Dr. Carmen Imes is Associate Professor of Old Testament at Prairie College in Three Hills, Alberta, Canada. She earned a BA from Multnomah University, MA from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and PhD from Wheaton College. She blogs at http://www.carmenjoyimes.blogspot.com/.

How did you decide to become a biblical scholar? Share your autobiographical journey.

I have always loved reading the Bible. I remember taking my Bible out on the playground in 2nd grade and trying to get a group of kids to read through it with me. In college I discovered a love for teaching. It was natural to combine these two interests. At one point before I started grad school I wrestled with whether to go into Christian counseling or Biblical Studies—I either wanted to be a counselor who was thoroughly grounded in the Scriptures or a professor who was able to counsel students informally. In the end I saw a greater need for women in biblical studies. There were already many women counselors.  

Tell us about your work (past and current). What are you most excited about right now? What do you hope your work will contribute?

My PhD is in Biblical Theology with a concentration in Old Testament from Wheaton College. My dissertation focused on the Name Command of the Decalogue (Exod 20:7), which I read as an injunction not to misrepresent YHWH. Watch for the published version late this year in the BBRSup series with Eisenbrauns. I’m currently working on 3 projects: one is an illustrated edition of the book of Exodus in Hebrew for GlossaHouse, another is a monograph on metaphor in biblical law, and the third is a book for a general audience on how God reshapes our identity in the wilderness, using Israel’s experience at Sinai as an example. I’m excited about each of these projects because they help the Scriptures come alive for  different audiences. The Illustrated Exodus will be a fun student resource that takes some of the pain out of learning Hebrew. The monograph fills a needed gap in the literature on conceptual metaphor theory; almost no one is talking about metaphor in law. The last one will help people make sense of their own difficult journeys in light of Scripture. Each time I speak about this in churches or schools people line up to talk to me afterward. I hope this book encourages many, many more.

Who has most influenced you as a scholar? Tells us a bit about it.

Daniel Block had a profound influence on me as my doctoral mentor. I chose to study under him because I wanted to become like him. He has a unique gift for spanning the academy and the church and speaking well to both audiences. He’s a sharp scholar but also very pastoral. He recently retired, so my graduation last year was a passing of the baton. I’ve had the privilege of working with some stellar women biblical scholars as well—Karen Jobes, Sandy Richter, Lynn Cohick. I’m thankful for how they’ve invested in me.

What are the most pressing issues or concerns you have related to the broader field of biblical studies?

I have two. The first relates to the job market. With 100+ applicants for every job in this field, and fewer and fewer jobs being posted, it’s clear that something has to give. I find it disingenuous for schools to continue awarding PhD’s to more students than the field can support. This is especially true for schools that do not provide full funding. Students are graduating with significant debt and no strong prospect of employment. This breeds disillusionment.

My second concern relates to teaching. My own training offered little to no exposure to global voices or women’s voices in theology and biblical studies. This is not just a disservice to minorities, but to all students. A good education depends on exposure to different perspectives! The increasing diversity of our student populations is a welcome change that makes this need even more urgent. I’m making a concerted effort to become familiar with movements and scholars that better represent my students’ backgrounds, and it’s already been so rewarding. That’s one reason a blog like this is so important—it helps introduce the work of female biblical scholars to a wider audience.

Why study the scriptures/biblical text?

Although the Scriptures are ancient, they continue to have profound relevance today. In the Scriptures, we encounter the God who designed us for this world and infused us with purpose. Without the Word of God, we are adrift.

What do you like to do for fun?

I enjoy camping with my family, reading young adult fiction, and playing board games. I’m adventurous—roller coasters, zip lines, international travel, you name it—but I’m just as happy curled up by the fire with a good book.

Do you have a website or blog?

I do! I blog at www.carmenjoyimes.blogspot.com. It’s my way of connecting what I’m learning with a general audience.