Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters

by Carmen Joy Imes, J. Richard Middleton (Foreword)

What does it mean to be human? This timeless question proves critical as we seek to understand our purpose, identity, and significance. Amidst the many voices clamoring to shape our understanding of humanity, the Bible reveals important truths related to our human identity and vocation that are critical to the flourishing of all of creation. Carmen Joy Imes seeks to recover the theologically rich message of the creation narratives starting in the book of Genesis as they illuminate what it means to be human. Every human being is created as God’s image. Imago Dei is our human identity, and God appointed humans to rule on God's behalf. Being God’s Image explores the implications of this kinship relationship with God and considers what it means for our work, our gender relations, our care for creation, and our eternal destiny. The Bible invites us into a dramatically different quality of a beloved community in which we can know God and one another as we are truly known. Includes a discussion guide for personal reflection or group study, as well as links to related video material through the BibleProject.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Nonfiction, Christianity, Biblical Studies, Faith, Religion

243 pages, Paperback

First published June 6, 2023

About the author

I was born in Colorado, but I've also lived in Oregon, Illinois, North Carolina, Alberta (Canada), the Philippines, and now California. I earned a PhD in Biblical Theology at Wheaton College, an MA in Biblical Studies from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and a BA from Multnomah University. I'm currently an Associate Professor of Old Testament at Biola University. I'm married to Daniel and have three almost-grown kids. We love to camp, hike, read, and play pickle ball. When I have time, I enjoy young adult fiction.

Reviews

[Carmen Imes]

I can't rate or review this book because I wrote it.

Having just recorded the audiobook, I re-read the whole thing in two days.

I can tell you this: it's not perfect. I repeat myself sometimes. I would say a few things differently, now that I have a few months' hindsight. So much more can be said -- needs to be said -- on all the topics I broach in this book. But every sentence comes with an earnest prayer that it will help you to discover (or rediscover) your deep worth as a human being and to step boldly into your God-given vocation.

[Gavin Restifo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carmen Imes is a true gift to the body of Christ. This book was a joy to read and Imes does a great job of tracing the idea of humanity being the image of God through the entire Bible. The image of God (Imago Dei) is a concept that is so theologically rich and holds so many immediate ethical and pastoral implications for us in our day-to-day lives. Imes summarizes the image as being both kinship (an inherent, dignified, capacity to relate to God) and kingship (an inherent calling to rule and steward God's creation). Throughout the book she walks through the image in Genesis through to Jesus being the ultimate image, and along the way spells out the implications in everything from racial justice to stewardship of the environment to sexual ethics. This book is the holistic treatment of both deep theology and practical application of the image.

The thing I appreciate most about Imes' work as a whole is that she writes in a way that takes such rich theological topics and Biblical themes and makes them accessible to anyone. In many ways, reading her books feels like watching a Bible Project video – so rich in information but incredibly engaging. I believe that many great discipleship conversations will be had walking through the content of this book and highly recommend giving this book a read.

Thank you to NetGalley and IVP Academic for the advanced copy, this is a book I have been waiting for many months to read and it was well worth it.

[Traci Rhoades · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm wild about this new trend of showing varying understandings of passages of scripture. It helps a great deal with Jewish/Christian relations, and the nuance we find in scripture. All of this makes us better students of God's word. I message did a great job of presenting the varying theories, and guiding us beyond them, to a Christian understanding of God, and humans made in his image. This is well beyond terms like fundamentalism and liberalism. It's our common ground. I believe students of Judaism could learn much from this book's approach as well.

[Dennis Ticen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easily accessible guide to solid theology! This book by Dr. Imes is a great introduction to a balanced and Biblical creation theology. The three parts of the book take us from creation itself, through the Old Testament and into the thought of Jesus, and more importantly, Dr. Imes is clear about why all this matters. The sections of additional resources and Bible Project videos are a great help as well. I cannot recommend this book enough.

[Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good lay-level biblical theology of what it means to be the image of God. The author's basic premise is that humans are not created to be God's image but created as his image, which entails a vocational place within the physical created order.

On the whole, I think this is a great survey. It moves from Genesis, through the wisdom books, into the gospels, and toward Revelation. It's broad in scope and touches on a number of tangentially related subjects from the rapture to sabbath observance to pornography to the church calendar to gender roles. Since Imes covers such a broad range of topics, there's plenty of opportunity to disagree with her on side-issues. And I certainly do disagree in a couple of places. But she does a great job of being ecumenical in spirit and acknowledging that even where disagreement exists (i.e., on gender roles), everyone should be able to come together on what's most important.

