Carmen Joy Imes

Carmen Joy Imes is an associate professor of Old Testament at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, in Southern California. She specializes in the study of Exodus and the Psalms, focusing on the theological implications of the Old Testament for contemporary Christian life. Her work is characterized by a commitment to equipping churches to engage with the Old Testament through accessible scholarship.

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Academic Career and Education

Dr. Imes completed her BA in Bible and Theology at Multnomah University in Portland, Oregon. She then pursued an MA in Biblical Studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Charlotte campus. Her academic journey culminated in a PhD in Biblical Theology, with a concentration in Old Testament, from Wheaton College. As of 2025, she serves as an associate professor at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. Previously, she held a similar position at Prairie College in Alberta, Canada, and has taught as an adjunct at George Fox University and Multnomah University.

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Major Works and Contributions

Dr. Imes has published extensively in both academic and popular venues. Her major works include Bearing YHWH's Name at Sinai: A Reexamination of the Name Command of the Decalogue (2017), which originated from her doctoral dissertation. She also authored Bearing God’s Name: Why Sinai Still Matters (2019) and Being God’s Image: Why Creation Still Matters (2023), both published by IVP. Her scholarly articles include "Metaphor at Sinai: Cognitive Linguistics in the Decalogue and Covenant Code," published in the Bulletin for Biblical Research in 2019, and contributions to edited volumes such as "The Lost World of the Exodus" in For Us, but Not to Us: Essays on Creation, Covenant, and Context in Honor of John H. Walton (2020).

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Organizational Affiliations and Public Engagement

Dr. Imes is actively involved with several scholarly organizations, including the Institute for Biblical Research, the Society of Biblical Literature, and the Evangelical Theological Society. She serves on the board of directors for the Institute for Biblical Research. Beyond academia, she engages with a broader audience through over 200 podcast and radio appearances, and speaks frequently at churches, conferences, and retreats. Her public work includes maintaining a personal blog and contributing to platforms like Christianity Today and The Well.

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Theological Stance and Presuppositions

Dr. Imes operates within the evangelical tradition, aiming to bridge academic scholarship with church education. Her theological commitments are evident in her efforts to make Old Testament themes accessible and relevant to contemporary Christian audiences, aligning with conservative evangelical scholarship in affirming the continuing significance of the Sinai narrative and its implications for identity and mission.

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Impact on Biblical Studies

Dr. Imes is influential within evangelical circles for her ability to translate complex Old Testament themes into accessible language for lay audiences. Her books, particularly those published by IVP, are widely used in church settings and have enhanced the understanding of the Old Testament's relevance today. Her scholarly contributions, while primarily situated within evangelical contexts, are respected for their clarity and depth of insight.

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Critique and Reception

Dr. Imes's work is appreciated for its clarity and accessibility, particularly in engaging church audiences with Old Testament theology. While her scholarship is primarily recognized within evangelical and church-based contexts, her methodological approach to topics like the Decalogue and the divine name is respected for its thoroughness. The reception of her work highlights her success in making academic theology approachable, though some of her interpretations may not align with all mainstream academic perspectives.

See also: Old Testament Theology, Evangelical Biblical Scholarship

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