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

[AChapman]

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

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2 out of 4 stars

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This book was Who Told You That You Were Naked?: A Refreshing Reexamination of the Garden of Eden by William Combs. The first few chapters are a detailed fictional interpretation of the Garden of Eden and the interactions Adam and Eve may have had with God. Subsequent chapters cover how sin is looked at, interpreted and how humans may find more faith and salvation. A few later chapters deal with grammatical differences between bible versions and then the last chapter offers self reflection and more take away elements on how to have a stronger relationship with God. It offers bible verses, author fictional elements and personal stories from the author.

By far the best aspect of this book are the questions at the end of each chapter. They work like a study guide that allows the reader a stronger conceptual grasp of the topics covered and encourage stirring revelations. The examination of direct translations and the variances from different languages such as Hebrew Vs Greek was fascinating and offers linguistically based evidence instead of solely relying on interpretation.

Some of the personal experiences are supernatural in nature, like in a story where the authors wife answers the door, sees the devil standing there and when she announces her faith, the devil literally vanishes into the ground. Some may be offended by the lack of realistic content.
The title serves to offer a shock value, that the author tries to incorporate to support his view that it was man’s vulnerability and not God’s displeasure that brought Adam shame and embarrassment

I rate this book a 2 out of 4 stars because at times it is difficult to determine if the author is using direct bible quotes, personal anecdotes, or supporting statements, and intermingling the difference perspectives can be confusing. Again there were two very supernatural personal examples that were so unbelievable it lost credibility to the book. That being said, it does give a reader many things to contemplate for their faith and relationship with God and Jesus Christ.

This book is best suited for Christian readers looking for more in depth information and connection with the bible, or those searching for more clarity on sin and salvation. It lacks a neutral perspective that allows for much interpretation as one can imagine based on the sermon style topic. The thoughtful questions posed at the end of each chapter can offer readers deep discussion and contemplation topics.

Who Told You That You Were Naked?: A Refreshing Reexamination of the Garden of Eden

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Who Told You That You Were Naked?
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