Writing this to try and help me understand it better myself.

Having been thinking more/again about the similarities and differences between source code and scripture I’ve been struck by the comparison of scriptural text analysis and trying to understand software by only looking at the code. Yes we can learn from the code (static analysis) but we can often learn more by seeing it running (dynamic analysis.)

It’s probably also worth considering that source code is written for the purpose and intent of having an executing piece of software. The goal isn’t to just look at the instructions. It’s for those instructions to do something and make a difference in peoples lives.

Yes we can learn from scripture by reading it, but we can also learn by hearing it read and seeing it put into practice. Maybe they’re even more important…?