The Bible For Normal People

In this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with Bruce Longenecker about Galatians, Paul’s understanding of the Torah, and the kind of community he believed the gospel creates. They explore how Paul reframes identity around participation in Christ rather than ethnic or religious hierarchy, and why Galatians is less about individual salvation and more about transformed relationships in a fractured world. Together, they invite listeners to see Paul’s vision as a radical challenge to systems of power, exclusion, and self-interest.  Show Notes → thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/episode-330-bruce-longenecker-the-vision-of-galatians Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/HLbV_EPfdhg ********** This episode is brought to you by Brooklyn Bedding, which knows sleep isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why they offer mattresses for every body, every sleep style – even in hard-to-find sizes. Go to brooklynbedding.com and use promo code BIBLE at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. ********** This episode is sponsored by Garrett Theological Seminary. Whether you feel called to care and counsel, public service, prophetic arts, or non-profit management, there’s a program at Garrett Seminary that’s right for you. Apply by July 15th to begin a Master’s degree this fall. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠garrett.edu/normalpeople⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of Faith for Normal People, Jared talks with Roberto de la Noval and Jordan Wood about the church fathers, the development of doctrine, and how early Christians approached the Bible. They explore how figures like Augustine and Origen understood Scripture as something meant to transform people rather than simply provide literal answers, and why “problem passages” were often seen as invitations to think more deeply. Together, they invite listeners to see Christian tradition not as static or simplistic, but as a long, creative conversation about how to make sense of God, Scripture, and human experience.  Show Notes → thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/episode-72-roberto-de-la-noval-and-jordan-wood-how-the-early-church-read-the-bible Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/JukXifVwhQo ********** This episode is brought to you by Brooklyn Bedding, which knows sleep isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why they offer mattresses for every body, every sleep style – even in hard-to-find sizes. Go to brooklynbedding.com and use promo code BIBLE at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. ********** This episode is sponsored by Garrett Theological Seminary. Whether you feel called to care and counsel, public service, prophetic arts, or non-profit management, there’s a program at Garrett Seminary that’s right for you. Apply by July 15th to begin a Master’s degree this fall. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠garrett.edu/normalpeople⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jared takes listeners on a tour through the history of modern biblical scholarship, tracing key “aha moments” that changed how scholars understand the Bible. From source criticism and the Documentary Hypothesis to oral tradition and the rise of fundamentalism, he explores how new questions about the Bible’s origins reshaped both academia and the church. Together, these developments invite listeners to see the Bible not as a static text dropped from heaven, but as a deeply human collection of traditions formed over time. Show Notes → www.thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/bible-episode-329-jared-byas-10-aha-moments-in-biblical-scholarship-part-1 Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/g1e9UwFRtWI ********** This episode is brought to you by Brooklyn Bedding, which knows sleep isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why they offer mattresses for every body, every sleep style – even in hard-to-find sizes. Go to brooklynbedding.com and use promo code BIBLE at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. ********** This episode is sponsored by Garrett Theological Seminary. Whether you feel called to care and counsel, public service, prophetic arts, or non-profit management, there’s a program at Garrett Seminary that’s right for you. Apply by July 15th to begin a Master’s degree this fall. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠garrett.edu/normalpeople⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with Vanessa Lovelace about the Deuteronomistic history and why Deuteronomy plays such a central role in shaping Israel’s story. They explore how biblical writers interpreted Israel’s history through the lens of covenant, exile, and identity formation, and how these themes continue to influence modern readings of the Bible. Together, they invite listeners to see ancient texts not as a flat narrative, but as a rich conversation about God, justice, failure, and hope.  Show Notes → https://www.thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/bible-episode-328-vanessa-lovelace-is-deuteronomy-history Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/G_UCwYd-7hI ********** This episode is brought to you by Brooklyn Bedding, which knows sleep isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why they offer mattresses for every body, every sleep style – even in hard-to-find sizes. Go to brooklynbedding.com and use promo code BIBLE at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. ********** This episode is sponsored by Garrett Theological Seminary. Whether you feel called to care and counsel, public service, prophetic arts, or non-profit management, there’s a program at Garrett Seminary that’s right for you. Apply by July 15th to begin a Master’s degree this fall. Learn more at ⁠⁠garrett.edu/normalpeople⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with Douglas Campbell about rethinking the “Romans Road” and what Paul is really doing in his letter to the Romans. They explore how common readings have turned Romans into a step-by-step plan of salvation, often missing its original context and ethical focus. Together, they invite listeners to see Romans as a vision of God’s radical love and a call to live transformed, relational lives shaped by that reality.  