Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | July 14, 2012
If I were to write a book on the Sermon on the Mount, I thought of some “different” titles: • The Sermon on the Mount – Nothing New Here But Don’t Move Along • The Sermon on the Mount – What I Meant to Say Was…. • The Sermon on the Mount – How Many […]
PHall | July 14, 2012
Matthew 5:3 (NASB) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 (HCSB – 2005) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Matthew 5:3 (HCSB – 2009) “The poor in spirit are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Matthew 5:3 (ESV) […]
PHall | July 13, 2012
(#1) Is not misunderstood, but is explained away because it is understood; (#2) Is not difficult to understand, but is difficult to live; (#3) Is not old or new law, but is the essence of God’s eternal law; (#4) Is not the righteousness of outward works, but is the righteous impetus of outward obedience; (#5) […]
PHall | July 13, 2012
The book of Ezra foretells and foreshadows the coming of Christ in a rather intriguing and interesting way – not by one person, but through the two returns and their two leaders. Both individuals, Zerubbabel and Ezra, together tell the story of Christ and His coming kingdom. Both returns are equally decreed by a King […]
PHall | July 12, 2012
(#1) Help make the confusing understandable; don’t make the understandable confusing; (#2) Help make you believe you can understand; don’t make you doubt you can; (#3) Help make you want to study; don’t make you feel forced to; (#4) Help make the Bible applicable and personal; don’t make it seem out-of-date; (#5) Help make you […]
PHall | July 10, 2012
It is the fear of death that perpetuates war. That is the paradoxical conclusion of Ted Peters (“Sin – Radical Evil in Soul and Society, chapter 2). Death is nonexistence. While the fear of dying is what makes us defend ourselves, how does that fit in with being the aggressor? War is begun due to […]
PHall | July 8, 2012
Why was Genesis written? I would like to suggest four reasons. First, to satisfy man’s natural curiosity – “Where did I come from?” Second, to put man into perspective – we are created for God – “Why do I exist?” And third, to combat false concepts of creation’s origin – “Who is the true God?” […]
PHall | July 7, 2012
To judge what God has judged is not supplanting self for God, but submitting self to God. When we fail to teach the specific truths God has revealed, we are supplanting self for God as if God’s revelation is too obscure to be understood. When we take the general statements God has revealed and make […]
PHall | July 6, 2012
In a bible study Thursday, we considered how Paul in Romans 4 juxtaposes justification by faith with creation and resurrection. As my tongue twisted itself, I accidentally said, “juxtafication.” In hindsight, I prefer calling this “a synchronization of human language with divine action to form a previously unknown expression coherently and succinctly expressing a cogent […]
PHall | July 5, 2012
It is always a challenge to teach certain Bible stories to children. How do you teach the lesson of David and Bathsheba, for example? Here are some general guidelines: 1) Tell the story as the Bible does; 2) Don’t explain some details unless asked; 3) Explain only in limited form until asked for more details; […]