Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters

Most people know little about the Old Testament beyond what they have heard as children. We probably have some favorite Psalms and in church we’ve probably heard sermons where the Ten Commandments are used. We may even have a few favorite passages like the New Covenant described in Jeremiah 31:31-34. Many Christians view that passage as a precursor to the main event described in the Gospels.Hence, it is not surprising that most Christians, when they read the Bible, concentrate on the New Testament and essentially ignore three quarters of the Bible. This reviewer has been there. Perhaps, that is as it should be when as new followers of Jesus we are finding our way in what St. Augustine describes as “faith seeking understanding.” After all, the Old Testament is filled with teaching and events that are hard to make sense of. Or, so we think.Carmen Joy Imes wants us to move beyond that and find in the Old Testament a rich resource for learning to follow Christ in the 21st century. What she proposes in Bearing God’s Name is wrapped up in the title of her book. God’s people bear God’s name as they live and work in the world. This reviewer must admit his own personal perspective. Carmen is a graduate of the school where I serve as librarian, Gordon-Conwell Seminary in Charlotte, NC. I remember good conversations with her in the library about all kinds of fascinating topics related to Bible, theology, history, and ethics. Even more, I remember the passion Carmen had (and still has) for teaching the Bible to laypeople and students. The fruits of that appear on the pages of this book.The author suggests that Christians must not “un-hitch” their faith from the Old Testament, but “re-hitch to Israel’s Scriptures so that we can truly understand who Jesus is and what he came to do” (3). In other words, we cannot understand Jesus's mission and purpose without understanding the Old Testament narratives and what they teach us about God’s purposes and plans for Israel. Understanding those purposes and plans centers in God’s covenant with Israel at Sinai. Part One of the book frames Sinai as central to the Old Testament because it is there that we see the revelation of God’s justice and mercy for Israel and by extension, all of the peoples of the world in God’s desire for Israel to be a “light to the nations.”One misnomer that many contemporary Christians often carry is that the Old Testament focuses on law (in terms of rules and regulations) while the New Testament speaks of grace. That is a serious misreading of the Old Testament’s teaching and purpose. “We miss the grace because we too often see the Ten Commands without the glorious context of deliverance. We miss the grace because we read the judgment stories in isolation, without the long litany of second chances” (30). According to Imes, the OT legal teaching is not about a means of salvation through the keeping of the law. Instead, it provides instruction for the people of God “on how to learn to live as free men and women” (35).Covenant faithfulnessThis reviewer especially likes how the author describes this reality. “Israel’s laws are the fences within life can flourish. They make possible a distinctive way of life so that other nations can see what Yahweh is like and what he expects. The law was never the means by which Israel earned God’s favor. The Israelites were saved the same way we are—by grace through faith. But their obedience expressed their covenant commitment” (35). Exactly.In her exposition of the Ten Commandments, the author makes an important point that this reviewer especially appreciates. The final two commandments, in her view, hint at the function that the entire law plays in the life of the Old Testament people of God. “This is not legislation in a modern sense, but character formation. The instructions paint an ideal picture of a covenant-keeping Israelite, including both outward behavior and inward motivation” (56). As such, they function as Godly wisdom for both individuals and the community. Modern Christians often read them in a regulatory sense (as we do with most legal prescriptions in Western society), while God’s purpose for them focuses much more on covenant faithfulness meaning that through their keeping, we represent God well and we enhance the covenant community among God’s people. “Every Israelite is a covenant member. Everyone is responsible to ensure the covenant is kept” (64). The practices of community life and worship are designed with precision in order that God’s people may fulfill their purpose in “bearing God’s name” to the surrounding peoples.The author uses the balance of her work to describe how the people of God bear God’s name in their community life and in the world. Here she traces this through the Old Testament prophets and into the New Testament. In response to the covenant breaking described in the prophets, God engages not only in covenant renewal, but in the making of a new covenant. This new covenant “involves the same partners and the same law. The difference is that will enable every Israelite to internalize it” (129). The sacrificial system of Old Testament worship will no longer be necessary because through this new covenant, God will “put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.” Moreover, God “will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:33-34).This new covenant finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. “By bearing God’s name, Jesus lives out Israel’s vocation, show us how it ought to be done” (139). This assertion gets at something vitally important. Imes wants us to grasp that the mission of “bearing God’s name” is key to understanding the purposes that God has for his people. As Christians, we are challenged to live in a way that honors God and reflects God’s glory to the world.Treasured possessionsIn addition, through Jesus Christ this new covenant becomes open not just to those of Jewish descent, but to Gentiles (non-Jews) as well. “If Gentiles have been incorporated into the people of God, included in the righteous remnant without distinction, then our inheritance is one and the same. As we follow in the footsteps of Israel’s Messiah, we too take on the responsibilities of God’s “treasured possessions.” That is our identity as God’s people, and together Jews and Gentiles who declare allegiance to Jesus Christ bear God’s image in the world. “Gentiles who follow Jesus bear Yahweh’s name” (175).The author’s work in biblical theology is beginning to draw notice among Old Testament scholars, and with Bearing God’s Name, she has written a wonderful survey of the Old Testament (and how its teaching impacts the New Testament) organized around one of the most vital themes found on the pages of Holy Scripture. She has done it in a way that people looking for a first book on understanding the essential message of the Old Testament will find it especially helpful. Bearing God’s Name is a book that I will recommend to lay Christians at my church and to students looking for a introduction to the Old Testament.Especially helpful are the sidebars where she explains ideas that shed important light on how we read and understand the Old Testament. These sidebars offer concise descriptions of matters like the debate on how Scripture represents the population of Hebrews in Egypt, the nature of Yahweh’s purity and how that impacts Old Testament worship, the origin of the term “Decalogue,” among others. These are helpful to those who are reading the Old Testament scriptures for the first time or who wish to dig deeper into the biblical text. Also helpful are the bibliographies at the end of each chapter as well as the comprehensive bibliography at the end of the book. Endnotes appear after the final chapter so that they do not take away from the narratives of each chapter.This reviewer hopes that this will be the first of several books from the pen of this new biblical scholar, teacher, and guide in the years to come.Reviewed by Robert J. Mayer, Associate Professor of Theological Bibliography, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Dr Imes presents a clear and compelling case for the importance of representing YHWH in this age. The Commandment is not so much about verbal misuse of the Name of God as it is about "bearing" or "carrying" His Name as we go about life in this age. We are called to represent Him well. Excellent, well-written book.

