Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | May 4, 2018
I am always looking for different and deeper ways to teach on baptism: Jesus died on the cross and three days later was resurrected while still hanging on the cross. While everyone knows that is not accurate history, it is an accurate description of how many preach the gospel. But it has not always been […]
PHall | January 27, 2018
We have two dogs. One is a real dog, weighing 55 pounds. The other is a fake dog, 15 pounds (disclaimer – I love them both). The real dog thrives on going into the back yard and woods, chasing, and barking at intruders. The fake dog usually stays on the deck barking at whatever the […]
PHall | January 27, 2018
According to the scriptures, Jesus was crucified around 9:00 AM (“the third hour”; Mark 15:24-25); and died six hours later around 3:00 PM (“the ninth hour”; Matthew 27:45-46). While there are many coincidences in the Bible, there are also many providential, and type and anti-type acts. Which is this? For six hours Jesus worked on […]
PHall | June 23, 2017
There is a woman who interrupts another story. This “interruption” is real in the sense of historically accurate; but it is also symbolic (at least to me). Sometimes interruptions are annoying, and other times life-changing. Jesus is approached by a leader in the synagogue; an important man. She is not important, at least as viewed […]
PHall | April 24, 2017
One of the arguments made against baptism being the “when” one receives God’s grace is that the “order” of Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, and Baptism is not set in scripture. For example, Mark 1:15 is cited where repent is listed before believe: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent […]
PHall | February 3, 2017
In Mark 1, immediately after His Father confesses Jesus, we see Him at His most human. Jesus is in the wilderness, hungry, surrounded by wild animals. When Jesus leaves the wilderness, He casts out a demon. Later in Mark 8-9, immediately after Peter confesses Jesus, we see Him at His most divine. Jesus is on […]
PHall | January 13, 2017
A written compilation of various Rabbi’s oral traditions is found in the Talmud. The Babylonian Talmud was written down from before the Common Era to 500 years later. I wish I knew the date for the following excerpt because it contrasts with how the Pharisees viewed Jesus as a Messiah, yet matches well the New […]
PHall | December 7, 2016
“Don’t you care that we are going to die?” This could be a quote from any time and anyone since suffering and death are as common to this world as complaining. The doubters in the goodness of the Son of God are Jesus’ own disciples (Mark 4:38). The cross accomplishes many goals, one of which […]
PHall | December 7, 2016
“Promise Me” (Mark 6:14-29) “Pomise me you won’t tell anyone.” That request – actually it is more of a desperate demand – has been said in many sad and serious situations. Because we care we promise. But…. Some of us have been confidants of a poor soul afraid to tell their secret because of abuse […]
PHall | November 8, 2016
Of all Biblical aids, the most helpful is also a huge hindrance: chapters and verses. So when you don’t understand, just keep reading. Biblical writers use stories to explain stories by grouping stories together. Chapter and verse markers break up these helpful hints. In Mark 2:23-28, Jesus’ disciples are picking heads of grain on the […]