Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | December 11, 2013
“Romans 6 does not supplement justification by faith or merely explain its effects or consequences; rather, it defines justification by faith. . . . Following 5:1-11, Paul provides three sets of quite fully developed antitheses that contrast pre- and post-justification existence: life in Adam vs. life in Christ (5:12-21), slaver to sin vs. slaver to […]
PHall | October 25, 2012
By grace, the original curses become the fresh blessings and then more wondrous than physically imaginable. What is happening in Genesis 12 when God makes promises to Abraham in this new beginning? Do the curses of Genesis 3 and the blessings of Genesis 12 have anything in common? Often the curses are divided into three […]
PHall | October 1, 2012
In Acts 20:7 when Luke discusses Paul speaking, the Greek is dialegomai suggesting Paul’s “preaching” (KJV) is more like our “teaching.” We can learn the meaning of a word both through its denotative and connotative definitions. First, look up dialegomai in a lexicon and it is denotatively defined as “to say thoroughly” (Mickelson) and “1. to […]
PHall | July 17, 2012
God loves us despite what we do (4:10); We love God because what He did (4:19). God loves all without accepting all (4:17); We love God by accepting Him (4:15). God loves because of Who He is (4:8); We love because we choose to be like God (4:7). God is perfect love (4:16); We are […]
PHall | July 17, 2012
As is often true but overlooked, we can learn much by the way something is structured. To not see the organization is to only see each tree within the forest. Even looking at one tree, we fail if we don’t see how the roots and soil, even the weather all contribute. It is never just […]
PHall | July 14, 2012
If I were to write a book on the Sermon on the Mount, I thought of some “different” titles: • The Sermon on the Mount – Nothing New Here But Don’t Move Along • The Sermon on the Mount – What I Meant to Say Was…. • The Sermon on the Mount – How Many […]
PHall | July 13, 2012
(#1) Is not misunderstood, but is explained away because it is understood; (#2) Is not difficult to understand, but is difficult to live; (#3) Is not old or new law, but is the essence of God’s eternal law; (#4) Is not the righteousness of outward works, but is the righteous impetus of outward obedience; (#5) […]
PHall | May 30, 2012
There is the theory that there are two Isaiah’s. If so, (and I do not believe that is true), have you ever noticed the beautiful symmetry suggesting sole authorship from beginning to end? Heavens and Earth – 1:2; 66:1,22 Sons – 1:2,4; 66:7,8 Zion – 1:8,27; 66:7 Destruction (i.e., fire) – 1:9-10, 31; 66:15-16; 24 […]
PHall | January 20, 2012
How did they go from the wilderness to the top of the temple, and then later to a very high mountain? My answer is that Satan actually takes Jesus to Jerusalem which is what the text says, minus the word “actually.” Matthew 4.5 (HCSB) Then the Devil took Him to the holy city, had Him […]
PHall | January 18, 2012
Each both Luke and Matthew, the temptation involving bread and stones is listed first. However, the second temptation in Matthew is the third in Luke. In Luke’s record, Satan’s temptation to throw Himself down to prove trust in God is listed third. Matthew is better known for grouping biographical points topically, while Luke’s record is […]