In addition to spots where I disagree on side-issues, there were a few places where I would not have phrased something the ways she does. There is only one place where it really bugged me, but even there I think I know what she meant, and I don't have a problem with her sentiment.

Like in Bearing God's Name, Imes provides a short bibliography of books and Bible Project videos at the end of every chapter. I absolutely love this and I want to see it in more lay-level books. At the end of the book there's also a list of discussion questions to accompany each chapter. Unlike the questions included in a lot of other books, these questions would certainly encourage interesting discussions and thoughtful engagement with the material.

In the end, I don't think this book is your one-stop-shop for the subject, but it's an excellent starting place.

[Joy L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been wanting this book to be written for some time now, and I can't wait to see what more Carmen Joy Imes has to write in the future.

I reread this book with friends, and decided to change from 5 to 4 stars due to some important concepts that were poorly worded. I still really enjoyed this book though.

[Jeffrey Romine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carmen Imes begins by gently presenting how she was won over to the Framework theory, a poetic structure connecting day 1 with day 4, day 2 with day 5, etc. (See Merideth G. Kline's Kingdom Prologue for more) I found her book pleasant to read, even if a bit unorthodox in its eschatology.

[Michelle Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first stumbled on to Carmen's work when I heard her as a guest on "The Naked Bible Podcast" with the late Dr. Michael Heiser. They were discussing her work on "Bearing the Name" and its implications for Christianity today. While I have yet to finish that title of Carmen's work, I was drawn in to the viewpoint she expressed and the scholarship that allowed her to make meaning out of things that seemed so rigid and demanding based on my experience with those passages in my developmental years. When I was given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Carmen's next work I jumped at the chance. And I was not disappointed. Carmen brings together voices of multiple scholars with whom I was already familiar from NT Wright, to Michael Heiser, to John Walton and introduces the thinking of several scholars to whom I had not yet been exposed. To say this book was life changing is an understatement. Carmen addressed not how God created the world, but WHY. Her quest to help us understand what it means to be the image of God offers perspective altering views not just on this question, but also on its implications in life including the value of women in society, what it means to work, dealing with suffering and the wisdom literature including interpreting what Ecclesiastes has to say about "meaningless". The perspectives applied here allow for a solid understanding that can then be applied to larger issues that seem to face the church today such as the environment, and questions regarding homosexuality and abortion.
While Carmen covers some topics that may seem foreign to certain audiences (ziggurats, divine council, etc) she handles them well, encouraging believers from all backgrounds to read and understand without the requirement that you be familiar with any of those interpretations of Scripture.
I would highly recommend this book to any of my friends and family and recommend reading in a group setting to allow for discussion (I can't wait to read this again with some other people and really dig into some of these areas)! I did however, wish that some of these sections were more lengthy or went deeper into the subject being discussed. Carmen does provide additional resources to turn to for further learning on these topics, but I found myself wanting to hear these things from her voice.

[DT · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome book. I thought it would be written for a more academic audience but it’s very accessible and easy to understand, which makes it great for a gift.

I appreciated how the author started in Genesis and ended with the second coming. She explains things very clearly, so someone who is unfamiliar with the content (even someone who doesn’t know Scripture well) could benefit.

[Jacob Padgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review forthcoming in the Canadian-American Theological Review.

[Jake Preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

What does it mean to be human? Imes unpacks the Bible’s cohesive story to show that, at our core, we are God’s image (in contrast to “bearing”) and that image involves partnering with God to restore the world through following Jesus, the perfect image. I’ve looked forward to the release of this book for months and it exceeded my expectations. Not only is the exegesis sound, but the application of “image-being” to matters of sexuality, disability, eschatology, and racism was compelling. Beyond the book itself, the endnotes provide a treasure trove of resources for further study. Highly recommend this important work.

[Stuart Chase · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carmen Imes is a compelling writer. She makes the fascinating assertion that humans were created AS, not IN, God’s image, and clearly shows why it is important to observe this distinction. She carefully articulates what being God’s image means for human dignity and passionately appeals to her readers to think with biblical clarity about matters pertaining to this dignity. The sidebars included throughout, which address important and sometimes controversial topics, are helpful. (A side note: The digital copy that I used is unreadable on a phone or iPad because of poor colour design. Reading on my Kindle Paperwhite was fine.) Her argument for the importance of embodied life is compelling. So why only a three-star rating? Perhaps this is unfair—perhaps it is more than Imes promised, or perhaps I simply missed it—but I went into the book hoping for a clearer explanation than I received of what being God’s image actually means, and how this sets humans apart from the rest of creation. If you are looking for a broad-ranging understanding of what it means to live with, and treat others with, full human dignity, this is a helpful contribution. If you are looking to settle the theological debate about what it means to be God’s image, you may be frustrated.

