Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | January 27, 2013
Words impact our thinking, creating shockwaves to other thoughts. Sometimes these “power words” are overlooked due to their seeming insignificance. And yet they can produce powerful thoughts if we allow ourselves to be impacted mentally and spiritually. In most translations of Acts 2:37, the broken hearted ask, “What shall we do?” The Holman Christian Standard […]
PHall | May 12, 2012
John preached a “baptism of repentance” (Lk.3:3). This repentance is not something simply and solely theological or personal. It is spiritual and practical; it reaches out to all because God reached down to us. Repentance is not just in the heart or mind. Repentance is not just looking to our sinful past. Repentance is a […]
PHall | December 9, 2011
It is fitting that baptism is an immersion imitating a burial. Under the water the eyes are closed, the breathing stopped, and death is imitated. Rising out of the water we open our eyes anew and breathe in life again. Yes, it is fitting that baptism imitates a resurrection.
PHall | November 20, 2011
It is my assertion that baptism is the meaning of being born of water and Spirit. As for the meaning of “born of water and the Spirit,” admittedly, the word baptism is not found in the discourse between Jesus and Nicodemus. To remove baptism as a synonym for being born of water and Spirit does […]
PHall | November 11, 2011
I. EXPOSITORY/EXEGETICAL – immediate context By expository and exegetical, it is simply mean that what we learn is from the immediate text itself. Are their clues, are their hints, are their “signs” pointing to understanding? First let’s look at the obviously parallel texts which are verses 3 and 5.
PHall | October 29, 2011
Let’s look at John 3. What does it mean to be born of water? In trying to convince people of truth, the approach we take must, to be successful, be directed by the people to whom we are talking. Paul approaches the Gentiles (Acts 17) differently than the Jews (Acts 13), but all along preaching […]
PHall | October 22, 2011
Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night (Jn. 3:2; 19:39). That is a fact which John records but without recording the reason for Nicodemus choosing the night. Why this ruler comes at night has intrigued commentators and common people alike. Is Nicodemus afraid (Jn. 19:38-39)? Is Nicodemus observing the Passover during the day (Jn.2:23)? Does Nicodemus […]
PHall | April 30, 2011
John preached a “baptism of repentance” (Lk.3:3). This repentance is not something simply and solely theological or personal. It is spiritual and practical; it reaches out to all because God reached down to us. Repentance is not just in the heart or mind. Repentance is not just looking to our sinful past. Repentance is a […]
PHall | April 6, 2011
Little things surprise me. For example, all through Leviticus the Israelites are still at the foot of Mt. Sinai. Numbers opens with “on the first day of the second month of the second year after Israel’s departure from the land of Egypt” (1:1). When Israel left Egypt, “God did not lead them along the road to the […]
PHall | November 26, 2010
Surprisingly, at least to me, water hudōr/hudatos) is a dominant theme within the gospel of John where it occurs 23 times as compared to Matthew (7); Mark (5); and Luke (5). In fact, the word water (hudōr/hudatos) occurs more in John than any other NT book. Even when the word water is not used, still dominant theme: […]