Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | December 18, 2018
Syllabus – the Roles of Women and Men in Church and Home When building a house, the first thing is putting on the roof. Then building the walls under that. Third, you lay down the floor and foundation. Of course, if you want a basement, you dig that after everything else is built. It doesn’t […]
PHall | December 14, 2018
TODAY’S PRAYER – God tells Jacob to “Get up! Go to Bethel and settle there. Build an alter….” (Genesis 35:1). Nothing surprising there. But the next verse…”So Jacob said to his family and all who were with him, ‘Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves….” (35:2). Shouldn’t Jacob had already […]
PHall | December 11, 2018
Old Creation vs New Creation Contrast: In old creation Adam and Eve were given authority over heaven (sky) and earth. They were to rule and subdue; in other words to bring the earth and its inhabitants into bondage – the meaning of kabash/subdue (Genesis 1:28). In new creation the last Adam, Jesus, is given all […]
PHall | November 29, 2018
Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of beans. He came in from an unsuccessful hunting trip exhausted and famished. Upon asking Jacob for a bowl, the younger brother bargained Esau’s birthright (twice as much left to the one with the birthright) for lentils and bread. Esau rationalized his bad decision by exaggerating […]
PHall | November 29, 2018
God made Eve, “a helper corresponding to” (ezer neged) Adam. Both these words are controversial, but need not be. “Helper” is used of God (Deuteronomy 33:26,29); and therefore is not akin to a plumber’s helper who is not qualified to be a plumber. There is no hint of inferiority. “Corresponding to”, or “suitable” literally means, […]
PHall | November 28, 2018
Do you remember where Abraham went soon after he left Ur and came to Canaan?? He left “the promised land” to go to Egypt (Genesis 12). One must wonder if leaving pleased Yahweh. Decades later, Abraham needs a wife for Isaac. He commissions his household manager to return to Abraham’s homeland to secure a bride. […]
PHall | November 28, 2018
What was the purpose of the forbidden tree in Genesis 2-3? With the possibility of oversimplifying, no one can succeed unless they can likewise fail. God gave them a chance to succeed, to choose good. But, is there more to choosing good, than just choosing good? Ever hear, “The only command given to Adam (and […]
PHall | November 27, 2018
Sarah has died, and Abraham is looking for a worthy burial spot (Genesis 23). Ephron’s spot is chosen and he offers it for free. Abraham counteroffers to pay him. Ephron answered, “400 shekels of silver, what is that between you and me?” By sneaking in the price while offering it for free, Ephron tells Abraham […]
PHall | November 24, 2018
“Dear God…#2”. Genesis 21 begins with “The LORD came to Sarah AS HE HAD SAID, and the LORD did for Sarah, WHAT HE HAD PROMISED.” This is the beginning of the seed promise even though Sarah is 90 and Abraham 100. In between the birth of Isaac and Abraham’s’prayer “life” happens that is not pleasant. […]
PHall | November 23, 2018
TODAY’S PRAYER – “Dear God….” (#1) Personally I get in a rut in how I address God. Genesis 16 helps. Hagar calls God – El-roi, “The God Who Sees” (16:3); saying, “Have I really seen here the One who sees me?” This is during a time Hagar needs comforting from God. This experience has Hagar […]