Show Notes → http://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode/episodes/bible-episode-327-douglas-campbell-ripping-up-the-romans-road Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/8Wl1LZ_mEqo ********** This episode is brought to you by Brooklyn Bedding, which knows sleep isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why they offer mattresses for every body, every sleep style – even in hard-to-find sizes. Go to brooklynbedding.com and use promo code BIBLE at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. ********** This episode is sponsored by Garrett Theological Seminary. Whether you feel called to care and counsel, public service, prophetic arts, or non-profit management, there’s a program at Garrett Seminary that’s right for you. Apply by July 15th to begin a Master’s degree this fall. Learn more at ⁠garrett.edu/normalpeople⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with Chris Keith about the historical Jesus, and how scholars approach the gap between the Jesus of history and the Jesus of the Gospels. They explore why the Gospels themselves raise questions about modern ideas of history, how different methods have tried to reconstruct Jesus, and why certainty can be elusive. Together, they invite listeners to approach both the Bible and their faith with greater humility, recognizing that asking honest questions doesn’t have to diminish meaning, and can actually deepen it. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/episode-326-chris-keith-how-do-scholars-reconstruct-the-historical-jesus Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/ipzANHJZA-M ********** This episode is brought to you by Brooklyn Bedding, which knows sleep isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why they offer mattresses for every body, every sleep style – even in hard-to-find sizes. Go to brooklynbedding.com and use promo code BIBLE at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. ********** This episode is sponsored by Garrett Theological Seminary. Whether you feel called to care and counsel, public service, prophetic arts, or non-profit management, there’s a program at Garrett Seminary that’s right for you. Apply by July 15th to begin a Master’s degree this fall. Learn more at garrett.edu/normalpeople. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of Pete Ruins Everything, Pete talks with Amy-Jill Levine about supersessionism and its impact on how Christians understand Judaism and the New Testament. They explore how ideas like “replacement theology” show up in biblical texts, why these interpretations have caused harm, and how readers can engage the Bible more honestly and responsibly. Together, they invite listeners to wrestle with difficult passages and approach both traditions with greater humility and care. Show Notes → thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/episode-325-pete-ruins-everything-with-amy-jill-levineWatch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Uxp50C8Ji-s ********** This episode is sponsored by Factor. Head to factormeals.com/normalpeople50off and use code normalpeople50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. Eat like a pro this month with Factor. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared reflect on ten years and over 400 episodes of the podcast, revisiting what they thought they were doing and what they now see more clearly in hindsight. They explore themes that have emerged along the way, including the shift from certainty to wisdom in reading the Bible and the move from information to personal and communal formation. They also discuss how these conversations have been shaped by a wider range of voices and why engaging the Bible calls for ongoing discernment rather than fixed answers, inviting listeners to rethink what the Bible is for today. Show Notes → thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/episode-324-pete-enns-and-jared-byas-a-city-on-a-hill-a-ten-year-retrospective Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/zMia-yKjnN0 ********** This episode is sponsored by Factor. Head to factormeals.com/normalpeople50off and use code normalpeople50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. Eat like a pro this month with Factor. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with Andrew Tobolowsky about what scholars mean by “myth” and how that idea applies to the Bible. They explore the origins of the 12 tribes of Israel, examining the historical and textual evidence and why this tradition may be less straightforward than it seems. Together, they discuss how these stories developed over time and how they helped shape Israel’s identity, inviting listeners to think more critically about how the Bible tells its story of the past. Show Notes → thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/episode-323-andrew-tobolowsky-the-myth-of-the-twelve-tribes  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/EPPOlN4Rr1k Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete talks with archaeologist Cynthia Shafer-Elliott about what archaeology can—and can’t—tell us about the Bible. Cynthia explains how archaeologists excavate ancient sites, highlights key discoveries like the Tel Dan Stele and the Lachish reliefs, and explores what everyday artifacts reveal about life in ancient Israel and Judah. Together they discuss how material culture complicates simple claims that archaeology either proves or disproves the Bible, offering instead a richer picture of the ancient world behind the text. Show Notes → https://www.thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/bible-episode-322-cynthia-shafer-elliott-where-archaeology-intersects-with-the-bible Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/7FFxqydz0Vc ********** This episode is sponsored by Factor. Head to Factormeals.com/normalpeople50off and use code normalpeople50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box, with new subscription only, while supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with Chris Hoklotubbe and Danny Zacharias about biblical interpretation through an Indigenous American perspective. They explore how cultural identity, history, and social location shape the way people read Scripture, and why Indigenous perspectives challenge assumptions many Christians take for granted. Together, they invite listeners to read the Bible more thoughtfully, remaining aware of their own context and open to voices that have too often been overlooked. Show Notes → http://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/bible-episode-321-h-daniel-zacharias-t-christopher-hoklotubbe-native-american-biblical-interpretation Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/WxojcdyBgoI ********** This episode is sponsored by Factor. Head to factormeals.com/normalpeople50off and use code normalpeople50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. Eat like a pro this month with Factor. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active. ********** This episode is brought to you by Brooklyn Bedding, which knows sleep isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why they offer mattresses for every body, every sleep style – even in hard-to-find sizes. Go to brooklynbedding.com and use promo code BIBLE at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. ********** This episode is sponsored by ButcherBox, which delivers over 100 premium protein options straight to your door, including 100% grass-fed beef, free-range organic chicken, crate-free pork, and wild-caught seafood. New listeners can get their choice between organic ground beef, chicken breast or ground turkey in every box for a year, PLUS $20 off when you go to ButcherBox.com/NORMALPEOPLE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete has another go at ruining something. This week, he’s unpacking the book of Jeremiah and its interlocking themes of anguish, confusion, and hope. Along the way, Pete picks out some of the iconic Jeremiah verses commonly quoted in churches and Facebook posts and puts them back in the context of the text. It might make those verses less applicable to a high school graduation card, but it also helps readers participate in the ongoing journey to search for God’s promises in the face of crisis. Show Notes → http://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/bible-episode-320-pete-ruins-jeremiahWatch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/6KRcI8fVD6s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared welcome back Season 1 favorite Matthew Vines to discuss how conversations about the Bible and same-sex relationships have shifted over the past decade. Matthew revisits common biblical arguments against same-sex marriage and offers thoughtful counterpoints grounded in Scripture and church history. The conversation explores how a deeper understanding of the Bible’s context can invite Christians to think more expansively about faith, love, and partnership. Show Notes → https://www.thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/bible-episode-319-matthew-vines-the-bible-isnt-against-gay-marriage Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/2x5BQNrD9gw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared sit down with Mark S. Smith, a leading scholar of ancient Israelite religion, to explore the polytheistic background of Israel and the gradual emergence of monotheism in the Hebrew Bible. Drawing on biblical texts, ancient Near Eastern inscriptions, and comparative studies, Mark explains how early Israelites likely understood Yahweh as one deity among many before later theological developments came to affirm him as the sole god of Israel. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-318-mark-s-smith-the-many-gods-of-israel/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/R1xiWA6w3P8  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a teaser of our February 2026 bonus episode! In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by longtime friends of the podcast Jennifer Garcia Bashaw and Aaron Higashi for a lively conversation about, of all things, interpreting the Bible. Together, they explore metaphors that celebrate the diversity of biblical interpretation, wrestle with the complexities of relativism, and invite listeners to move beyond inerrancy toward a more expansive, life-giving view of Scripture.  Want to hear the rest of the episode? Join our online community the Society of Normal People and you'll get access to our library of over 50 classes, bonus episodes, exclusive scholar Q&As, and a community asking tough questions about the Bible and faith. Head to www.thebiblefornormalpeople.com/join and become a member of SoNP for as little as $12/month and support us as we bring the best in biblical scholarship to everyday people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with theologian and ethicist Jared Stacy about the rise of conspiracy thinking, especially within American evangelicalism. Drawing on his research, Jared Stacy explains how conspiracy theories tap into fears of cultural decline, offer a sense of control, and become spiritually charged narratives about good and evil. He also explores opportunities for people to recognize these patterns and consider more grounded, truth-seeking ways of engaging faith and public life. Show Notes →https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-71-jared-stacy-the-evangelical-to-conspiracy-theory-pipeline/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/Lu3-F8Zu21A ********** This episode is sponsored by Factor. Head to factormeals.com/normalpeople50off and use code normalpeople50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. Eat like a pro this month with Factor. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active. ********** This episode is brought to you by Brooklyn Bedding, which knows sleep isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why they offer mattresses for every body, every sleep style – even in hard-to-find sizes. Go to brooklynbedding.com and use promo code BIBLE at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. ********** This episode is sponsored by ButcherBox, which delivers over 100 premium protein options straight to your door, including 100% grass-fed beef, free-range organic chicken, crate-free pork, and wild-caught seafood. New listeners can get their choice between organic ground beef, chicken breast or ground turkey in every box for a year, PLUS $20 off when you go to ButcherBox.com/NORMALPEOPLE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete and Jared are back! They kick off Season 10 of The Bible for Normal People with N.T. Wright, diving into the big, sweeping vision of Ephesians. Wright unpacks Ephesians as an invitation to embody unity across deep divisions and to reflect God’s plan to bring heaven and earth together in Christ. They also explore the meaning of the “powers and principalities” and what it looks like for the church today to live out that cosmic, countercultural calling. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-317-n-t-wright-the-book-of-ephesians/ Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/b0kmqfYD0hg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season's greetings from Team B4NP! Podcast producer Brittany and audio engineer Joel have joined forces to bring you the third annual installment of our holiday roast, otherwise known as bloopers from this past season of the podcasts. Enjoy some silly behind-the-scenes content from your favorite episodes of Season 9 of The Bible for Normal People and Season 3 of Faith for Normal People. From all of us here at The Bible for Normal People, we wish you happy holidays and a wonderful new year. See you in 2026! Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-70-a-holiday-roast/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/FbmS7ukzoDI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At the close of Season 9 of The Bible for Normal People, Pete & Jared set out on their annual holiday quest: taking questions that people have been asking for centuries and attempting to answer them in an hour-long podcast episode. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-316-pete-enns-jared-byas-is-the-bible-the-word-of-god-other-easy-questions/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/X3aLlmohjQY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared sit down with Diana Butler Bass to talk about the Christian calendar. Diana walks through the history of how the Christian calendar came to be, what levels of importance different traditions give it, and how the Christian calendar can serve as a symbol of resistance against other timelines that might be dominated by capitalism and imperialism.  Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-69-diana-butler-bass-resisting-christmas-and-why-the-christian-calendar-still-matters/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/NhfpmBjSpG0 ********** This episode is sponsored by Greenlight. Greenlight is a debit card and money app made for families: parents can send money to their kids and keep an eye on kids’ spending and saving, while kids and teens build money confidence and lifelong financial literacy skills. Sign up for Greenlight today at greenlight.com/normalpeople. ********** This episode is sponsored by Aura Frames. For a limited time, visit AuraFrames.com and get $45 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames, named #1 by Wirecutter, by using promo code NORMALPEOPLE at checkout. This exclusive Black Friday Cyber Monday deal is their best of the year, so order now before it ends! Support the show by mentioning us at checkout! Terms and conditions apply. ********** This episode is brought to you by Brooklyn Bedding, which offers mattresses for every body, every sleep style – even in hard-to-find sizes. Take the Brooklyn Bedding Sleep Quiz and find your perfect match in under 2 minutes. Go to brooklynbedding.com and use our promo code BIBLE at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by Kent Sparks to unpack the early religious history of ancient Israel. Kent explores how ancient Israelites first gave God the name Yahweh, how Israelites understood Yahweh in relation to other ancient Near Eastern deities, and how the roots of monotheism emerge from a far more diverse and evolving set of beliefs than many assume. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-315-kent-sparks-the-beginnings-of-israelite-religion/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/JsRPR59pX54 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith For Normal People, Pete and Jared revisit a conversation with Kristin Kobes Du Mez, author of the bestselling book Jesus and John Wayne. The conversation explores the history of “toxic” masculinity in both the church and American pop culture, and how Christians in 2025 can be part of the resistance efforts against harmful cultural structures. This is a reissue of The Bible for Normal People Episode 170 from June 2021. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-68-kristin-kobes-du-mez-a-church-history-of-toxic-masculinity-reissue/ Watch on YouTube → https://youtu.be/OAjNnqgLkeA ********** This episode is sponsored by Aura Frames. For a limited time, visit AuraFrames.com and get $45 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames, named #1 by Wirecutter, by using promo code NORMALPEOPLE at checkout. This exclusive Black Friday Cyber Monday deal is their best of the year, so order now before it ends! Support the show by mentioning us at checkout! Terms and conditions apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete Enns and Anna Sieges Beal sit down with Shayna Sheinfeld to talk about the Second Temple period, spanning from 586 BCE to 70 CE. Shayna presents texts from that time that illuminate events glossed over by most Bibles, and explores the often-overlooked roles played by women wielding power in those communities. