I am by no means a theologian, but I have done pastoral ministry. This is an interesting perspective. Personally, I have thought that since Adam and Eve felt the need to clothe their nakedness, perhaps they were previously clothed. Did God clothe them when he created them? Were they clothed in glory as God's image bearers, and did the glory depart when they sinned? It is reasonable to say that if they were clothed and then they were naked, that they clothed themselves for reasons of comfort, rather than shame. Yet another possibility is that they hid themselves because they realized they were no longer clothed as God had clothed them, and, attempting to clothe themselves, realized that it was not sufficient and God would notice the difference. Were they like children who, once soiling their clothes, hide the soiled clothes and put on something else, then decide to hide under the bed, just in case? The one problem with the suggestion that Adam and Eve were adorning themselves is this, if they were flaunting their newfound independence by adorning themselves, how does that square with the direct statement that they hid themselves because they were afraid?
I wish you good success and blessings in your writing endeavors.
Dear Dr. Rosemond,
I am by no means a theologian, but I have done pastoral ministry. This is an interesting perspective. Personally, I have thought that since Adam and Eve felt the need to clothe their nakedness, perhaps they were previously clothed. Did God clothe them when he created them? Were they clothed in glory as God's image bearers, and did the glory depart when they sinned? It is reasonable to say that if they were clothed and then they were naked, that they clothed themselves for reasons of comfort, rather than shame. Yet another possibility is that they hid themselves because they realized they were no longer clothed as God had clothed them, and, attempting to clothe themselves, realized that it was not sufficient and God would notice the difference. Were they like children who, once soiling their clothes, hide the soiled clothes and put on something else, then decide to hide under the bed, just in case? The one problem with the suggestion that Adam and Eve were adorning themselves is this, if they were flaunting their newfound independence by adorning themselves, how does that square with the direct statement that they hid themselves because they were afraid?
I wish you good success and blessings in your writing endeavors.
Rev. D Scott Newton