Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | August 31, 2014
The attitude and desire of the Troas Christians gathering on the first day of the week to break bread should be more instructive to us than the simple fact that they did (Acts 20:7). Why precedes what. Following their example of what without following their example of why leads to formalism and empty tradition. Remember, […]
PHall | May 19, 2014
Prayer is a lot like baptism, and every other work God has commanded. Think about how amazing prayer is. Our thoughts transcend the ceiling, sky, moon, the end of our galaxy and even past the end of the universe, where no man can go. God is on the other end of everything and the beginning […]
PHall | May 6, 2014
A Template for Fellowship – “To be saved hear, believe, repent, confess and be baptized; then keep confessing, keep repenting, keep believing, and keep hearing to stay saved.” This chiasm is simple, and yet it might help us solve something so many find complicated – fellowship. “Who Can We Fellowship?” should be as simple as […]
PHall | May 6, 2014
To be saved hear, believe, repent, confess and be baptized; then keep confessing, keep repenting, keep believing, and keep hearing to stay saved.
PHall | April 17, 2014
When congregations make decisions, especially about elders, it is important to have a consensus, as in Acts 6 when choosing servants. Too often, decisions are blocked by a minority, one or two or a few, who object not on scriptural grounds but for personal ones. The objection might even be disguised as being scriptural. And […]
PHall | April 12, 2014
The Lost Ten Tribes of Israel? Ever hear of them? All kinds of theories, but this serves as an example of how people ignore the Bible in order to create theories to find followers. Plus, mysteries are always more intriguing than boring realities. So let’s make the 10 tribes disappear. Supposedly all the Northern Tribes […]
PHall | March 30, 2014
We need to be more like some of the Pharisaic Judaizing Christians. Wait, what? In Acts 11 they complained about Peter associating with uncircumcised Gentiles. Then Peter explained to them what he had learned from God. “When they heard this they became silent. Then they glorified God” (Acts 11:18). These Pharisaic Judaizing Christians gave up […]
PHall | March 28, 2014
The book of Acts seems unfinished, ending with Paul in prison. Leithart argues that the last quarter of Acts is a death and resurrection motif with Paul’s surviving the shipwreck a type of resurrection. According to Frank Viola, ancient histographers would strive to keep companion books the same length. Connecting this to Leithart’s theory, Viola […]
PHall | March 28, 2014
A Perspective on Pagans – Pagans are very religious, just ask Paul (Acts 17:22). While we enlightened Westerners might look down on such superstitions, and rightly call them “ignorant” (Acts 17:23), being without knowledge is not the same as refusing knowledge. Maybe the pagans are smarter than some other groups, for at least they acknowledge […]
PHall | March 6, 2014
Throughout Acts 20:18-35 is the concept that grace involves giving. Paul reminds the elders, “In every way I’ve shown you that by laboring like this, it is necessary to help the weak…” (20:35). Paul’s preaching without pay is an analogy of grace. Paul gives freely the message of grace because Jesus gave freely of His […]