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-314-shayna-sheinfeld-the-complicated-world-of-second-temple-judaism/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/92i5Pc9CRI4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the final Pete Ruins episode of 2025, Pete Enns speaks to everyone who has ever read Song of Songs and wondered “why the heck is this in the Bible?” Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-313-pete-ruins-song-of-songs/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/FmFfQL2ahqc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete is joined by Liz Charlotte Grant to talk about using the Bible as a springboard for curiosity, inquiry, conversation, and community. This episode explores how art, imagination, and the practice of midrash can open up new ways of engaging scripture when literal readings don’t speak to what we see in the world today. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-67-liz-charlotte-grant-the-gift-of-an-unclear-text/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/BK3xfTiHDRg ********** This episode is sponsored by Greenlight. Greenlight is a debit card and money app made for families: parents can send money to their kids and keep an eye on kids’ spending and saving, while kids and teens build money confidence and lifelong financial literacy skills. Sign up for Greenlight today at greenlight.com/normalpeople. ********** This episode is brought to you by Skylight. The Skylight Calendar is here to keep your family organized with a digital display that syncs with your existing calendars, making it effortless to track events, appointments, and reminders in one easy-to-see place. Skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15 inch Calendars by going to SkylightCal.com/BIBLE.  ********** This episode is brought to you by Brooklyn Bedding. Take the Brooklyn Bedding Sleep Quiz and find your perfect match in under 2 minutes. Go to brooklynbedding.com and use our promo code BIBLE at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jared sits down with Sarah Emanuel to discuss the concept of “Messiah” from a Jewish theological perspective. Sarah explores what post-exilic Israelites might have thought and meant when they talked about a deliverer, what shapes those beliefs took near the time of Jesus’s life, and what sorts of misconceptions people have today when they use the word “Messiah.” Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-312-sarah-emanuel-the-meaning-of-messiah/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/3wmCM2WMGY4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Jared sits down with media psychologist Dr. Angela Patterson to discuss the trends she studies in the spiritual lives of Gen Z, or people born between 1997 and 2012. Angela explains how the typical timeline of faith progression has become much less linear with Gen Z, and encourages parents, church leaders, and older generations to create a space for young people to ask tough questions, wrestle with doubts, and find new ways of living out faith. This episode also includes a special ending segment in which anonymous members of our Gen-Z cohort share their thoughts on faith. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-66-angela-patterson-the-faith-of-gen-z/ Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/IU-Iqo-fSXo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by Chauncey Diego Francisco Handy to discuss the conquest narrative in the book of Joshua. Delving into what the themes of empire, displacement, a “promised land,” and identity meant to ancient peoples throughout Israel’s history, the conversation offers insight into what the preservation of these narratives can mean for people today navigating their own complicated relationships with empire. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-311-chauncey-diego-francisco-handy-the-afterlife-of-the-conquest-of-canaan/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/SCwcct_2IqI  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this reissue of The Bible for Normal People episode 56, Pete gets to the heart of the somber book of Ecclesiastes. He cautions against an optimistic reading as the author intends to question everything, even God; and explains why Ecclesiastes is his favorite book of the Bible. This episode originally aired in June of 2018. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-310-pete-enns-pete-ruins-ecclesiastes-reissue/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/C-x9izCs-OU ********** This episode is sponsored by Greenlight. Greenlight is a debit card and money app made for families: parents can send money to their kids and keep an eye on kids’ spending and saving, while kids and teens build money confidence and lifelong financial literacy skills. Sign up for Greenlight today at greenlight.com/normalpeople. ********** This episode is brought to you by Skylight. The Skylight Calendar is here to keep your family organized! This beautifully designed digital display syncs with your existing calendars, making it effortless to track events, appointments, and reminders in one easy-to-see place. Right now, Skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15 inch Calendars by going to SkylightCal.com/BIBLE.  ********** This episode is brought to you by Brooklyn Bedding. Brooklyn Bedding knows sleep isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why they offer mattresses for every body, every sleep style – even in hard-to-find sizes. Not sure which mattress is right for you? Just take the Brooklyn Bedding Sleep Quiz and find your perfect match in under 2 minutes. Go to brooklynbedding.com and use our promo code BIBLE at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with lawyer, lecturer, and author James Kimmel, Jr. about our primal desire for revenge against the people we feel have wronged us. James shares the science behind the belief that revenge is an addiction tied to gratification, and offers alternative strategies to break the revenge cycle and move towards a forgiveness-oriented approach to living. