Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | May 20, 2017
John 1:1-2 – Notice two things: 1) The order of the words in Greek is different than in English which lends itself to an interesting chiasm. 2) While we normally quote just 1:1 as a complete thought, the chiastic order suggests v.2 should be included. A – In (the) beginning was the Word B – […]
PHall | April 24, 2017
One of the arguments made against baptism being the “when” one receives God’s grace is that the “order” of Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, and Baptism is not set in scripture. For example, Mark 1:15 is cited where repent is listed before believe: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent […]
PHall | February 14, 2017
Everyone knows the Second Great Command as listed by Jesus and lifted from Leviticus; but do we know how to love others as ourselves? Pragmatically, a Jewish Rabbi focused on “as yourselves”: “Just as we love ourselves despite the faults we know we have, so should we love our neighbors despite the faults we see […]
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
In Mark 1, immediately after His Father confesses Jesus, we see Him at His most human. Jesus is in the wilderness, hungry, surrounded by wild animals. When Jesus leaves the wilderness, He casts out a demon. Later in Mark 8-9, immediately after Peter confesses Jesus, we see Him at His most divine. Jesus is on […]
PHall | February 3, 2017
Here’s a good exercise to keep you studying: 1) Get a piece of paper and pen; 2) Write down all the things that are wrong that you believe; 3) After you figure out it is impossible to know what you don’t know, you now have a reminder to keep learning. 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (HCSB) (14) But […]
PHall | February 3, 2017
“What about the thief on the cross? He had no outward manifestation of his faith.” This statement was made to me when doing evangelism at our Coffeehouse Evangelism by someone who believed baptism was not necessary. So we revisited the thief on the cross. That believer said, “Don’t you even fear God, since we are […]
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 | January 13, 2017
A written compilation of various Rabbi’s oral traditions is found in the Talmud. The Babylonian Talmud was written down from before the Common Era to 500 years later. I wish I knew the date for the following excerpt because it contrasts with how the Pharisees viewed Jesus as a Messiah, yet matches well the New […]
PHall | January 11, 2017
Pattern Theology The Hebrew writer quotes God commanding Moses to build according to the pattern (Hebrews 8:5). This pattern for Moses copied Heaven in some way to be imitated in the Tabernacle. Admittedly, to me that is incredible, bordering on incredulous for the tangible to take on the intangible. God who is greater than I, […]