Review by djwagaman -- Who Told You That You Were Naked?

[djwagaman]

[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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Who Told You That You Were Naked by William Combs is an excellent read for those looking for a new and fresh way to look at some common scriptural lessons. The introduction to this fascinating book is captivating and provides an excellent peak into what is coming in the following chapters.

We begin the first chapter reading short vignettes that take creative liberty with scripture to paint a picture of what it might have been like in the garden of Eden during those first few days. Combining traditionally known facts about animal behavior and scriptural ideas, we begin to see at least one possible picture of what life might have been like for Adam.

The storyline is frequently interrupted by the author providing instructional explanation of the scripture references with a detailed look at the original language used and the meanings of certain words. He ties this into the storyline by giving us the implications of how the text reads.

Continuing on through each chapter the author asks us to contemplate various questions that were often novel ideas, bringing new meaning and understanding to well-known scripture stories. The author also proposes consequences to their individual actions that surpassed those we know of from scripture, that ask us to read critically and understand that these were real people who lived in our world.

There are also personal testimonies mixed into the text to drive a particular point home. These give great glimpses into the author’s life and adds validity to the arguments he makes in the book.

While most scriptures mentioned were quoted, I wish the author had quoted even more scripture references when connecting one reference to another idea in scripture. While his connections aroused my curiosity, reaching for a bible, which was often not easily at hand, was a bit annoying. For example, when discussing the curse on the serpent, there is a reference to Cain that is not quoted so to understand why the author brings him up would require searching the Bible for the appropriate location and hoping to be able to figure it out on my own!

Each chapter ends with discussion questions that bring up talking points from the chapter, making this an excellent study book for individuals and groups. The questions are thoughtful and often what I had found myself thinking through as I read through each chapter, providing relevant, thought-producing discussion opportunities for groups using this book for study.

Written in a conversational narrative, the weighty theological issues discussed in this book were made both simple to understand and a pleasure to read. An excellent read that I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend, giving it 4 out of 4 stars.

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Who Told You That You Were Naked?
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