Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | September 15, 2009
It is possible that the phrase “they had no one to comfort them” is stated twice, with the second being a poetic repetition reemphasizing that the poor had no comfort against the powerful. That, however, is not how I understand the verse. In my opinion,
PHall | September 15, 2009
The problem of evil has always existed “under the sun.” Some of this is purposeful, for man is often wicked himself. A small dose of wickedness is accidental, or done with good intentions. For example, in the American court system, many a criminal runs free because of a good principle: the rights of the individual […]
PHall | September 15, 2009
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 show that true joy comes in 1) seeing God as the giver; 2) not looking solely at the gift; 3) finding good in little everyday experiences. But then again, isn’t that true of most gifts? It is the giver that makes the gift special and meaningful.
PHall | September 15, 2009
18 I said to myself [lit., in my heart] concerning the sons of men, “God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but beasts.” Both within Philosophy and Theology the problem of pain, the problem of evil, has been the most troubling argument against the existence of a benevolent […]
PHall | September 15, 2009
John Godfrey Saxe put it in a poem, “The Blind Men of Indostan.” It was 6 men of Indostan to learning much inclined, Who went to see an elephant tho’ all of them were blind, That each by observation might satisfy his mind! The first approached the elephant, and happening to fall Against his broad […]
PHall | September 15, 2009
The question is, does God appoint everything specifically? Is the day we are to be born and die, already determined? Whatever the answer, it must be tempered with man’s free will which is also a gift from God. Ecclesiastes 9:11 mentions, “time and chance” as being involved in man’s life, which is another factor besides […]
PHall | September 15, 2009
Because of the immense wisdom of Solomon, despite the odds, he was probably able to experiment and not loose His sense of rightness. While a helpful tool in his sense of self-discovery, it also is a commentary on his sad state of life. All the while he left God he knew he was wrong. All […]
PHall | September 15, 2009
Shiddah weshiddoth, occurs only here in the O.T. The KJV translates this as, musical instruments. “The difficult words {shiddah weshiddoth} are variously rendered. The LXX. have [oinocoon kai oinochoas] “male and female cup-bearers,” with which the Syriac and Arabic and Parkhurst agree; Aquila, [kulikon kai kulikia] “a cup and smaller cups;” Jerome, {scyphos et urceolos, […]
PHall | September 15, 2009
Laughter is of God. No other of God’s creations laugh, as do humans. God Himself laughs and has a sense of humor (i.e., just look at the platypus!). Humor though must have its place, as we have all witnessed, endured, or participated in ill-timed humor. Humor must also have its place within our lives – […]
PHall | September 15, 2009
Solomon approaches this search as an experiment. When looking at the language, he is both the scientific observer and the one being experimented on. He separates himself from himself to try and remain objective. People even today do the same thing, but for a variety of reasons, oftentimes self-destructing. The self-destruction comes by denying our […]