4 out of 4 stars
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William E. Combs’ book, Who Told You That You Were Naked?, is a look at the events of Genesis chapter 3 with fresh new lenses. Combs, in his book, throws out what most people hold as true about the fall of man and the nature of sin thus passed down to all offspring of Adam and Eve, and confronts us with a bold and likely truth.
William Combs from the standpoint that Adam and Eve were the most innocent humans the world has ever known –before the fall– argues that their desire to eat the forbidden fruit stemmed from the fact that they wanted to be so much like their loving heavenly father rather than a depraved desire to “be as gods” or assert their autonomy. He proposes that the nature of sin passed down from the first Adam to all inhabitants of the earth is the knowledge of good and evil that makes us look for (often sinful) ways to patch up feelings of inadequacies, rather than a mere list of misdeeds and disobedience.
An interesting fact he points out in defense of his opinion is that the first mention of the word 'sin' in the bible was not in relation to the misdeed of Adam and Eve. Its first use was in connection with Cain’s murder of his brother –a direct consequence of the inadequacy he felt as a result of the knowledge of good and evil when his sacrifice was rejected by God. He maintains that to limit the nature of sin to a general list of misdeeds is also to limit the effectiveness of Christ’s ransom and redemptive power.
William Combs uses his wealth of experience as a Presbyterian minister to present his arguments in clear and convincing ways. He examines other interpretations of the fall of man and why they are imperfect or wrong. He also explains faith, our walk with God and our entrance into His rest.
What I like most about this book are the beautiful retellings of biblical events the writer often employed. These short stories present the events they represent in manners that make them easy to understand and relate to. There is nothing I dislike about this book, therefore I give a perfect 4 out of 4 rating for its clarity and impeccable editing.
This masterpiece will appeal better to Christians or people seeking new insight to the concept of sin and righteousness in Christianity. Its study questions at the end of each chapter makes it a convenient choice for group reading, but they also help to summarise the main points of the chapter and guide the lone reader to clearer conclusions.
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Who Told You That You Were Naked?
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