Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | March 1, 2024
Jesus Explains What He Preaches Heard an argument that born of water (John 3:5) cannot mean water baptism because there is no precedent for Nicodemus to connect Jesus’s words to. Well, if that is true, and I don’t grant that (3:10), then connect Jesus’s words to his follow-up actions: John 3:22 – After this (i.e., […]
PHall | March 1, 2024
Reading Past John 3:16 Do we sometimes miss a powerful point because we stop reading? John 3:16 is so well-known that people stop reading. What happens if we keep reading? Notice these contrasts: “For God loved the world” (John 3:16) vs. “People loved the darkness” (John 3:19) “He gave his one and only Son” (John […]
PHall | January 25, 2024
Does Jesus Turning Water Into Wine Condone Drinking Alcohol? I am biased against alcohol. It bothers me when people cite Jesus turning water into “wine” as evidence that drinking alcohol is acceptable. It also bothers me that I cannot find a scripture which says all and any alcohol is forbidden. So what should we do […]
PHall | January 23, 2024
Does the Israelite Temple and Tabernacle foreshadow the Trinity to prepare God’s people? 1. The temple/tabernacle is where Yahweh would “put His name” and “rest”. 2. The temple/tabernacle was a physical dwelling of God among His people. 3. The temple/tabernacle was filled with the Shekinah or Glory of Yahweh. Then Jesus appears: 1. Jesus is […]
PHall | August 22, 2023
What does it mean to be born again? To be born again is language from John 3. Some invoke Ezekiel as the background that this teacher should have known, as Jesus rebukes Nicodemus. I think the background is Genesis 1-2. Born of water and the Spirit is how creation begins. The Spirit hovered over […]
PHall | July 15, 2023
Have you noticed the similarities between the wedding scene and the crucifixion? 1. Both have Mary, Jesus’s mother, there: (2:1; 19:26-27). 2. Both are introduced by days: 3rd day (2:1) and day of preparation (19:31). 3. Both occur on special occasions: wedding (2:1) and high Sabbath (19:31). 4. Both have new homes are began in […]
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 4, 2023
Turning the Conversation Using Caramel (In response to the request to post more on turning the conversation towards spiritual things) The coffee maker (At 3 AM they are not baristas!) asked what I wanted. I asked her what she recommended. One offering was a Caramel Macchiato. I told her caramel is one of my favorite […]
PHall | May 17, 2022
Rode my motorcycle to the church building, and there was a police officer sitting in his patrol vehicle in the parking lot. So I went up to talk. Eventually he asked, “So how do churches promote themselves, I know it’s not a business, but in a way it is. Is it word of mouth?” Good […]
PHall | March 13, 2022
Evangelistic Hospitality The last thing inspiration teaches us is that, even in prison, Paul taught the gospel by practicing hospitality. “Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house. And he welcomed all who visited him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without […]