Review by elissa_conner -- Who Told You That You Were Na...

[elissa_conner]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Who Told You That You Were Naked?" by William Combs.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The story of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden is well known to many. In Who Told You That You Were Naked? we are presented with an uncommon perspective on the familiar tale. William Combs presents a viewpoint of sin and salvation that may challenge those with a knowledge of Christianity. For those that are unfamiliar, he explains the prominent themes in a clear manner that is easy to understand.

Combs begins his book by giving a fictitious account of Adam and Eve’s lives in the garden. He gives Adam a little companion who is a sheep that he names, “Lively.” He also narrates daily events, such as tending for the garden, in a pleasant, almost whimsical way. I found that his embellishments helped me relate to Adam and Eve as people, instead of viewing the text from only a factual, historical standpoint. The author also included several personal stories, which were enjoyable to read and helped to solidify and clarify the point he was trying to make. There were also study questions at the end of every chapter, which challenged me to think more critically and then apply the information to my own life.

One of the main themes of Who Told You That You Were Naked? is the question of sin. We often view sin as a series of misdeeds or wrongdoings. Here, we are told that sin is actually the knowledge of good and evil. When Adam and Eve ate the fruit, they gained this knowledge in a very personal way. First, they noticed that they were different from one another. This inevitably led them to compare themselves to the other, and unfortunately ended in the conclusion that they were somehow inferior. When each person felt this, it caused shame and a relational separation between the two of them. They also became distrustful and distant toward God.

This dilemma continues, as Adam and Eve would now measure themselves and their acceptability before God by the way they understood right and wrong. Invariably, they would always end up falling short. Combs gives the solution to this problem by explaining the concepts of grace and salvation. He uses many scriptures to illustrate his points. Ultimately, he believes that a relationship with Jesus Christ in the only remedy to the relational, spiritual and physical death that became a part of the human narrative through Adam and Eve’s choices in the garden.

I would give the book a rating of 4 out of 4. It is well written and is clearly edited professionally. The format was clear and concise, even though there are parts in the book where Combs uses a different font for his narratives. I found this to be a bit odd, but it was not a major distraction to the overall readability of the book. I found the perspective to be more hopeful and more gracious than ones I have previously come across.

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Who Told You That You Were Naked?
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