Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | October 8, 2013
The massacre of the innocents is not just a story of Herod and Jesus, nor Pharaoh and Moses. It is the story of Saul and David, made even more sad since Saul too was God’s anointed, unlike Herod and Pharaoh. A paranoid king Saul orders the death of innocents, this time priests, because he suspected […]
PHall | October 3, 2013
In studying 2 Thessalonians, we discussed how often “we” “our” “us” is used instead of “I” or “me.” Silas and Timothy were not apostles and yet “we command.” So what right did they have to command as co-authors with Paul? We gave three: 1) Apparently they were inspired too; 2) They had a relationship with […]
PHall | October 3, 2013
We emphasize how “unworthy” (Lk.7:6) we are but forget we are worthy, worth something, valued, to be respected, by God and how we act – walk worthy of the gospel (Eph.4:1; Phil.1:27; Col.1:10; 1 Thess.2:12; 2 Thess.1:5,11). God called you to be what you were not and counts you what you cannot be. Because you […]
PHall | October 3, 2013
Paul having to write 2 Thessalonians should be a comfort to all preachers. He wrote it because 1 Thessalonians was misunderstood. If an inspired man can be misunderstood, why should we uninspired men be surprised when we are misunderstood?
PHall | September 27, 2013
In Acts 8:3, Paul “ravaged” the church. Some versions read, “destroyed.” The word lumainomai (used only here) is more than physical damage. It means to treat shamefully, to affix a stigma, to treat as unholy, to dishonor. Paul’s actions were holy in his eyes, unknowingly fulfilling the prophecy of John 16:2 (HCSB) “They will ban […]
PHall | September 17, 2013
Jesus heals the blind man, a complete stranger, for the glory of God (Jn.9:3); and then does not heal his friend whom He loves, Lazarus, both for the glory of God (Jn.11:4) and because Jesus loves Lazarus, Martha and Mary (Jn.11:5-6). In the eyes of mere humans, Jesus treats the Blind man better than He […]
PHall | September 14, 2013
Thomas the Twin – Always, I considered Thomas having the nickname, Didymus, simply meant he had a twin brother. And I wondered if his brother was a believer, even though not of the Twelve. But could there be another reason? Commenting on John 11:16, “Did St. John intend us to see any significance in this […]
PHall | September 13, 2013
Paul’s inspired epistles often begin by describing Jesus and the gospel and end with practical applications. Today we usually go about it backwards. We first tell how to have harmony in a church or family, when people are not spiritually equipped. Instead, first tell them Who Jesus is, what He did, so we can become […]
PHall | September 7, 2013
The Light of the World Sees The Blind Man – 9:1-5 The Blind Man Sees – 9:6-7 The Neighbors See The Blind Man – 9:8-16 The Blind Man Sees A Prophet – 9:17 The Pharisees Will Not See the Blind Man – 9:18 The Pharisees Will Not See Jesus – 9:19-29 The Blind Man Sees […]
PHall | September 7, 2013
John 9:1, where Jesus’ disciples ask “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” teaches a simple, essential, but too often forgotten lesson: Ignorance begins when we limit our answers. Jesus responded back with “Neither.” And then gave an answer the disciples never considered. The “problem” was not because of […]