Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | May 6, 2015
1 Peter and Jesus #7 One of Jesus’ favorite analogies for Himself is that He was a shepherd (poimēn). Each gospel, except Luke’s account, has at least two uses of that description of Jesus, with John having the most with six (10:2,11-16). Jesus even calls Himself the Good Shepherd using the well known “I am” […]
PHall | April 30, 2015
You know the story of the Ten Lepers (Lk.17:11-19). You know what happened after they met Jesus. They went on their way to see the priests, and on the way they became cleansed. You even know that one returned. But I want to think about what happened before they met Jesus. The ten lepers were […]
PHall | March 23, 2015
The washing of feet mirrors the crucifixion in so many ways most notably Jesus is the last person who should be washing feet. He is the master, and yet He serves. Also, Jesus even washes the feet of Judas (13:18), for whom He also died. And, if Jesus did not wash their feet, they could […]
PHall | March 23, 2015
Silence. A silent stare. A turned back. Aggression. Resignation. Contempt. Confusion. Disappointment. Restlessness. Disease. Ignored. Cast out. Which of these hurts the most? The answer might depend upon the definition and direction of hurt. Job is praying. Again. “Again” is painful knowing that if he had been answered the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth […]
PHall | March 5, 2015
1 Peter 3:1-16 (HCSB) A – (1) In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the Christian message, they may be won over without a message by the way their wives live (2) when they observe your pure, reverent lives. B – (3) Your beauty should […]
PHall | March 5, 2015
“He saved others; He cannot save Himself” (Mk.15:31). Said mockingly by Jesus’ enemies, yet speaking a truth they did not perceive. To save others, Jesus could not save Himself.
PHall | February 24, 2015
Paul says, “Do not repay anyone for evil” (Rom.12:17). Peter says, “not paying back evil for evil” (1 Peter 3:9). Peter goes on to say, “or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.” When people call us names, insult, […]
PHall | February 24, 2015
“Why do bad things happen to good people;” is the inverse of “Why do good things happen to bad people?” Most of the rich are unbelievers. Many shadowed by “bad luck” are believers. How do we reconcile this reality with a good God? Something strange happens in Job’s second response to Zophar. He repeats the […]
PHall | February 19, 2015
1 Peter and Jesus #6 It is easy to take the words of Peter, “As God’s slaves, live as free people, but don’t use your freedom as a way to conceal evil” (2:16) in the same way that Paul used similar words and ideas: “New Testament writers, and Paul particularly, gave much emphasis to the […]
PHall | February 18, 2015
1 Peter and Jesus #5 Jesus’ words can be misconstrued, and were even in the first century. Some misunderstood Jesus to say of John that he would never die (John 21:23). Considering how later Catholics misunderstood Jesus to say that Peter was the foundation or rock upon which the church would be built, it is […]