Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | June 7, 2019
What do the Pentecost crowd (Acts 2) and the Philippian Jailer (Acts 16) have in common? Conviction before conversion. Neither were preached to, told, or nagged into “baptism for the forgives of sins”, which is easier to parrot than experience. All knew they were lost: 1. The crowd knew because of Peter’s sermon accusing them of sin.2. […]
PHall | June 5, 2019
Reading Revelation 22 through Genesis 3, and by “through” I mean “through the lens of ” is…revealing. Genesis 3:• HEAR – God had spoken to Adam (Gen.2), and Eve had heard His words probably through Adam (Genesis 3).• ADD – Eve added to God’s word, “Do not touch” (Genesis 3:3). The serpent added all the trees […]
PHall | June 4, 2019
Our transcendent God is also immanent. His closeness is found in His interactions – interferences – with history. God calls Himself, “Who was, who is, and who is to come (Revelation 1:4,8)” These themselves are historical references of an eternal God. God never had a “was” in Himself because that is a description of time. […]
PHall | June 4, 2019
If Jesus were on trial, hostile witnesses such as Tacitus (a Roman) and Josephus (a Jew) would admit His historical reality. What remains is the verdict: Lord, Liar, or Lunatic? Reading Tacitus, 4 pieces of evidence could be entered in for the defense:1. Christus, used by Tacitus to refer to Jesus, was one distinctive way by […]
PHall | June 3, 2019
Genesis 3:15: “I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)Notice 3 Gospel Predictions:1. Hatred – “hostility, animosity, or ill will. It is used to signify acrimony, as between the woman and the serpent (Gen […]
PHall | May 31, 2019
The woman is a believer, but her husband is not – or else is not a faithful believer (1 Peter 3:1ff). And what example does Peter give for the woman to pattern her behavior after? Sarah and Abraham – A power couple of the covenant of faith!Sarah and Abraham? Wasn’t he a believer? Isn’t his […]
PHall | May 31, 2019
A congregation can get a lot done organizationally without elders. Ironically that encourages groups to think, “We’re doing fine without elders.” Sadly too many – including elders – see their job as simply organizing. Having been an elder, organizing is often best handled by delegating most of that to deacons and other servants. As one […]
PHall | May 31, 2019
The phrase “the law of liberty” (James 2:12) has always intrigued me, possibly because of being unsure what it meant. Contextually it is connected to several thoughts (James 2-13):1. The law of liberty is chiastically connected to “the royal law”.2. The royal law is the 2nd Great Command. 3. Emphasis on “royal” shows this humanly focused […]
PHall | May 31, 2019
Matthew 6:14-15 – “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.” (CSB)Is Jesus saying we cannot be forgiven unless we forgive? Yes! But do we know why? Let’s go beyond the theological debates and get […]
PHall | May 31, 2019
Can we have faith without works? That’s the apparent and common understanding of what James is saying in James 2. But could James be using sarcasm to show that if you actually say you have faith but works, you actually do not even have faith? Notice the language James uses and does not use:• James […]