Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | January 11, 2019
One interpretation of the phrase “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2) is that the phrase is morally neutral and just means “everything”. Apparently Herodotus used the phrase that way. Knowledge has always been a convoluted topic in the Bible. “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). So […]
PHall | January 8, 2019
James 5:19-20: “My brothers, if any among you strays from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his life from death and cover a multitude of sins” (HCSB).Whether James had the following in mind, I don’t know; but his […]
PHall | January 4, 2019
An example of irony: Judges concludes with this observation: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever he wanted” (Judges 21:25 – HCSB). Literally, “…what was right in their own eyes.” Subjectivism ruled, and was each individual’s king. The same is said in Judges 17:6. The comment of “no king’ is […]
PHall | January 3, 2019
Ehud, the left-handed Judge, has a colorful, gory, and heroic narrative (Judges 3:12-30). He was a Benjaminite. Seven hundred soldiers in Benjamin were left-handed (Judges 20:16). When David fled Absalom, some of Saul’s relatives from Benjamin followed; they were ambidextrous archers, meaning they could shoot either right or left-handed (1 Chronicles 12:2). There are only […]
PHall | January 3, 2019
If Adam and Eve had access to the tree of life, why did they die after eating from the forbidden tree? Either they never had eaten; or they needed continual access to keep living forever.The last statement in this narrative doesn’t answer that question: Gen 3:22 – “The LORD God said, “Since the man has […]
PHall | December 24, 2018
Luke’s connection to Genesis 1-2 is not in words, but in pictures and symbolism. In the story of Christ’s birth (Luke 1-2) we have: 1. Luke 1:35 – The Holy Spirit overshadows Mary. 2. Luke 2:8 – Darkness because the shepherds are out at night.3. Luke 2:8 – Animals being taken care of because of the shepherds; […]
PHall | December 24, 2018
It is a story of the sun, moon, and stars. It is a story of rule or dominion. It is the story of creation; and of Joseph. These two narratives serve as bookends for Genesis. A major difference is in Genesis the created lights rule from up high. In Joseph’s dream, the sun, moon, and […]
PHall | December 18, 2018
Many have noticed how Joseph is a type of Jesus. At the very beginning of Joseph’s narrative, we start noticing similarities. One such comparison is found in a chastisement scene of parent to child. Notice the similarities: • Joseph is young – 17.o Jesus is young – 12.• Father rebukes son.o Mother rebukes son.• Father is […]
PHall | December 18, 2018
Etiology, Genesis, and “Issues” – Ever wonder why the Genesis writer includes pericopes on the origin of Moab and Ammon through Lot’s incestuous daughters? Or why any time is spent on Ishmael’s descendants or Esau’s? After all, Genesis was written for the Israelites. Etiology is the study of why something is written about the past, […]
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 […]