Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | September 12, 2014
“Faith, love, and hope.” That order doesn’t sound right, does it? Because of the beautiful passage on love in 1 Cor.13, we are used to “faith, hope, and love.” Paul uses that trilogy of virtues 4 times (unless you think he wrote Hebrews): 1 Cor.13:13; Col.1:4-5; 1 Thess.1:3; 5:8. Only once does he use the […]
PHall | August 26, 2014
Consider how similar Thyatira’s sins are to Corinth: 1) Both tolerated someone who needed to be put out (1 Cor.5); 2) Both had people who committed fornication (1 Cor.6:12-20); 3) Both had problems with the eating of meats sacrificed to idols (1 Cor.10:14-22); 4) Both had some kind of “sickness” and death (1 Cor.11:30); 5) […]
PHall | August 5, 2014
Lately I have been fascinated by how many times Paul’s teaching reflects that of Jesus’. Sometimes it is just a peculiar word repeated, a phrase reworked, or an essential doctrinal issue reiterated. For example, in 1 Cor.5:4 in the discipline of a brother, Paul writes, “in the name of our Lord Jesus with my spirit […]
PHall | August 5, 2014
What does it look like today when people misunderstand Biblical principles and concepts? Much like they would in the first century. If people misunderstand inspired comments about the coming of Christ today, they might quit their jobs and live on mountain tops. The Thessalonians misunderstood Paul and quit their jobs. If people misunderstand inspired comments […]
PHall | July 6, 2014
The next time a “Christian” (or even a non-believer) defends homosexuality as not Biblically condemned by Jesus and elsewhere, ask them these two questions: 1) Is it Biblically condemned for a man to live with his father’s wife? If they answer yes, knowing 1 Corinthians 5, then ask; 2) Is it Biblically condemned for a […]
PHall | July 3, 2014
Consider this: If each individual has personality traits, strengths and weaknesses; then congregations, which are made up of individuals, likewise will have personalities traits, strengths and weaknesses. The stronger the personalities of the individuals, the stronger the influences on the whole. Understand, this can be positive or negative. Corinth, as seen in both epistles, was […]
PHall | March 30, 2014
I took my car to the mechanic and he said “I can fix your car.” I asked him, “What is the problem?” He responded, “All cars have problems, and need fixing.” Well, duh, but “What is the problem with mine? Did I cause it? Is there something I could do so as to not ruin […]
PHall | December 19, 2013
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (Perryphrased) – If I speak eloquently, win every religious argument and shout down all heretics with sarcasm but do not have love, I am just an annoying noise. If I have all the answers, have dotted every “i” and crossed every “t,” and have the faith to drive long distances to attend […]
PHall | November 7, 2013
Are we as wise as the Corinthians? When thinking of God’s Church in Corinth, we think of problems such as immorality, greed, division, unscriptural worship, and so forth. And yet as immature as they were, in their wisdom they wrote a letter to a man of God for inspired answers. Even they knew God had […]
PHall | November 5, 2013
If we eat a lot of food without exercise we get a fat belly. If we eat a lot of spiritual food without spiritual exercise, do we get a fat head? Application is what makes knowledge not puff us up with pride.