[Jared Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so thankful for Carmen Imes’ work. This book covers a broad range of topics: biblical genre, anthropology, race, gender theology, sexual ethics, suffering, disability, ecology, eschatology, and more. In my experience, books with this broad a scope tend to feel very messy, cursory, and superficial; but Imes has a gift for covering lots of ground in a way that’s all at once cohesive, substantial, accessible, and biblically/theologically responsible. That is quite the feat! The information in this book is organized in a pattern quite similar to “Bearing God’s Name.” Imes begins with a certain theological theme/motif (in this case, creation and imaging), and then traces that motif throughout all scripture, showing how it continually informs the warp and woof of the biblical story. In essence, “Being God’s Image” is a biblical theology of creation with a keen eye toward practical application; and it’s informed by some of the best of biblical and theological scholarship. I would definitely recommend this to friends! Imes is one of my favorite scholars working today, and I anxiously await her forthcoming Exodus commentary.

[Laney Dugan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic book! Most of the ideas Imes presented weren’t particularly new to me due to previous reading, but I appreciated her fresh articulation of those familiar ideas. Somehow, and I’m still honestly not sure how, she covered so many topics that matter… the partnership intended for men and women, the importance of creation care and environmental awareness Biblically, the embodied future that awaits us in the new heaven and new earth with Jesus as our King… yeah, she covered a lot of ground and did so very beautifully. If any of those topics are new or less explored, this would honestly not be a bad place to get introduced to those ideas and how they are rooted in the story of Scripture.

I also appreciated her translation that humans are made AS the image of God. That was very good and thought-provoking!

[Kaci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit, Dr. Carmen Imes could probably write about the nature of the phone book and I’d go read it. I first heard of her when Bible Project interviewed her (“Taking God’s Name in Vain” and “Two Takes on the Test at Mt. Sinai”) and fell in love. She has a way with depth and language without pretense that appeals greatly to me as a fellow student of Scripture. Alongside her love for the Hebrew Scriptures alongside the New Testament, both as student and as teacher), the theme of imago dei is a strong one in my world.

While I expected her to discuss our identity as humans, and particularly as our identity is found in Christ, I didn’t expect her to point out that you cannot stop being imago dei. We talk about this in abstract, especially when discussing things like “love your enemy” and forgiveness, but the idea of being created as God’s image — an immutable state of being — was one I had to sit with a bit. Her premise is that to say it this way “reinforces the concept that imago dei is essential to human identity rather than a capacity that can be lost…God’s image is not something we bear; it’s something we are” (p6). Her argument continues across topics such but not limited to as sexuality, stewardship, human nature, the Great Story of Scripture, and vocation.

The chapters flow in a streamlined order, and I love both her end-chapter recaps (sparing me my practice of writing key points at the end of each one myself) and extra resources by chapter (and therefore topic). Her style is academic and accessible, which I find best in any field. I am looking forward to backtracking to read her previous works.

[Caleb Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a deeply important book. I have appreciated Dr. Imes ability to share an important theology of the world and humans. It has completely changed the way I read and think about humanity's purpose on earth

[Ethan Sink · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great introduction to a biblical theology of creation. Imes traces the concept of divine image throughout the biblical story and uses it not just to deepen our understanding of human identity and purpose, but also to show why caring for the natural world matters.

This book is easy to read, but also well-sourced and thought-provoking. If you’re looking for a starting point from which to explore creation theology, I don’t know of a better book!

[Catherine McNiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting format that I think would be great as an introductory study. I'm thinking about taking my high schoolers through it.

[Christine Castellanos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Dr. Carmen Imes new book, "Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters". Carmen asks and answers the question of “What does it mean to be human?” This stopped me in my tracks and made me think of who am I and why did God create me? Reading this book has been a journey. I was in a serious car accident a few years ago and I have been living with disability, pain, and Christian brothers and sisters helping me to even take out my garbage. There are chapters dealing with human suffering. I have been struggling with my identity as a Christian since the accident. The book explains that we do not lose our identity. Imago Dei. I highly recommend reading this book. It helps to plant your feet on a solid surface of scholarship yet is written in such a way that it is easily understood.

[Justin Hollabaugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

“To be God’s image implies kingship, we are God’s family. Being God’s image involves both kinship and kingship. We are part of the royal family.”

This an excellent biblical theology on mankind being in the image of God and all that that implies.

Dr. Imes is well researched and has an immense knowledge of the Ancient Near East. She does an excellent job of tracking the image of God from Adam and Eve, to Jesus, and to the church. I thought this book was incredibly thought-provoking and challenging to think through.

