Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | February 9, 2018
Everyone is affected by peer pressure, regardless of age. What peers, what pressure, and how we react is the difference between: 1) Doing Wrong; 2) Doing Right but Wrong; 3) Doing Right. 1. Every teenager in a Bible class has heard, “Bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Paul is quoting a Greek poet, […]
PHall | February 9, 2018
This short article on intentions intends to make us aware that right actions and right intentions are both required to please God. 1. Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10). One of the few narratives in the priestly book of rituals is Aaron’s sons offering “strange” or unauthorized fire. Why they did this is seemingly connected to […]
PHall | January 27, 2018
In our Coffeehouse Evangelism, the visitor wanted to study Acts 1-4. I would like to share with you two thoughts from that study based on Acts 1:1 – “all that Jesus BEGAN to do or teach”. I – Acts 1-4 repeat Jesus’s life (as does much of Acts): 1 – The “Lord” chooses an apostle; […]
PHall | January 27, 2018
An exercise: How much do you have to know to be saved? Some might counter, “Not ‘how much’, but Who?” Fair enough. “How much do you have to know about Jesus?” The obvious answer is “That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (Acts 8:37). Fair enough, but by “Son of God” do you […]
PHall | September 13, 2017
I saw a t-shirt with the slogan “Hear Feel Do – John 4:23-34”. Not sure that is the best verse for that slogan. Acts 2:37-38 fits perfectly though: “And when they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts and asked, what must we do? Peter said, ‘Repent and be baptized, everyone of you in […]
PHall | February 13, 2017
Each church needs a eugenics program. Properly defined, eugenics is, “the science of improving a human population by controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics. Developed largely by Francis Galton as a method of improving the human race, it fell into disfavor only after the perversion of its doctrines by the Nazis.” […]
PHall | February 3, 2017
Jewish tradition states the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 took place on the same calendar day as God came down on Sinai to deliver the Law to Israel. Historically then in order: 1) the Israelites “plundered” the Egyptians; 2) The Israelites crossed the Red Sea; 3) The Israelites received the Law. When we come […]
PHall | December 7, 2016
I got denounced on a forum as a “self-styled scholar.” I have learned to some that others can’t be intelligent unless they cite others for making their point. I love education and would never denounce someone with or without formal degrees. Recently I heard a man cry in his prayer, which meant more to me […]
PHall | June 30, 2016
Levels of Acceptance – Years ago I read a study on the three levels of accepting truth: Intellectual, Personal, Universal. When a sinner studies baptism and accepts the truth, the first stage is intellectual. Unfortunately we all have seen sinners stop there. They know baptism is when we accept God’s grace, but they will not […]
PHall | March 25, 2016
Can what we believe doctrinally change what we believe is the gospel? Recently I read the gospel is defined as the “deity, death, and resurrection of Jesus.” Notice anything missing? Unlike Paul’s description of the gospel (1 Cor.15:4), this gentleman (and rightfully respected scholar) left out Jesus’ burial. Many treat it as superfluous, and I […]