Review by amylw1114 -- Who Told You That You Were Naked?

[amylw1114]

[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? A Refreshing Reexamination of the Garden of Eden by William E. Combs is an engaging and easy to comprehend book which takes a closer look at the biblical Genesis narratives and connects them to the redemption story of the New Testament. The author does not treat the biblical accounts as the sort of old hat stories that many have heard from earliest childhood; but delves deeply into the riches that are contained within and brings them to the reader in a fresh way.

In a method reminiscent of master storyteller Gene Edwards, Mr. Combs brings his imagination into play, using word-pictures to retell the Garden of Eden saga in a unique and fresh way. I enjoyed having a new view of the life of Adam and Eve as described in the early chapters of the book. The author posits and supports a view that the “punishments” meted out by God in the garden were in fact redemptive in nature and provided for Adam and Eve a lifestyle that would give a sense of accomplishment and value.

The chapters are very easy to read and are organized into short sections which allow the reader to take small bites and get a real taste before moving on to the next course. The book is replete with scripture and brings together the Old and New Testament in a way that is both practical and thought-provoking. In addition, the author adds personal testimony of events in his life which are inspirational although I will confess in some instances way out of my realm of experience.

The alternative interpretation of the actual nature of Adam being changed to allow him to understand the difference between good and evil gives an interesting explanation of why we find sin in our lives is pervasive and not something we have the power to overcome on our own. It suggests that we are not basically good people who occasionally sin, but instead are in need of redemption from a source outside ourselves.

I rated this book 4 out of 4 stars and would recommend this book to anyone needing a fresh look at the bible and a practical guide for dealing with adversity in light of God’s plan for individual redemption. The study questions at the end of each chapter were helpful in allowing the reader to apply the information presented and make the book well suited for small group study.

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Who Told You That You Were Naked?
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