4 out of 4 stars
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WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU WERE NAKED? BY WILLIAM E. COMBS (REVIEW BY ADEFOLAKEMI7)
Who told you that you were naked? by William E. Combs elucidated the biblical events of the Garden of Eden in great detail using familiar and contemporary analogies. The book essentially served to bridge perceived dichotomies between the Old Testament and the New Testament books of the Bible. William E. Combs explicitly stated his theories on ambiguous terms such as ‘death’, ‘the fall’ and ‘faith’.
Contrary to general interpretations and well known bible commentaries, the author, through thought-provoking questions and the use of other biblical passages, argued that the supposed intent of Eve (Adam’s wife) to become like God, which led to her supposed disobedience, was not exactly as it is generally perceived. He argued that the desire of the couple to become like God was not a matter of rebellion or pride; rather, it was one of the best compliments they could have paid their creator, except that the serpent used this desire as an instrument in Eve’s deceit.
William E. Combs, drawing from his wealth of experience both as a Christian and as a Pastor, as well as from the experiences of his late wife, Miriam, drove his point home using illustrations and personal stories his readers could relate with. The author specifically portrayed God as sensitive and considerate. He elaborated on the concept of death, listing its three types: physical, relational and spiritual deaths.
“Who told you that you were naked?” provides answers to age-old questions such as “why did God create the forbidden fruit in the garden?”, “did the couple really die after eating the fruit?”, “why was Eve so easily deceived?”, “did God also ask them not to touch the fruits?”, “why would a loving God punish the mistakes of his creatures so severely?”, “why does it appear that some Christians get answers to their prayers while some do not?”, “what would it take to have faith that could move mountains?” and many more.
I especially love this book because the author expertly combined intellectualism with simplicity. He did not just adopt the “spirit told me so” technique; rather, he intellectually used knowledge-based arguments to explain the basis of the Christian faith, salvation and sin in its various forms. He pointed out that the misfortune that befell the couple and the whole of humanity after the events in the Garden was intellectualism; the knowledge of good and evil. Through that school of thought, he established sin as a mindset, and not just a list of offenses. I, however, did not like that too many bible passages were referenced in the book.
The author’s knowledge of Hebrew and Greek, the original languages in which the scriptures were written, was put to very good use. The book served to subtly debunk certain beliefs the author was convinced were wrong. He gently reinforced his opinions concerning portions of the Bible in which information is ‘sparse’, to use the author’s own word.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Two of the most important questions Bible readers struggle with are if the events that were reported to have taken place in the Garden of Eden were myths or realities and if the words said were meant literally or figuratively. The author of “Who told you that you were naked?” succeeded in driving the reality of this biblical account more into the minds of readers. The book would appeal to Christians, especially young converts who are willing and eager to learn more about the Bible. The book was excellently edited. I totally love it!
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Who Told You That You Were Naked?
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