As far as Christians books are concerned, this book is in the top ten list for me. I didn’t agree with everything but felt that Carmen Joy Imes did a great job explaining significant events in the Hebrew Scriptures and tied that nicely into the New Testament. A wonderful book for a good Christian foundation!

Excellent book. Using it for a bible study at church. Prompt delivery. Much appreciated. Thank you!

Carmen is a genius and every Christian should read this book. That is all. Intelligent and inspired and inspirING.

Carmen Imes is the BEST female theologian!!!

That is the real question at the heart of this fine book. Carman Imes beautifully traces God's heart for His people as one unfolding of His eternal purpose.Her winsome and conversational writing voice makes complicated and mysterious topics so very clear. For example, she writes about the house rules she and her husband impose on their children; various cleaning, meal preparation, homework, and other chores. However, she writes, “It would be odd for us to begin giving orders to other kids in the neighborhood. ‘Hey, Colton! Come take the trash out.’ ...We lack the authority to give them chores. We also lack the relationship.” She continues, “I wonder if sometimes we read the Old Testament law as though God is that parent giving orders to other neighborhood kids... His instructions aren’t random, though, and they don’t overreach. They are the ‘house rules’ for Yahweh’s family. They ensure peace between family members.”In other words, God’s law applies to the people of the covenant, not society. That, of course, will disappoint those caught in a harsh view of God and His law.Imes also looks at how God’s kind and vast intention blew out its Jewish cocoon to include the Gentiles. From the beginning, God saw a kingdom of priests who would bear His name throughout all the earth. People of faith should not to take that lightly. Neither should we take it as a badge for enforcing law and order.Carmen Joy Imes seems like a classical Evangelical who slipped away from the camp to crawl up to the ridge. And from there she caught sight of the splendor of God and His Kingdom.

The depth of research and wisdom that has gone into this book is evident on every page. While the author writes in a very accessible style , this book is intelligent and passionate. Imes is obviously a lover of the Living God and His Word. I would add this to my list of must read books on how to understand the Old Testament and it’s connection with the. We Testament. I love that this book is footnoted and has recommended reading at the end of each chapter. Highly recommended.

La rigurosidad de una tesis con un estilo de redacción muy fácil de leer. Carmen muestra desde las escrituras como la ley desde que fue entregada a Moises fue una muestra de la bondad de nuestro Dios y de su clara intención de tener una relación íntima con su pueblo. Le da el peso y el equilibrio exacto a su importancia en el nuevo pacto. No cae ni en el legalismo, ni en el abuso de la gracia. Nos anima a ser portadores del Nombre de Dios (Yawhe / Jesucristo) al entender la bendición del primer mandamiento. Excelente lectura.

This book is written with strong scholarship and with very credible theology, but remains comprehensible to all. The book clearly brings together the Old Testament world of the ancient Hebrews with the New Testament world of Jesus and the apostles, and then lays out the implications of what that means for us today.

I loved this book. Imes manages to blend scholarship and accessibility as she demonstrates how God called Israel to represent him to the nations. She weaves this theme into Christ's life and challenges the church today to authentically reflect God to those around us.

What a delightful book to read. It is a joy to follow Imes as she traces the Biblical theme of bearing God's name throughout the whole of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. The book is immensely accessible and Imes imbues her work with a refreshing humility and devotion to the text. Highly recommended.

Me gustó el viaje a través de la Biblia con palabras sencillas y un gran reto para todo cristiano, con el tema Portando el nombre de JEHOVA