Review by jenjayfromSA -- Who Told You That You Were Naked?
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jenjayfromSA
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Review by jenjayfromSA -- Who Told You That You Were Naked?
[Following is a volunteer review of "Who Told You That You Were Naked?" by William Combs.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Have you ever woken up shaking after dreaming you were at work naked? I have. The more anxious I am, the more it happens.
No doubt reams have been written on the subject in tomes on psychology and dream interpretation. In Who Told You That You Were Naked?, Bill Combs, a retired minister of the Presbyterian church, bases his interpretation on his own handy reference book, the Bible.
The story of Adam, Eve and the apple is so familiar it has become part of folklore. Probably most, like me, retain only the Sunday School version; Eve was naughty, Adam was weak and snakes can’t be trusted. It seems there is far more to the story than that.
Two points I missed when reading the Genesis account: Adam and Eve were “unashamedly naked”, but after the serpent deceived Eve, and she and Adam ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they realised they were naked. Later, when the Lord found Adam cowering behind a bush clutching his fig leaf, he asked: “Who told you that you were naked?” Naked as in formally unclothed? Naked to the world? Exposed? Unacceptable? Vulnerable? Insecure? Lacking self-esteem? And … who did?
In this slim volume, the author attempts to give us an answer. He looks at sin, death, faith, redemption and other thought-provoking topics. It sounds heavy, but it isn’t. I really enjoyed his vivid word pictures, describing the garden or telling us about Eve collecting almonds and Adam playing with his pet lamb.
Frequently he tells stories or personal anecdotes to make his points more relevant to our frazzled existence. He quotes from the Bible constantly and each chapter ends with a list of questions to ponder or share with others.
Some of the analysis is fairly scholarly. I enjoyed his explanations of the different translations and the different tenses in the Hebrew and Greek versions which affect the way passages are interpreted.
This is a wide-ranging examination of the basic tenets of the Christian faith. The author holds the thread of his argument well, expanding and occasionally repeating to make sure it is clearly understood. His principal point is how the knowledge of good and evil we inherited from Adam affects every aspect of our lives and, of course, the solution that we are offered.
A quirky fact the author mentions is that the sap of fig leaves is an irritant, so poor Adam was not only cowering behind his bush, he was itching too. It is reassuring that when the Lord threw Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, he supplied them with garments made of animal skins which were presumably warm and sturdy, suitable for the battle with thistles and thorns that lay before them.
Bottom line. He cares.
I give this 4 out of 4 stars. It will be appreciated by those wishing to deepen their understanding of the Christian faith and those seeking ways to make sense of the world.
******
Who Told You That You Were Naked?
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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4 out of 4 stars
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Have you ever woken up shaking after dreaming you were at work naked? I have. The more anxious I am, the more it happens.
No doubt reams have been written on the subject in tomes on psychology and dream interpretation. In Who Told You That You Were Naked?, Bill Combs, a retired minister of the Presbyterian church, bases his interpretation on his own handy reference book, the Bible.
The story of Adam, Eve and the apple is so familiar it has become part of folklore. Probably most, like me, retain only the Sunday School version; Eve was naughty, Adam was weak and snakes can’t be trusted. It seems there is far more to the story than that.
Two points I missed when reading the Genesis account: Adam and Eve were “unashamedly naked”, but after the serpent deceived Eve, and she and Adam ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they realised they were naked. Later, when the Lord found Adam cowering behind a bush clutching his fig leaf, he asked: “Who told you that you were naked?” Naked as in formally unclothed? Naked to the world? Exposed? Unacceptable? Vulnerable? Insecure? Lacking self-esteem? And … who did?
In this slim volume, the author attempts to give us an answer. He looks at sin, death, faith, redemption and other thought-provoking topics. It sounds heavy, but it isn’t. I really enjoyed his vivid word pictures, describing the garden or telling us about Eve collecting almonds and Adam playing with his pet lamb.
Frequently he tells stories or personal anecdotes to make his points more relevant to our frazzled existence. He quotes from the Bible constantly and each chapter ends with a list of questions to ponder or share with others.
Some of the analysis is fairly scholarly. I enjoyed his explanations of the different translations and the different tenses in the Hebrew and Greek versions which affect the way passages are interpreted.
This is a wide-ranging examination of the basic tenets of the Christian faith. The author holds the thread of his argument well, expanding and occasionally repeating to make sure it is clearly understood. His principal point is how the knowledge of good and evil we inherited from Adam affects every aspect of our lives and, of course, the solution that we are offered.
A quirky fact the author mentions is that the sap of fig leaves is an irritant, so poor Adam was not only cowering behind his bush, he was itching too. It is reassuring that when the Lord threw Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, he supplied them with garments made of animal skins which were presumably warm and sturdy, suitable for the battle with thistles and thorns that lay before them.
Bottom line. He cares.
I give this 4 out of 4 stars. It will be appreciated by those wishing to deepen their understanding of the Christian faith and those seeking ways to make sense of the world.
******
Who Told You That You Were Naked?
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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Latest Review: Adrift by Charlie Sheldon
