Some interpret this to mean that Christians today should only meet in homes, and, tTherefore, gathering in church buildings is incorrect. This is misguided thinking. None of the passages that depict believers gathering at home dictate that believers should exclusively gather in homes. In reality, the New Testament never commands believers to gather in homes. The Bible mentions believers gathering in homes, but there is no directive to do so. Thus, gathering in homes is permissible, but it is not promoted or necessarily preferred.

Another instance highlighting the contrast between descriptive and prescriptive passages relates to how frequently communion should be practiced. Based on Scripture, it seems that the early Christians partook in the Lord’s Supper weekly (Acts 2:42;Acts 20:7;1 Corinthians 11:20-25). However, none of the passages that mention the Lord’s Supper being observed weekly explicitly mandate its weekly observance. Is it acceptable to observe the Lord’s Supper weekly? Certainly. Is it obligatory to observe the Lord’s Supper weekly? No.

The topic of the gift of tongues is another area where distinguishing between descriptive and prescriptive passages is crucial. The book of Acts presents several instances of individuals speaking in tongues, like Acts 2:4, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” Some individuals interpret this and other passages describing tongues as prescriptive, but this is an incorrect interpretation. The Bible recounts specific occasions when Spirit-filled individuals spoke in tongues, but these accounts of what occurred should not be misconstrued as commands to replicate the experience. The Bible does instruct us to be filled with the Spirit «And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; », (Ephesians 5:18), but it does not state that speaking in tongues always accompanies being filled, nor does it mandate speaking in tongues.

The Bible is for everyone.

As a general rule, much of what happens in the book of Acts is descriptive, while much of what is written in the New Testament Epistles is prescriptive. Acts provides a historical account, and the Epistles offer guidance. There are exceptions, naturally. Acts occasionally gives instructions, and the Epistles sometimes provide narratives.

If a verse or passage is purely descriptive, without any explicit directive or prohibition, then it is descriptive and should not be viewed as a command for us to follow. It is only when Scripture explicitly directs (prescribes) New Testament believers to do something that we should consider it a command to obey.