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-65-james-kimmel-jr-this-is-your-brain-on-revenge/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/qqlsFUf9hJ8 This episode is brought to you by Upper Room. Have you ever opened the Old Testament and felt more confused than inspired? You’re not alone. In his new book, Sacred Tension: Embracing Dissonance and Dialogue in the Old Testament, biblical scholar William P. Brown invites us to stop searching for one tidy, uniform voice in Scripture—and instead, discover the beauty in its complexity. If you love the Bible but aren’t afraid to wrestle with it, pick up Sacred Tension today—and save 20% off with promo code NORMAL at Store.UpperRoom.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Elizabeth Shively show some love to the shortest gospel and tell us why it shouldn’t be underestimated when it comes to understanding the Messiah. Walking through the book’s literary framing of apocalypse, suffering, and discipleship, Elizabeth presents Mark’s gospel as an invitation to get to know the human Jesus. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-309-elizabeth-shively-the-gospel-of-mark-explained/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/QvjPeBDHTms Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared sit down with Drew G. I. Hart and Jarrod McKenna to talk about rethinking power and nonviolence. Through practices inspired by Anabaptism, the Black church, and the teachings of Jesus, Drew and Jarrod explore how Christians can contribute to social change through their own nonviolent resistance as individuals and communities. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-64-drew-g-i-hart-jarrod-mckenna-creative-resistance-and-the-joy-of-nonviolence/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/fVXrUO1R7Y8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Nerd-in-Residence Cynthia are joined by Bill Schniedewind to discuss who really wrote the Bible. Bill explains how different scribal communities each left their own mark on the texts they were writing, and how the diversity of the Bible’s human authors reflects the beauty and richness of the text itself. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-308-bill-schniedewind-the-scribes-who-wrote-the-bible/ Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/nqmbvERPVD8 ********** This episode is sponsored by Greenlight. Greenlight is a debit card and money app made for families: parents can send money to their kids and keep an eye on kids’ spending and saving, while kids and teens build money confidence and lifelong financial literacy skills. Sign up for Greenlight today at greenlight.com/normalpeople. ********** This episode is brought to you by Skylight. The Skylight Calendar is here to keep your family organized! This beautifully designed digital display syncs with your existing calendars, making it effortless to track events, appointments, and reminders in one easy-to-see place. Right now, Skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15 inch Calendars by going to SkylightCal.com/BIBLE.  ********** This episode is brought to you by Brooklyn Bedding. Brooklyn Bedding knows sleep isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why they offer mattresses for every body, every sleep style – even in hard-to-find sizes. Not sure which mattress is right for you? Just take the Brooklyn Bedding Sleep Quiz and find your perfect match in under 2 minutes. Go to brooklynbedding.com and use our promo code BIBLE at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this reissue of The Bible for Normal People episode 36, Pete works through some big-picture issues that help us see what Proverbs is all about, such as the complexities of wisdom, the nature of folly, and how this ancient text is supposed to help us navigate life in the present day. This episode originally aired as “7 Things You Need to Know about How the Book of Proverbs Works” in February 2018. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-307-pete-ruins-proverbs-reissue/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/ub_heWtal-0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Jared and Jennifer Garcia Bashaw sit down with Mariko Clark to explore how adults can help kids encounter the Bible in ways that move beyond rigid rules and binaries. Together they discuss practices that cultivate curiosity, imagination, and a more expansive vision of God and faith. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-63-mariko-clark-helping-kids-grow-an-expansive-faith/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/dngFMEP1aIQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete is joined by our Nerds-in-Residence to tackle some of your biggest questions about the Old Testament. They discuss contradictions in Ecclesiastes, the influence of ancient Near Eastern literature, the meaning and function of sacrifice, and the formation of the Hebrew Bible. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-306-pete-enns-the-old-testament-nerds-ask-a-scholar-anything-about-the-hebrew-bible/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/oa8cQ5VTKS4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by Zach Lambert to talk about the journey from biblical literalism to a more liberative approach to scripture. They explore four harmful interpretive lenses—literalism, apocalypse, hierarchy, and moralism—and offer four healthier alternatives focused on Jesus, context, flourishing, and fruitfulness. