Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | January 7, 2016
The Ten Commandments warn, “Do not take the Lord’s name in vain” (Ex.20:7). Jesus reasoned in the model prayer, “Holy is your name” (Mt.6:9). Paul writes, “The name of God is blasphemed…because of you” (Rom.2:24). This goes far beyond but includes how we speak: 1) Do we promise something in God’s name and renege? 2) […]
PHall | December 23, 2015
If I had to predetermine the chiastic center for 3 John, I would have chosen v.11: “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.” One of the dangers of rearranging the chiasm is to […]
PHall | December 17, 2015
I had doubts 2 John is a chiasmus. After struggling on my own and searching others’ attempts, the doubt increased. Literally, hours were spent on what should have been – at least I thought should have been – a simple task. That task is, to determine if 2 John is chiastically arranged; and if so, […]
PHall | December 5, 2015
Luke 1:68-79 (HCSB) The chiastic center focuses on the covenant of God sworn to by His own oath. A – GOD HAS VISITED (68) Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and provided redemption for His people. B – HORN OF SALVATION (69) He has raised up a horn of salvation […]
PHall | December 2, 2015
Formal Chiasm All through 1 John, the writer has been contrasting the two groups. In this chiasm we can see these contrasts in the complementary parts. A – TRUE AND FALSE SPIRITS (1a) Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, B – FALSE PROPHETS […]
PHall | December 1, 2015
Jesus tells His apostles to buy swords. Is this verse about self-defense? Is Jesus making the apostles appear to be zealots to fulfill v.37? Is the meaning metaphorical for preparing them to suffer and the sword stands for something spiritual? I believe Jesus does mean literal swords, although we have to be careful how we […]
PHall | November 25, 2015
How did Samson, the womanizing, violent, self-serving judge make it into the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11:32)? In some strange way he and Paul are partners in grace. Paul had to learn “power is perfected in weakness” (2 Cor.12:9). Samson, gifted by God with great strength only learned to rely upon God when he “gained […]
PHall | November 23, 2015
What did Jesus mean when saying “My kingdom is not of this world.” Did He simply mean otherworldly as in spiritual and not physical? World or kosmos often means “the systems of the world,” and “social constructs of society.” Then Jesus shows how: “or else My servants would be fighting.” I then wondered how many […]
PHall | November 23, 2015
Jesus’ central message was not about how to get to heaven or find happiness; it was about the coming kingdom of God which is God’s rule. Put God first by submitting to His authority, then His holiness will lead you to joy and ultimately heaven. Repent for the kingdom is at hand is living the […]
PHall | November 18, 2015
1 John is notoriously hard to organize. Some suggest the epistle’s structure is best described as “rambling.” Believing the Holy Spirit to be behind the writing, I have a difficult time describing this letter in way that to me sounds at best disorganized and at worst derogatory. Part of the problem is John does so […]