When studying the Bible, it’s important to understand the difference between descriptive and prescriptive passages. A descriptive passage simply describes something that happened, while a prescriptive passage gives a command or instruction that followers of God should obey.
Many stories in the Bible are descriptive – they tell us about events that took place and actions that people took. For example, the books of 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, and 1 and 2 Chronicles give historical accounts of various kings and nations in the Old Testament. These books describe what happened during particular reigns and military conflicts. The details help us understand the overall narrative of the Bible, but the stories themselves don’t directly tell us how we should live.
In contrast, prescriptive passages provide direct commands, rules, or principles. The Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 are a prime example, laying out clear rules from God on how the Israelites were to live. Other prescriptive passages include the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, where Jesus taught specifics on topics like anger, lust, divorce, and retaliation. Paul’s letters also contain many prescriptive commands to churches and individuals on holy living.
Why does this distinction matter? Because descriptive passages show us what happened, not necessarily what should happen. Just because the Bible describes someone doing something doesn’t mean it is condoned or encouraged. For example, Genesis contains accounts of polygamy among the patriarchs. But these descriptive passages don’t mean God commands or prefers polygamy – prescriptive passages make it clear that God’s plan is for one man and woman to unite in marriage (Genesis 2:24, 1 Corinthians 7).
Another example is slavery. The Bible contains descriptive accounts of slavery, but does not prescribe or endorse the practice. Instead, prescriptive texts instruct masters to treat slaves justly and fairly (Colossians 4:1). The bible seeks to regulate the practice of slavery in ancient times, while providing principles that would ultimately lead to its abolition.
What are some other common biblical descriptions that don’t necessarily prescribe norms for Christian living today:
- Polygamy among biblical figures like David, Solomon, and Jacob
- The inclusion of prostitutes like Rahab and Tamar in Jesus’ genealogy (Matthew 1:5)
- Accounts of drunkenness like Noah’s incident after the flood (Genesis 9:21)
- The actions of flawed leaders like Samson or Saul
Does this mean we totally disregard descriptive passages as irrelevant? Not at all. Descriptive biblical accounts remain incredibly valuable because they:
- Reveal insight into human nature and God’s unfolding plan in real-life situations
- Illustrate important spiritual principles, even if the actions themselves aren’t fully endorsed
- Provide interesting historical and cultural details that help us understand the biblical world
- Remind us of God’s mercy, patience, and work through imperfect people
In summary, we should be careful not to assume all biblical accounts are direct models for us to follow. God recorded the honest failures as well as successes of biblical figures to illustrate His patient love for imperfect people. But when it comes to direct commands for Christian living, we must focus on what is prescriptive, not just descriptive.
Old Testament Narratives
Many of the stories in the Old Testament are descriptive narratives recounting Israel’s history. While these accounts are inspired and valuable, they are not specifically meant to prescribe moral standards for all people at all times. Some examples include:
- The polygamous marriages of patriarchs like Jacob and David
- Questionable actions of kings and leaders like Samson’s relationships with Philistine women (Judges 14, 16)
- Sins and violence committed by the nation of Israel throughout their history
So while we can learn general spiritual lessons from these passages, we cannot use them to condone sinful practices being described. The descriptive history shows us what happened, flaws and all. We must be careful not to construct moral commands from these flawed examples alone.
New Testament Household Codes
The New Testament contains “household codes” – instructions for how various members of a Greco-Roman household should relate, including husbands/wives, parents/children, and masters/slaves (Ephesians 5:21-6:9, Colossians 3:18-4:1, 1 Peter 2:13-3:7). At first glance, these texts may seem to endorse practices like slavery.
However, we must understand the historical context. The apostles were not prescribing permanent social structures, but advising new believers how to live out Christian principles within their existing cultural framework. The instructions for masters to treat slaves with justice and fairness (Colossians 4:1) were radical, countercultural ideas in the ancient world. While not outright abolishing slavery, these seeds would eventually lead to its demise in Christianized cultures.
Prescriptive Passages for Living Today
While we can learn general spiritual lessons from stories and cultures in the Bible, specific moral guidance for followers of Christ today should be drawn from passages that are clearly prescriptive in nature. Some key examples include:
- The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17)
- The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
- Paul’s instructions for holy living and church conduct (Romans 12-16, 1 Corinthians 5-7)
- Principles of love, compassion, justice, sexual purity, honesty, generosity, humility, and more as taught throughout the New Testament epistles.
These prescriptive texts were written specifically to instruct early Christians on righteous conduct within their cultural context. Thus they remain our best guide for living out biblical principles today.
