Review by p34kie -- Who Told You That You Were Naked?
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p34kie
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- Latest Review: Who Told You That You Were Naked? by William Combs
Review by p34kie -- Who Told You That You Were Naked?
[Following is a volunteer review of "Who Told You That You Were Naked?" by William Combs.]
3 out of 4 stars
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"Who Told You That You Were Naked? A Refreshing Reexamination of the Garden of Eden" is a short non-fiction book written by William E. Combs, a retired Presbyterian minister. This book combines a study of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible along with the author's personal testimonies and re-telling of familiar Bible stories in a way that holds the reader's attention. This book encourages the reader to examine the true meaning of sin as a mindset rather than a list of specific acts that we should avoid in order to achieve salvation.
The first half of the book concentrates on the stories of the first few chapters of the book of Genesis, including the physical creation of the world, creation of mankind (and womankind) and animals, as well as the familiar story of the "Fall." The author personalizes the story by using his own experiences and re-phrasing the story in order to examine the Garden of Eden as a mindset of sin rather than a forbidden activity.
In an interesting twist on a familiar story, the author encourages the reader to consider the Garden of Eden story as a reflection not of the Lord's punishment, but as an opportunity for man and woman to redeem themselves to the Lord. The snake/serpent was given no such opportunity. The author delves into the meaning of physical death vs. relational death vs. spiritual death as being separated from the various gifts God has given to us with creation. The author also views sin as a mindset that separates a person from God. Rather than a rebellion, the author encourages the reader to see the act of eating from the Tree of Knowledge to be an attempt to re-align mankind with God and to become closer to Him.
The second half of the book connects the Garden of Eden and the connection of sin with the New Testament Gospels and the writings of the Apostle Paul about Jesus's life and message. The chapters in this section identify the ways in which believers experience faith, freedom, adversity, and God's rest and peace. This book is an excellent explanation of the basis of Christian faith and uses simple stories to illustrate its points and bring Bible stories to life.
At points, the author uses language that is lofty or far above the understanding of the average reader, such as specific ecclesiastical terms that are not part of common language. This is the only detriment to an otherwise well-written and knowledgeable book. It may be better to read this book with a dictionary (online or hard copy) readily available. Otherwise it is a quick, informative and enjoyable read. I would rate this book as three out of four stars.
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Who Told You That You Were Naked?
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3 out of 4 stars
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"Who Told You That You Were Naked? A Refreshing Reexamination of the Garden of Eden" is a short non-fiction book written by William E. Combs, a retired Presbyterian minister. This book combines a study of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible along with the author's personal testimonies and re-telling of familiar Bible stories in a way that holds the reader's attention. This book encourages the reader to examine the true meaning of sin as a mindset rather than a list of specific acts that we should avoid in order to achieve salvation.
The first half of the book concentrates on the stories of the first few chapters of the book of Genesis, including the physical creation of the world, creation of mankind (and womankind) and animals, as well as the familiar story of the "Fall." The author personalizes the story by using his own experiences and re-phrasing the story in order to examine the Garden of Eden as a mindset of sin rather than a forbidden activity.
In an interesting twist on a familiar story, the author encourages the reader to consider the Garden of Eden story as a reflection not of the Lord's punishment, but as an opportunity for man and woman to redeem themselves to the Lord. The snake/serpent was given no such opportunity. The author delves into the meaning of physical death vs. relational death vs. spiritual death as being separated from the various gifts God has given to us with creation. The author also views sin as a mindset that separates a person from God. Rather than a rebellion, the author encourages the reader to see the act of eating from the Tree of Knowledge to be an attempt to re-align mankind with God and to become closer to Him.
The second half of the book connects the Garden of Eden and the connection of sin with the New Testament Gospels and the writings of the Apostle Paul about Jesus's life and message. The chapters in this section identify the ways in which believers experience faith, freedom, adversity, and God's rest and peace. This book is an excellent explanation of the basis of Christian faith and uses simple stories to illustrate its points and bring Bible stories to life.
At points, the author uses language that is lofty or far above the understanding of the average reader, such as specific ecclesiastical terms that are not part of common language. This is the only detriment to an otherwise well-written and knowledgeable book. It may be better to read this book with a dictionary (online or hard copy) readily available. Otherwise it is a quick, informative and enjoyable read. I would rate this book as three out of four stars.
******
Who Told You That You Were Naked?
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like p34kie's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: Who Told You That You Were Naked? by William Combs