If you are a fan of Dr. Heiser or Dr. Walton, you would enjoy this book.

The reason I had to give this three stars is because she casts doubt on the literal Adam and Eve narrative. She implies that this could be a parable to draw meaning out of. In my opinion, if the Adam and Eve narrative is a parable, her entire argument on man being in the image of God falls apart at the seams.

Also, she is incredibly environmental and seems to put environmental issues on the same level as Gospel issues. While I believe we should be good stewards of the world God has given us, I do not believe that comes close to the gospel work we have been tasked with.

She clearly tends to bend toward some of the liberal concepts of the theological camp.

In summary, I would read this book if you are a discerning Christian who is able to accept the good she presents and throw out some of the misguided theology.

[Isaiah Padgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Carmen Joy Imes' latest book, Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters, is a stellar prequel to her book, Bearing God's Name! This work is a phenomenal presentation of biblical theology at the lay level, and one that I am happy to recommend once the book releases this coming May. Just as in her previous book, several resources (both introductory and not) are provided at the end of each chapter which is a welcome aspect of the book. Dr. Imes' bibliography is worth mentioning especially, as it demonstrates a broad usage of works outside of traditional biblical studies. I feel quite confident in recommending this book as a solid introduction to the theme and concept of the imago Dei and humanity's relation to Creation, though I did find that I disagreed with the presentation of chapter six in particular (though upon further reflection it likely has more to do with the wording). Either way, Dr. Imes has given the church a wonderful gift, and I greatly anticipate her continued scholarship and work in academia and the church.

[Adam Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, excellent, book. There were definitely some perspectives that stretched and challenged my thinking, and I appreciate what the author has to say about being God’s image. One of my top ten of the year.

[James-Michael Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an accessible and comprehensive overview of biblical anthropology and what it means to be fully human in God's Creation!

Carmen combines the mind of a scholar with the skill of a gifted author (those two DON'T always go together!) and makes dense theological concepts easy to understand for a popular audience. If your small group is looking for a book to study together, I DEFINITELY recommend this book. There are QR codes to related videos from The Bible Project as well as discussion questions for each chapter.

[Adam Solorio · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very insightful book. I very much appreciated the depth of study and understanding that the author shows. There were a few brief moments where, in my opinion, the conclusions drawn were beyond what the text aimed to communicate. Those moments however were few. A wealth of insight. Add this to your list.

[Katelynn Vance · Rating 5 out of 5]

The gospel presentation at the end of this book was so good. Definitely the cherry on top to a very good read. We are made in Gods image and made to be in partnership with Him and other humans to rule over and care for creation. Because of Jesus’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension, we will be restored to back into this reality. Jesus is King!

[Tim Donnelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great intro to the topic!

Written by a human, on being human. If you are a human, I would recommend - as a fellow human.

[Brian Roden · Rating 5 out of 5]

The latest book from Dr. Carmen Imes, "Being God’s Image: Why Creation Still Matters," is an excellent study in theological anthropology and what it means to be created in the image and likeness of God. Whereas her previous book, "Bearing God’s Name: Why Sinai Still Matters," started with the commandment in Exodus 20 to not bear or carry God’s name in an unworthy or flippant manner, and traced that theme throughout the canon of Scripture, this volume goes all the way back to the creation account in Genesis 1, and then traces across both Testaments the idea of what it means to be God’s representative images on earth.

"Being God’s Image" is divided into three parts: Humans in God’s World, The Way of Wisdom, and Humans in God’s New World. The first section consists of four chapters focusing on the creation of humanity and God’s purposes for His human images. The two chapters of the second section discuss how we can gain wisdom from the biblical revelation of creation and apply it to contemporary issues facing human beings today, including the thorny areas of human sexuality and the problem of suffering. The third part consists of four chapters that discuss the new creation that begins with the incarnation of God the Son as Jesus of Nazareth; develops through His establishment of a new, redeemed humanity; the work of the community of believers as Christ’s body, the church; and the coming eschatological renewal of the heavens and earth as Christ reigns with his faithful followers who will finally fulfill God’s plan for His human images to righteously govern creation.

Perhaps one of the most important contributions this book makes is changing the language from bearing God’s image or imaging God as a functional aspect of what it means to be human, to language of being God’s image. This vocabulary shift has profound implications when it comes to how we view the unborn, the elderly and infirm, those with mental development challenges, and those with physical disabilities. The value of a human life is not found in how much the person can produce economically, or what contributions he or she can make to culture and society. The simple fact that every human being is God’s image on the earth gives each individual intrinsic worth completely unrelated to their physical or mental capabilities. As Imes writes on page 95, “I am not what I do. I am not what I produce. My identity is rooted in my status as the image of God, a status I did nothing to earn.” This realization sets us free to be who and what God intended in the beginning, rather than having to stress ourselves attempting to live up to other people’s misguided expectations and demands.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn more about what it means to be a human being according to God’s creation plan.

