 |
|
     |
|
|
|
Between Babel and Beast
(America and Empires in Biblical Perspective)
The Glory of Kings: A Festschrift for James B. Jordan
Fyodor Dostoevsky
(Christian Encounters Series)
Athanasius
(Foundations of Theological Exegesis and Christian Spirituality)
The Four: A Survey of the Gospels
Defending Constantine: The Twilight of an Empire and the Dawn of Christendom
From Behind the Veil: The Epistles of John
Deep Exegesis:The Mystery of Reading Scripture
1 & 2 Kings
Brazos Theological Commentary
The Promise Of His Appearing: An Exposition Of Second Peter
A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons
Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, And Hope In Western Literature
Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen
The Priesthood of the Plebs: A Theology of Baptism
A Son To Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel
From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution
Ascent to Love: A Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy
Blessed Are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper
A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament
Heroes of the City of Man: A Christian Guide to Select Ancient Literature
Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays
Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life
The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church
Originally, Adam and Eve were naked and unashamed. As soon as they ate the fruit, their nakedness became shameful and they tried to cover. After that, nakedness and shame are constantly associated in Scripture.
Why?
Nakedness is shameful when it is the result of stripping off glory. Before Adam ate from the tree, his eyes were not opened to know good and evil; that is, he was not invested as a “judge.” By eating, he assumed a judicial role, but found himself lacking judicial robes. He made himself king, but this king had no clothes. As long as he was an infant, nakedness was fine. Once he seized a maturity for which he was not ready, his nakedness became humiliating. Adam was not shamed in the garden because he lost glory; he had not yet been robed. He was ashamed because he seized a position without being vested for it, pretended to be king without a coronation. Suddenly the nakedness that had been so innocent became a sign of his unpreparedness. Suddenly he had his pants down.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Saturday, July 7, 2012 at 8:26 am
Permission is given to use material on this site, provided the source is cited, blog entries are republished in full, and the author is notified in advance.
