Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | January 24, 2023
The word “serpent” in Hebrew only occurs in two places within Genesis – the Garden of Eden narrative (3:1,2,4,13,14) and the “blessing” of Jacob upon Dan (49:17). The Hebrew word for “heel” is used in both passages also. As always, “bookends” interest me. It makes me wonder if the serpent narrative from Genesis 3 is […]
PHall | January 24, 2023
I Don’t Need Counseling There’s a trite saying, “I am too blessed to be stressed”. Some are rightly stressed even to the point of PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Whether wars, family abuse, even church abuse, crime trauma, or societal rejection, many have wrongly suffered and rightly sought help. While listening to […]
PHall | January 21, 2023
A Pew Moments with Perry – Does Including the Spirit Exclude the Water? There are those who conclude water baptism can’t be for today based upon Jesus saying, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:5). Does Jesus including the Holy Spirit exclude […]
PHall | January 6, 2023
If you have a phone, email address, watch TV, or have any contact with anyone (that covers everyone), you have had experiences with scam artists. Churches are constantly being barraged because people expect good will if not straight up naivety from tender hearted people. TV evangelists work the same angle from the opposite direction. No […]
PHall | January 6, 2023
Sacrificial Leadership and the Laying on of Hands The Bible does not make this connection clear through direct declaration, but I do wonder if this is a connection the Bible is implying. What am I talking about? The laying on of hands and all that it signifies. In the OT, Moses laid his hands on […]
PHall | January 4, 2023
1 Timothy 2:11-14 What can structure teach us about this controversial text? 1A – “A woman is to learn quietly • 1B – with full submission. 2A – I do not allow a woman to teach • 2B – or to have authority over a man; instead, she is to remain quiet. 3A – For […]
PHall | January 4, 2023
Inn or Home? No room at the inn? Or no room in the guest house? (Luke 2:7). The latter translation is most likely the correct one. And if so, think how much more of an indictment this is. An inn is a place of business. I’ve been turned away because there were no rooms left. […]
PHall | January 4, 2023
Jesus’s Edenic Birth Luke records Jesus’s birth with two peculiarities: 1) It includes a manger, implying a stable and animals; 2) It includes shepherds being honored by angels announcing Jesus’s birth followed by them visiting. Since nothing included within holy writ is by accident or without purpose, I am forced to ask “Why these details?” […]
PHall | January 4, 2023
It’s Cold Outside Did you know that this cold weather fulfills biblical prophecy? “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.” (CSB’17 Genesis 8:22) If we organize this verse, I think it hints at something worth considering: A – TIME: As […]
PHall | January 4, 2023
What Makes Congregations Difficult to Work With? What barriers did Jesus and then his apostles have to overcome when teaching the Jewish leaders? 1. The Jewish leaders knew their traditions better than they knew God’s scripture. “They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines human commands” (CSB’17 Matthew 15:9) 2. The Jewish leaders carried their […]