Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | September 22, 2009
False humility is repugnant – we’ve all seen it, and possibly shown it. Misguided piety is not false humility, but is wrong and unscriptural. And even worse, it is an indictment against God. What is misguided piety? Preachers, trying to get us to repent emphasize our learned depravity (Eph.2:1-3); and quote scriptures such as Isaiah’s For […]
PHall | September 22, 2009
Why did John choose Cain as his example? One reason might be the continued use of that “from the beginning.” Cain definitely fits that time period. Also, “There is a possibility, which cannot be definitely proved, that John’s selection of Cain as a representative of those who hate was due to the existence of a […]
PHall | September 22, 2009
Interpretations given of what John means by sperma here include: nature, descendant, Holy Spirit, word of God. I lean towards this last interpretation (1 Peter 1:23) because of John’s emphasis on the revealed word they’ve had “from the beginning.” This seed would therefore be equivalent to the anointing of chapter two. Why did John use […]
PHall | September 22, 2009
How is the command both not a new commandment (v.7), and yet is new (v.8)? To resolve this paradox, some opine that John is referring to two separate commands. I am sure there is not a simple answer, but I believe the answer is found in the explanation of v.8 – because the darkness is […]
PHall | September 22, 2009
“Though the general thought here is quite plain, the specific meaning of the word translated expiation (Greek hilasmos) is disputed. The word occurs again in 4:10 of Christ, whom God sent to be the expiation for our sins. The older versions generally have `propitiation,’ a word which means an appeasement, some gift or deed which […]
PHall | September 22, 2009
Most likely John used this term endearingly, and definitely not snidely. By this time, John was old. There is tradition that towards the end of John’s life, when he was too feeble to walk, he would be carried to services saying, “little children, love one another.”
PHall | September 22, 2009
What does walking in the light mean? On one side proponents claim walking in darkness happens when the Christian commits even one sin ‑ “sin is darkness, after all.” The opposing side counters, walking in light describes a life‑style, not each punctiliar action ‑ “its a walk, not one step.” Contextually, “walking in light” is […]
PHall | September 22, 2009
“Heathen authors say very little about sin, and classic paganism had little or no conception of sin in the Gospel sense. The nearest approach to it was by Plato, from whose works a tolerably complete doctrinal statement might be gathered of the origin, nature, and effects of sin. The fundamental idea of hamartia (sin) among […]
PHall | September 22, 2009
While similar in language to Jn.1:1, the reference point, in my opinion, is different. This beginning, contrary to others, does not go “beyond the Christian dispensation, beyond the Incarnation, to the eternal purpose of God in Christ” (Robertson, v.6, p.204), although that does appear to be the majority view. I believe John’s point of reference […]
PHall | September 22, 2009
A feminine voice spoke into my answering machine, “we need your type to be donated due to a current shortage.” I am B positive – not the rarest, nor the most common. Being civically minded, I drove from East Boca to West Boca through a torrential storm. They closed at 5:00 PM, so I went […]