[Nathan Ellzey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book by Carmen Joy Imes that I wish I could give more stars to!

Being God’s Image, by Carmen Joy Imes, is simply an outstanding book. You need to read this – regardless of who “you” are. Are you human? Then you need to read this book.

Being God’s Image has a focus on Genesis 1-3, of course, but that is only a small portion of what Imes covers. That portion of the book – Part 1 – is quite thorough, though without dragging on or being overly technical. Her analysis of Genesis 1 should be an excellent eye-opener for anybody who’s not already familiar with John Walton’s work.

As an aside, let me emphasize clearly that her interpretation and analysis does NOT require any particular view of creation (young earth, old earth, etc.). In other words, whatever your view of the age of the earth, you will find her analysis both helpful and enlightening.

Moving on, Part 2 consists of two chapters discussing Old Testament Wisdom Literature. What does this have to do with being made in God’s image? I’m glad you asked. The Wisdom Literature explores what it means to be human, so it’s highly relevant to what it means to be God’s image – since that, after all, is what being human is. Imes’s exploration of the Wisdom Literature is simply excellent, especially Ecclesiastes and the problem of pain and suffering (which is a bit more related to Job).

The final, and longest, part is about Jesus the human and the new humanity in the new creation. The discussion of Jesus the human is great and deserves much reflection. For example, she does a great job of both demonstrating how the Gospel of John presents a theme of Jesus as the new (and successful) Adam, as well as how this is relevant. The eschatological discussion is a great analysis of human restoration in the new creation. She also does a great job of re-grounding and re-orienting us to what the Bible teaches about the afterlife: disembodied heavenly life vs. resurrected life in the (re)new(ed) creation, etc.

At the end of each chapter, Imes includes a list of recommended books (indicating which are more academic and which are not), as well as a list of BibleProject videos she recommends as corresponding to the chapter. This list of BibleProject videos also appears in an appendix – with QR codes linking to the videos… very handy. Another appendix includes suggested discussion questions for each chapter. Thus, the book is not only good for individual study but also primed and ready for small group/Sunday school study.

Overall – Great book… Buy it… Read it… twice… Share it! And while you’re at it, get her previous book, Bearing God’s Name.

[Anne Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book. It is a thorough exploration by a biblical scholar of what it means to be made in God’s image, compete with footnotes, yet it is written in an engaging style that is easily read by a reader outside of academia. Dr. Imes posits that being created in God’s image means to be human. Humans were made in God’s image, it is not a status we attain by works or faith; therefore, it cannot be lost. That means ALL humans are God’s image, whether or not they are living out the full potential of that in a relationship with him. The implications of this vision of the image are varied and Dr. Imes explores ideas of how different life circumstances can be understood in light of our status as God’s image; purpose, talents, disability, racism, suffering, sexism, sexual expression and pornography - yes she goes there.

The thread that follows through the book is reflected in the subtitle: Why Creation Still Matters. “The created world is an integral part of our human vocation - now and for eternity” (page 7). As the image of God, we represent him to the rest of creation. We are the physical way he manifests his presence in the world. She also explores the resurrection of our human bodies in the new creation as we continue to care for God’s new creation in our new resurrected bodies. And of course, Jesus is at the center of the book at the perfect image of God.

Each chapter contains a “sidebar” section that expands on a key topic of the chapter. At the end of each chapter, she provides a summary of the key ideas, resources for digging deeper, and suggested BibleProject videos to watch. QR codes for each video are conveniently located in an appendix.

Don’t wait on this one - I think it will be generating good discussion.

[Doug Overmyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carmen Imes' "Being God's Image" took me on a journey through the Bible, unpacking how the biblical authors engage the concept of being in the "image of God" and how that relates to being truly human.

By bridging the gap between biblical scholarship to those in all walks of life, Imes takes the profound concept of being made in God's image and skillfully unpacks its implications for human identity and destiny, with profound significance for our lives today.

Imes guides readers through the biblical narrative, while applying how the Bible’s authors’ concept of the Image of God engage and challenge how we think about today’s cultural context. Imes provides valuable insights and prompts thoughtful reflection and action on how we can live out our true humanity in a broken world.

While it is helpful to read Imes' previous work, "Bearing God’s Name," it is by no means necessary to fully appreciate and benefit from "Being God's Image."

"Being God's Image" is transformative and a I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of what it means to be truly human.