Carmen Joy Imes – författare

Have We Misunderstood the Ten Commandments?

Have you ever wondered what the Old Testament-especially the Old Testament law-has to do with your Christian life? You are not alone. Some Christian leaders believe we should cast off the Old Testament now that we have the New. Carmen Joy Imes disagrees.

In this warm, accessible volume, Imes takes readers back to Sinai, the ancient mountain where Israel met their God, and explains the meaning of events there. She argues that we've misunderstood the command about "taking the Lord's name in vain." Instead, Imes says that this command is about "bearing God's name," a theme that continues throughout the rest of Scripture. The story of Israel turns out to be our story too, and you'll discover why Sinai still matters as you follow Jesus today.

Bearing God's Name offers:

An opportunity for readers to revisit the story of Israel as they trudge through the wilderness from a grueling past to a promising future,An appendix with resources from The Bible Project, andDiscussion questions for individual reflection or group conversation.

Christianity Today Book Awards—Theology (Popular), Award of MeritHope for When the Church Feels BrokenDoes the church still matter in our modern world?After waves of disillusionment, #churchtoo movements, and political divides, it''s easy to question the value of investing in the church.Trusted biblical scholar Carmen Joy Imes offers an answer in Becoming God''s Family. Exploring the familial and communal identity of the church, Imes traces the thread of God''s presence in the gathered community of faith across the entire Bible. She invites readers into a vision of the church that is rooted deeply in Scripture and speaks directly to the challenges we face today. Imes reminds us of a powerful truth—God delights in the global, intergenerational family He has created.Through this book, you''ll see how God keeps His promises. Whether you''re struggling to reconnect with the church, looking for a constructive vision for its role in our world, or seeking to better understand its biblical foundations, this rich yet accessible book offers clarity, hope, and encouragement.What you''ll find in Becoming God''s Family:- A biblical foundation: Trace the theme of God''s presence through the entire biblical text, gaining new understanding of His communal and familial design for the church.- Insight for today''s issues: Imes addresses the disheartening realities of scandals, political polarization, and deconstruction with a constructive and hopeful perspective.- Encouragement for community: Discover the global and intergenerational nature of God''s family and the joy of his presence among his people.Becoming God''s Family is perfect for students, pastors, and scholars of the Bible; church members looking for renewed purpose; and anyone seekinga deeper understanding of the church''s biblical foundation. When we gather as God''s people, he is always present. Rediscover why the church still matters with Becoming God''s Family.

The Name Command (NC) is usually interpreted as a prohibition against speaking Yhwh’s name in a particular context: false oaths, wrongful pronunciation, irreverent worship, magical practices, cursing, false teaching, and the like. However, the NC lacks the contextual specification needed to support the command as speech related. Taking seriously the narrative context at Sinai and the closest lexical parallels, a different picture emerges—one animated by concrete rituals and their associated metaphorical concepts. The unique phrase ns' shm is one of several expressions arising from the conceptual metaphor, election as branding, that finds analogies in high-priest regalia as well as in various ways of claiming ownership in the Ancient Near East, such as inscribed monuments, the use of seals, and the branding of slaves. The NC presupposes that Yhwh has claimed Israel by placing Yhwh’s own name on her. In this light, the first two commands of the Decalogue reinforce the two sides of the covenant declaration: “I will be your God; you will be my people.” The first expresses the demand for exclusive worship and the second calls for proper representation. As a consequence, the NC invites a richer exploration of what it means to be a people in covenant with Yhwh—a people bearing his name among the nations. It also points to what is at stake when Israel carries that name “in vain.” The image of bearing Yhwh’s name offers a rich source for theological and ethical reflection that cannot be conveyed nonmetaphorically without distortion or loss of meaning.