Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | February 7, 2023
Bummed About Bible Studies that Don’t End with Baptisms? That didn’t go as hoped. Entering the Bible study there was a possibility of 1-3 baptisms. Everything progressed well, and then fell apart (at least in my eyes). Instead of 1 or 2 or 3 burials with Christ, we left with none. However, there was a […]
PHall | February 7, 2023
“Able to Teach” (1 Timothy 3:2) “Able to teach” (1 Tim.3:2) gets too much of the wrong kind of attention. By that I mean we ask the wrong questions: 1. Is he able to preach sermons? 2. Is he skilled in organizing material? 3. Is he able to teach and preach both publicly and privately? […]
PHall | February 7, 2023
Can Women Be Elders? When discussing leadership within a church, an argument making the rounds is, “‘Elders’ is a Jewish concept, so when Paul uses that patriarchal term, he is not showing a pattern for churches today. That’s why women can be elders” (a paraphrase and not an exact quote). Considering there are cultural elements […]
PHall | February 7, 2023
The Golden Rule Doesn’t Mean What We Think “Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (CSB’17 Matthew 7:12) I am horrible at buying gifts. Part of that inadequacy is me not paying enough attention to get to […]
PHall | February 1, 2023
Getting Drunk in Church? Getting drunk in church? Well, maybe not drunk, but close to that yet completely different. Before Paul encourages singing (Ephesians 5:19), he has a lead-in statement: “And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). Instead of filling up with alcohol, […]
PHall | February 1, 2023
Seen By Angels 1 Timothy 3:16 records concerning the gospel of godliness, that Jesus was “seen by angels”. These heavenly servants announced his birth, aided after the Wilderness temptation, comforted in the garden, and opened his tomb: “There was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. […]
PHall | February 1, 2023
A Second Golden Rule “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Matthew 7:12). This is a common phrasing of the Golden Rule. This is another way of phrasing the 2nd Great Command – “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). Both are expressions of the Law and Prophets. That means both […]
PHall | January 24, 2023
Why should pain and suffering not cause us to become unbelievers? One answer is Jesus. What I mean is, Jesus suffered more than most humans, and even more in enduring human shame although the holy Son of God. And yet, did Jesus become an atheist? No. Did Jesus become enraged at God? No. Jesus […]
PHall | January 24, 2023
I Don’t Need Counseling There’s a trite saying, “I am too blessed to be stressed”. Some are rightly stressed even to the point of PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Whether wars, family abuse, even church abuse, crime trauma, or societal rejection, many have wrongly suffered and rightly sought help. While listening to […]
PHall | January 21, 2023
A Pew Moments with Perry – Does Including the Spirit Exclude the Water? There are those who conclude water baptism can’t be for today based upon Jesus saying, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:5). Does Jesus including the Holy Spirit exclude […]