Using Discernment
In summary, here are some guidelines for discernment when interpreting the Bible:
- Be cautious about deriving moral imperatives from descriptive historical accounts alone.
- Understand prescriptive passages in their historical and literary context.
- Look for consistent moral principles across prescriptive biblical texts.
- Study descriptive and prescriptive passages together to get a complete biblical perspective.
- When in doubt, consult clear prescriptive passages for guidance.
- Remember that not every biblical account of human behavior is divinely endorsed.
Approaching the Bible with these principles in mind will help us rightly understand descriptive and prescriptive passages. We can learn from biblical stories while also relying on biblical commands to show us how God wants us to live today.
Examples of Potentially Problematic Descriptive Passages
Here are some biblical descriptions that have been misinterpreted as moral prescriptions, along with more righteous prescriptive perspectives:
Polygamy and Marriage
- Descriptive: Polygamous marriages of figures like David and Solomon (1 Samuel 18, 1 Kings 11)
- Prescriptive: God’s model of monogamous marriage in Genesis 2:24, Jesus’ teaching against divorce in Matthew 19:4-6, qualifications for elders/deacons being husband of one wife (1 Timothy 3:2,12)
Violence and Vengeance
- Descriptive: Telling instances of violence like Samson killing Philistines (Judges 16) or David killing Goliath (1 Samuel 17)
- Prescriptive: Blessings on peacemakers, leaving vengeance to God (Matthew 5:9, Romans 12:19), compassionate love for enemies (Luke 6:35)
Gender Roles and Patriarchy
- Descriptive: Male-centered genealogies, women portrayed in submissive roles
- Prescriptive: Equality before God (Galatians 3:28), mutual submission in marriage (Ephesians 5:21)
Slavery and Prejudice
- Descriptive: Passages regulating existing slavery practices in the Roman Empire
- Prescriptive: Slaves as equals before God (Colossians 3:11), instructions against kidnapping for slavery (1 Timothy 1:10), principles of human dignity regardless of race, gender, or status (Galatians 3:28)
In each case, the prescriptive perspective provides the moral guidance that aligns with the consistent biblical theme of justice, compassion, and human dignity.
Descriptive to Prescriptive Pitfalls
Here are some pitfalls to avoid when interpreting descriptive biblical texts:
- Presumption – Assuming a biblical description inherently reflects God’s ideals and commands for all people for all time.
- Proof-texting – Taking descriptive verses out of context to promote personal preferences or agendas.
- Selectivity – Highlighting some biblical descriptions while ignoring others that don’t fit one’s paradigm or preferences.
- Generalizing – Drawing universal principles from specific stories without broader scriptural context.
- Idealizing biblical cultures – Longing to recreate unjust or unethical cultural elements simply because they existed in biblical times.
The better approach is to view descriptive passages through the lens of clearly prescriptive biblical ethics focused on justice, mercy, dignity, and love.
Balancing Descriptive and Prescriptive
Though descriptive and prescriptive passages require different interpretive approaches, both remain vital parts of God’s Word. Descriptive passages provide fascinating insights into human nature and God’s redemptive work in history. Prescriptive texts define the moral parameters for righteous living.
When interpreted correctly in context, descriptive and prescriptive passages together create a rich, multidimensional understanding of the Bible’s message. Descriptive passages remind us to extend grace, as all people are flawed and in need of mercy. Prescriptive commands call us to holiness, as God wants His people to reflect His moral character.
The Bible Project’s video series provides helpful background on different biblical genres and how they work together to communicate God’s truth:
- How to Read the Bible Part 1 – Literal and Figurative Meaning: https://bibleproject.com/explore/how-to-read-the-bible/
- How to Read the Bible Part 2 – Literary Styles: https://bibleproject.com/explore/how-to-read-the-bible-literary-styles/
- How to Read the Bible Part 3 – Biblical Genres: https://bibleproject.com/explore/how-to-read-the-bible-biblical-genres/
Studying both descriptive history and prescriptive commands equips us to apply God’s Word faithfully in ways that honor both His grace and His truth.
Conclusion
Understanding descriptive and prescriptive biblical passages is vital for interpreting Scripture well. Descriptive passages reveal what happened without necessarily condoning the actions. Prescriptive texts provide direct commands and principles for moral conduct. While descriptive accounts show us God at work in flawed humanity, prescriptive truths define what obedience to God looks like for followers of Christ today. By recognizing the difference between description and prescription in the Bible, we can gain wisdom from biblical stories without misconstruing them as moral imperatives for all people for all time.