Review by samanthajj1987 -- Who Told You That You Were N...

[samanthajj1987]

[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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The author sets out to redefine the true nature of sin. By examining the scriptures of Genesis and using other biblical examples to articulate his arguments In his book "Who Told You That You Were Naked? A Refreshing Reexamination of the Garden of Eden" the author William E Combs employs his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministries degrees to relate his interpretation of the way in which sin and death were brought into the world. With the purpose of explaining how our own skewed perception of sin and death effects our lives.

While reading this book I began to contemplate things in ways that had not occurred to me. Such as, if Eve ate the fruit first why was she not aware of their nakedness until after Adam had also eaten it? William Combs, a retired Presbyterian minister also looks at different verses from many different angles using each words' multiple Hebrew meanings. How ever he never actually tells you what Hebrew word he is referencing using "the Hebrew" instead of the actual term.

With the exception of a rather odd account in the beginning of the book centered mostly on the authors childhood out house that is not only disproportioned and just out of place as well as a little macbre. I would say this book is a fair attempt at an exegetical piece that at times leans toward hermeneutic. The rest of the time the book swings rather wildly between the authors personal opinions about faith, modesty, and other moral issues. By quoting scripture and then walking the reader through a dramatized interaction between Adam, Eve, and their creator that can only be described as speculative. He uses this narrative and descriptive style through out the piece. With accounts from his person life and also through his supposition of the feelings and motivations of different biblical characters. The author even says at one point on pg.47 in reference to the his interpretation of the tension between Cain and Able "it is simply conjecture as to what might have happened."

The quality of the book gives a self published feel evidenced by the spelling errors through out. Starting with sonshine on pg. v of the introduction. There are a number of times in which it is unclear which character is speaking. Specifically during the incident on Mount Eremos. Another factor that caused me a little confusion was that the author would some times capitalize he, him, and his when in reference to "god" but was not consistent in doing so.

I give this book 2 out of 4 stars. Predominantly because it its marketed as a non-fiction work complete with study questions at the end of every chapter. Yet it seems to takes the reader through an entirely fictitious story loosely framed by the by the already existing stories he is referencing, culminating in conclusions drawn by the author that are not backed by any actual evidence and instead based on rather bold, and erroneous assumptions. In the very first chapter the author completely alters a key element of the story of Eve eating of the fruit by not only removing Adam from the scene in the garden (even though the biblical text clearly states to the contrary) and then by inventing a narrative in which Adam had given Eve the instructions to not only abstain from eating but not even to touch the fruit of that tree and let her believe that this to was a directive from god. I how ever can not find any record of this actually being in the book of Genesis and the text I did find clearly states Adam was with Eve when she tried the fruit. It is my belief that this is simply from the authors imagination but this isn't clearly stated. I would recommend this book to any one who enjoys bible studies or even speculative adaptation of the scriptures, it is how ever in my opinion for an almost exclusively Christian audience. I would not recommend this book to any one overly analytical or who intends on actually scrutinizing the text and making comparisons for actual theological or cosmological study. As it is incomplete when held up to an evidentiary standard, because it is largely opinion there are a few ideological arguments given that I must say I find almost laughable if not just extremely bias, and convoluted. It would probably make a suitable devotional but as a scholarly or academic work it is in my opinion left wanting.

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Who Told You That You Were Naked?
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