Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | October 13, 2023
First Group, Second Group, One Group 1 Corinthians 6:11 (CSB) And some of you used to be like this. FIRST GROUP Paul writes this after a lengthy list of abominable sins: 9) No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males, 10) no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or […]
PHall | October 13, 2023
How Does Divorce Fit into Luke 16? Luke 16 has what many difficult segments: • The parable of the “shrewd” manager is considered one of Jesus’s more difficult stories. • Verse 16, about entering the kingdom, is translated in seemingly opposite ways. • The story at the end concerning Lazarus and the rich man: Is […]
PHall | October 12, 2023
Some Preachers Two Christians were talking about a preacher they recently heard. One said, “That’s some preacher, alright”. What kinds of “some preachers” are there? Some preachers only teach what is comfortable. They are earning a paycheck. • 2 Timothy 2:3 (CSB) For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but […]
PHall | September 8, 2023
What is Abraham’s Bosom? Is “Abraham’s bosom” an intermediate place between heaven and earth; or is it in a personal, close, position to Abraham himself, proclaiming kinship? Is “Abraham’s bosom” a realm or describing being next to a person? (Luke 16:22-23). Abraham’s name is mentioned more in Luke, than any other NT book. One familiar […]
PHall | September 6, 2023
The Beatitudes Backwards and Forwards Being persecuted for the sake of righteousness (Matthew5:10-12) will make you pursue peace ‐ but which kind? 1. Peace from the persecutors? Becoming weary can do this. 2. Peace from Jesus who likewise was persecuted? Becoming more like Jesus ends our emotional weariness and gives us strength. But only when […]
PHall | September 5, 2023
The Lord’s Supper: Two Realities in One The Lord’s supper is not a mystery meal wherein bread and wine turn into the actual body and blood of Christ. While not a divine mystery, our Savior’s supper is a paradox – simultaneously simple, yet complex. Notice these five collaborative realities: 1. Physical – There is tangible […]
PHall | August 30, 2023
“Works” in Romans versus James: Romans (theological) – “not saved by works” (Romans 4:2) means, our works cannot fundamentally change God to save us because of faith in our works. James (practical) – “saved by works” (James 2:24) means, God fundamentally changes us in salvation to have works because of our faith in God. Other […]
PHall | August 22, 2023
What does it mean to be born again? To be born again is language from John 3. Some invoke Ezekiel as the background that this teacher should have known, as Jesus rebukes Nicodemus. I think the background is Genesis 1-2. Born of water and the Spirit is how creation begins. The Spirit hovered over […]
PHall | August 22, 2023
Romans (theological) – “not saved by works” (Romans 4:2) means, our works cannot fundamentally change God to save us because of faith in our works. James (practical) – “saved by works” (James 2:24) means, God fundamentally changes us in salvation to have works because of our faith in God. Other succinct ways of saying […]
PHall | August 18, 2023
Which Apostle Had It The Easiest? Which apostle had it easiest? James. That answer may be surprising. Even more surprising is why and how. In Acts 12, James is martyred first among the apostles. Somemay question God’s fairness, may even complain, “Why did God allow James to die but allowed Peter to live?” Considering the […]