The SkyePod - Temple Theology (Rerelease) Host: Skye Jethani
Guest: Carmen Imes, Old Testament Scholar
Release Date: August 8, 2025

Introduction

In the rereleased episode of The SkyePod, host Skye Jethani delves into the intricate subject of temple theology with esteemed Old Testament scholar Carmen Imes. The discussion explores the significance of temples in biblical theology, their functions in the ancient Near East, and their enduring relevance for contemporary Christians.

Understanding Temple Theology

The Responsibility vs. License of Christians

Skye opens the conversation by challenging a common misconception among Christians:

"Like, there's people who like, well, we're Christians, we're forgiven, we have it all. You know, God's on our side, therefore we get a pass on what we do. Or this, that it's like, no, no you got it completely backwards. You have greater responsibility, not greater license."
[00:00]

Skye emphasizes that being forgiven does not grant a free pass but rather comes with increased responsibility.

Carmen Imes’ Background and New Book

Carmen introduces her latest work, the third installment in her trilogy titled Becoming God's Image: Why the Church Still Matters. She explains her focus on:

• Community of Faith: Addressing why gathering as a flawed community is essential despite modern disillusionment.
• Biblical Foundations: Tracing the theme of God's gathered presence through temple texts in Israel's history.

"...we have been trained sometimes in the west to read the Bible through individualistic eyes... I wanted to, to sort of recover the communal dimensions of our faith..."
[01:30]

The Relevance of Temples in New Testament Christianity

Shift from Physical Temples to the Body of Christ

Carmen elucidates the transition from Old Testament temple worship to New Testament theology:

"In the Old Testament, the temple is super important... In the New Testament, Jesus identifies himself as the temple. ... we become that temple, that mediation of the presence of God on earth."
[03:26]

She explains that while physical temples are obsolete, Christians as the body of Christ embody the temple's role, facilitating God's presence without designated sacred spaces.

Democratization of God's Presence

Carmen contrasts ancient temple practices with contemporary Christian worship:

"There's a democratization of God's presence. Everyone, you know, as a kingdom of priests is allowed to be in the presence of God... We're kind of spreading sacred space throughout the earth."
[05:46]

This shift emphasizes personal and communal relationships with God over ritualistic purity.

Function of Temples in the Ancient Near East

Egyptian Temples vs. Israelite Tabernacle

Carmen shares observations from her studies and recent travels in Egypt, highlighting similarities and differences:

• Garden Imagery: Both Egyptian temples and the Israelite tabernacle feature garden-like elements and celestial decorations.

"All of the temples of Egypt have garden imagery... the Israelite Tabernacle has this purpley blue curtain... a similar effect."
[07:14]

• Symbolism and Structure: Temples served as microcosms of the universe, imposing order and establishing sacred rituals.

"In Egyptian thinking, the temple brings order to chaos... There are layers or levels of access to sacred presence."
[07:20]

Unique Aspects of Israelite Worship

Carmen points out distinctive features that set Israelite worship apart:

• No Physical Deity Representation: Unlike Egyptian temples where deities are physically represented, the Ark of the Covenant is empty, symbolizing God's unwillingness to be confined to a physical form.

"The Ark of the Covenant does not have a deity on top. There's emptiness in the center... worship means to use New Testament terms in spirit."
[15:01]

• Universal Image of God: Unlike Egypt, where only the pharaoh is considered the image of God, the Israelites believe that every person reflects God's image.

"For Egyptians, only the king is the image of God... For the Israelites, every single person is a symbol of the presence of God."
[11:20]

Temple Imagery and the Creation Account in Genesis

Genesis as a Cosmic Temple Text

Carmen discusses the scholarly debate on interpreting Genesis 1 as a temple text:

"Some Bible scholars say that Genesis 1 is a cosmic temple text... God's setting up or bringing order to the world so that it can function the way that a temple does."
[19:04]

• Temple Symbols in Creation: Elements such as the separation of day and night and the establishment of rituals prefigure temple practices.

"In verse 14, when God puts the lights in the sky... let them serve as signs to mark sacred times and days and years."
[19:04]

Expanding Sacred Space in Biblical Narrative

Carmen highlights the progression from Eden to the New Jerusalem, illustrating the expansion of God's presence:

"Greg Beale argues that Eden was a temple and that God's intention was for the boundaries of that sacred space to keep expanding out until it enveloped the whole world."
[22:11]

This perspective underscores the biblical theme of God's omnipresence and the diminishing need for a physical temple.

Conclusion

In this episode of The SkyePod, Skye Jethani and Carmen Imes provide a profound exploration of temple theology, bridging Old Testament practices with New Testament beliefs. They demonstrate that understanding ancient temple structures and their symbolic meanings enriches contemporary Christian faith by highlighting the communal and relational aspects of worship. The discussion underscores that while physical temples are no longer central, the essence of God's presence continues through the gathered community of believers.

Notable Quotes:

• Skye Jethani:
  "You have greater responsibility, not greater license."
  [00:00]

• Carmen Imes:
  "In the Old Testament, the temple is super important because it's the resolution to the problem that was introduced in the Garden of Eden..."
  [03:26]

• Carmen Imes:
  "God is a good communicator. He used languages and symbols that they already understand in order to make powerful points."
  [14:12]

• Carmen Imes:
  "The Ark of the Covenant does not have a deity on top. There's emptiness in the center..."
  [15:01]

Additional Information

Please note that the latter part of the transcript includes promotional content for Holy Post plus subscriptions, which has been excluded from this summary as per the guidelines.