Review by Oliver Mendoza -- Who Told You That You Were N...
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Oliver Mendoza
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- Latest Review: "Who Told You That You Were Naked?" by William Combs
Review by Oliver Mendoza -- Who Told You That You Were N...
[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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In Who Told You That You Were Naked? Rev. William E. Combs re-examines the fall narrative through the lens of the New Testament and in the process debunks common misconceptions of sin and redemption. The analysis may be refreshing but the message is old: redemption is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ, the new Adam.
The book’s subtitle ‘A Refreshing Re-examination of the Garden of Eden’ highlights Combs intended contribution to this widely-written topic. He has certainly set a high standard for himself. It is extremely difficult to provide a ‘refreshing’ view of a subject matter as old as creation itself and which had been studied by a multitude of Christian scholars for centuries.
Overall, this book is an important addition to the Christian non-fiction genre and to a certain extent did manage to provide a refreshing exegesis on the fall of Adam and Eve, the nature of sin, and the path to salvation. In particular, Chapters 1-4 are eye-openers. From Chapter 5 onwards, however, the book is back on familiar territory as the discussion feels like a long winded version of the call to conversion pamphlets distributed by various Christian denominations in the high streets.
I like Combs engaging style characterised by his personal anecdotes and imaginative storytelling where he paints word pictures to enliven the Biblical texts and drive home his message. I especially like the description of his ‘first encounter with light’ as his sense of awe and wonder is palpable through the page. I had a similar experience myself just by looking at pictures of the Northern Lights.
On the other hand, I least like the text box highlight because it breaks the fluidity of the discourse and distracts the reader from the thought at hand. Perhaps it would be all right if it is just a small square on the page so the reader can ignore or check it as they please. As it is, the reader has no choice but to read what is written in the text box because it is on the way to the next line.
Clearly, this book is written with the Christian believers in mind and is suitable for both the newly-initiated to better understand and deepen their faith, and for the church leaders to help them in their small group discussion and preaching. Having said that, non-believers would struggle to appreciate this book as it requires prior belief to understand the premise and the underlying themes of the book. Nonetheless, this is a valuable resource book for Christian non-believers keen to discover and understand the Christian faith.
This is a timely read for the Holy Week. As we reflect on Christ’s death on the cross, we are reminded on how and where it all started. At the same time, this book encourages us to begin the journey in rebuilding our relationship with God through faith in the redemptive sacrifice of Christ on the cross. I rate this book, 3 out of 4 stars because it is well-written and offered a thought-provoking take on the fall narrative. I could have given it a perfect rating if the discussion on faith and redemption in the second half of the book was tackled in a refreshing manner.
******
Who Told You That You Were Naked?
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3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
In Who Told You That You Were Naked? Rev. William E. Combs re-examines the fall narrative through the lens of the New Testament and in the process debunks common misconceptions of sin and redemption. The analysis may be refreshing but the message is old: redemption is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ, the new Adam.
The book’s subtitle ‘A Refreshing Re-examination of the Garden of Eden’ highlights Combs intended contribution to this widely-written topic. He has certainly set a high standard for himself. It is extremely difficult to provide a ‘refreshing’ view of a subject matter as old as creation itself and which had been studied by a multitude of Christian scholars for centuries.
Overall, this book is an important addition to the Christian non-fiction genre and to a certain extent did manage to provide a refreshing exegesis on the fall of Adam and Eve, the nature of sin, and the path to salvation. In particular, Chapters 1-4 are eye-openers. From Chapter 5 onwards, however, the book is back on familiar territory as the discussion feels like a long winded version of the call to conversion pamphlets distributed by various Christian denominations in the high streets.
I like Combs engaging style characterised by his personal anecdotes and imaginative storytelling where he paints word pictures to enliven the Biblical texts and drive home his message. I especially like the description of his ‘first encounter with light’ as his sense of awe and wonder is palpable through the page. I had a similar experience myself just by looking at pictures of the Northern Lights.
On the other hand, I least like the text box highlight because it breaks the fluidity of the discourse and distracts the reader from the thought at hand. Perhaps it would be all right if it is just a small square on the page so the reader can ignore or check it as they please. As it is, the reader has no choice but to read what is written in the text box because it is on the way to the next line.
Clearly, this book is written with the Christian believers in mind and is suitable for both the newly-initiated to better understand and deepen their faith, and for the church leaders to help them in their small group discussion and preaching. Having said that, non-believers would struggle to appreciate this book as it requires prior belief to understand the premise and the underlying themes of the book. Nonetheless, this is a valuable resource book for Christian non-believers keen to discover and understand the Christian faith.
This is a timely read for the Holy Week. As we reflect on Christ’s death on the cross, we are reminded on how and where it all started. At the same time, this book encourages us to begin the journey in rebuilding our relationship with God through faith in the redemptive sacrifice of Christ on the cross. I rate this book, 3 out of 4 stars because it is well-written and offered a thought-provoking take on the fall narrative. I could have given it a perfect rating if the discussion on faith and redemption in the second half of the book was tackled in a refreshing manner.
******
Who Told You That You Were Naked?
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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Latest Review: "Who Told You That You Were Naked?" by William Combs
