Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | September 22, 2009
“Heathen authors say very little about sin, and classic paganism had little or no conception of sin in the Gospel sense. The nearest approach to it was by Plato, from whose works a tolerably complete doctrinal statement might be gathered of the origin, nature, and effects of sin. The fundamental idea of hamartia (sin) among […]
PHall | September 22, 2009
Light is the condition of life. Physically, it represents glory; intellectually, truth; morally, holiness. Most translations do not capitalize light. Even the older version of the NASB didn’t. With the capitalization found in the updated version of the NASB, the translators are, in their opinion, hinting at the philosophical debate between the Gnostics and orthodox […]
PHall | September 22, 2009
Notice the indistinguishable connection between Jesus and life. Jesus didn’t “possess” life. Jesus was life. But equally important to John’s theology in defeating the Gnostics was the indistinguishable connection between the flesh and spirit of Jesus. Jesus was truly man, and fully God. Historically speaking, most heresies have emphasized one to the diminishing of the […]
PHall | September 22, 2009
While similar in language to Jn.1:1, the reference point, in my opinion, is different. This beginning, contrary to others, does not go “beyond the Christian dispensation, beyond the Incarnation, to the eternal purpose of God in Christ” (Robertson, v.6, p.204), although that does appear to be the majority view. I believe John’s point of reference […]
PHall | September 22, 2009
I like to refer to this section of I John 4:19‑24, by asking the question, “How do you treat your conscience?” V.19 starts out stating that Christians know something, “hereby we know”. This knowledge is based upon the action of verse 18. So we know that we are of the truth if we ‑ love […]
PHall | September 19, 2009
Romans 1:17 contains two phrases that clearly express Paul’s “economy of words” – “the righteousness of God” and “from faith to faith.” But simple phrases are not always easy phrases. Concerning the latter phrase, “By itself this is too dense and cryptic for a modern reader to be certain of its meaning.” (Wright, The New […]
PHall | September 17, 2009
Politely walk away when someone asks, “I really want to know your honest opinion.” And if they ask you to be “brutally honest”…RUN! The truth is that people already know the truth they just do not want to…”know” that the truth is actually true. Confused? That’s OK because the person asking for the truth actually […]
PHall | September 17, 2009
The book of Habakkuk is as much about the destruction of Judah as it is about the transformation of Habakkuk himself. 1:1-4 – Habakkuk impatiently waits on God to punish the nation, questioning God’s justice. 1:12-17 – Habakkuk accepts God’s answer, although he does not understand it. 2:1 – Habakkuk waits patiently for God’s answer. […]
PHall | September 16, 2009
Should pneuma be translated “Spirit” or “spirit?” Robertson quotes, “Not the Holy Spirit, but a description of Christ ethically as kata sarka describes him physically (Denney) (Robertson’s Word Pictures). Comparing various translations show respected opinions on both sides: Spirit – BBE; EMTV; ESV; HCSB; LITV; NASB; YLT; NKJV; NIV; TNIV; NLT; NCV spirit – ASV; […]
PHall | September 16, 2009
This passage is remarkably similar to Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth. One is a birth into the world for the first time; the second is a rebirth into the world a second time. Luke 1:32 NASB “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will […]