Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
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 | August 1, 2022
It is possible to overstate the place of water within God’s workings, and it is possible to understate it as well. However, an honest approach to scripture shows how intricate water is to God’s involvement in His dealings with His created physical reality. It begins in the beginning. But before we go there, let’s […]
PHall | October 13, 2021
Mark reminds us that Malachi and Isaiah prophesy preparing Yahweh’s way: Mark 1:2-3 – As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: A – “Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, • B – Who will prepare Your way; A’ – The voice of one crying in the wilderness, • B’ – ‘Make ready […]
PHall | October 5, 2021
A few hundred years after the establishment of God’s kingdom through Jesus and the church, easy entrance into a local fellowship was considered dangerous to the church due to persecution. They could be letting in spies. Perspective Christians had to study for 3 years, which weeded out the unserious. That is understandable from a human […]
PHall | September 2, 2021
Jesus told James and John, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”” (CSB’17 Mark 10:38) Jesus’s baptism here is his suffering, so baptism is not literal but metaphorical. He is talking about his suffering overwhelming him. […]
PHall | July 26, 2021
Martin Luther sought to emphasize a daily renewal in baptism by practicing and encouraging his followers to each morning place their hand on their heads and confirming, “I am baptized”. This method is because he had water sprinkled on him as a baby as did his fellow protesters, hence Protestants. This became comforting because he […]
PHall | May 6, 2021
While Matthew 28:19 is often recited 28:19 before baptizing, Galatians 3:28 was possibly a Pauline “baptismal statement”. Let’s add the other similar baptism statements by Paul. • Colossians 3:11 – In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all. • 1 […]
PHall | November 19, 2020
Ever notice how many parallels there are between Acts 2:21 and Acts 2:38? Is this a coincidence? Will anyone deny we do not need to “call on the name of the Lord” to be “saved”? Will anyone deny “calling on the name of the Lord” precedes “will be saved”? And yet, many deny we must […]
PHall | April 10, 2020
What’s the definition of seven? Is it the same as six? Is six enough or too little? Is it important to know the definition of seven if God asks you do so something seven times?What if you confessed to God, “I know the power is from you, and not in my obedience, therefore I will […]
PHall | March 9, 2020
What if I told you “not from works so that no one can boast” in Ephesians 2:8, does not include baptism – but not because of why you might think? It wasn’t what I thought either.1. Baptism is not a “work” of man, but is a “work” of God (Colossians 2:12). But that is not […]