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-62-zach-lambert-the-lenses-through-which-we-read-the-bible/Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/qJkxFELNr5U ********** This episode is brought to you by Brooklyn Bedding. Brooklyn Bedding knows sleep isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why they offer mattresses for every body, every sleep style – even in hard-to-find sizes. Not sure which mattress is right for you? Just take the Brooklyn Bedding Sleep Quiz and find your perfect match in under 2 minutes. Go to brooklynbedding.com and use our promo code BIBLE at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The book of Revelation is just plain weird. In this reissue of episode 180 of The Bible for Normal People, Rev. Dr. Brian K. Blount joins Pete and Jared to discuss how to read and understand the book of Revelation.  Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-305-brian-k-blount-revelation-for-today-reissue/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/-K8lPK2ygHs ********** This episode is brought to you by Skylight. The Skylight Calendar is here to keep your family organized! This beautifully designed digital display syncs with your existing calendars, making it effortless to track events, appointments, and reminders in one easy-to-see place. Right now, Skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15 inch Calendars by going to SkylightCal.com/BIBLE. ********** This episode is sponsored by Greenlight. Greenlight is a debit card and money app made for families: parents can send money to their kids and keep an eye on kids’ spending and saving, while kids and teens build money confidence and lifelong financial literacy skills. Sign up for Greenlight today at greenlight.com/normalpeople. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete takes a deep dive into the Psalms—who really wrote them, how they were edited, and why they’ve endured for thousands of years. He explores how these ancient prayers reflect the full range of human experience with God—raw lament, joyful praise, and everything in between.  Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-304-pete-enns-pete-ruins-psalms/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/RpJv56oVfa8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with David P. Gushee about what it means to take seriously the moral teachings of Jesus. They dig into how Jesus’s teachings are anchored in cultural context, yet still speak to real-life questions about freedom, forgiveness, status, and what it looks like to live well and love others.  Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-61-david-p-gushee-living-the-teachings-of-jesus/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/rkaqc-0AT8I ********** This episode is brought to you by Skylight. The Skylight Calendar is here to keep your family organized! This beautifully designed digital display syncs with your existing calendars, making it effortless to track events, appointments, and reminders in one easy-to-see place. Right now, Skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15 inch Calendars by going to SkylightCal.com/BIBLE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared take on a central question: Is the Bible still relevant—and if so, how? They explore how modern views, especially the doctrine of biblical inerrancy, have shaped people's expectations and often led to disillusionment. Drawing from church history, ancient reinterpretations, and personal experiences, they offer insight into how the Bible can remain meaningful—through tradition, creative engagement, and thoughtful community practice. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-303-pete-enns-jared-byas-is-the-bible-even-important-anymore/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/CmnIF7aX1XE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Beau Underwood and Brian Kaylor join Pete and Jared to explore the history of how mainline Protestants have contributed to Christian nationalism in the United States. They explain how patriotic worship practices, uncritical support for the state, and assumptions about the nation’s “Christian” identity have shaped the movement—and how churches today can begin to untangle faith from nationalism. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-60-beau-underwood-brian-kaylor-christian-nationalism-across-the-political-spectrum/ Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/KtmnH_URiAE ********** This episode is sponsored by Greenlight. Greenlight is the easy, convenient way for parents to raise financially smart kids and families to navigate life together. Don’t wait to teach your kids real-world money skills, start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at greenlight.com/normalpeople.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Dr. Julie Faith Parker joins Pete and Jared to reexamine the story of Eve through a feminist lens, challenging the long-held belief that Eve is the source of original sin. She unpacks how patriarchal interpretations have shaped cultural attitudes toward women for centuries—often in ways the biblical text doesn’t actually support.  Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-302-julie-faith-parker-how-interpretation-made-eve-a-villain/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/s-k3JXZl3JM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this reissue episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared sit down with the late Walter Brueggemann to reflect on how the Bible can be reclaimed in the mainline church after generations of historical criticism. He challenges both liberal and evangelical tendencies to reduce Scripture to rigid certainties, instead offering a vision of the Bible as a dynamic, imaginative script meant to be performed. With insights on authority, contradiction, justice, and the role of the church, Brueggemann invites us to take the Bible seriously—without taking it literally. This is a reissue of The Bible for Normal People Episode 4 from April 2017 in loving memory of our dear friend Walter (1933-2025).  Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-301-walter-brueggemann-resurrecting-the-bible-in-the-mainline-church-reissue/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/nKt3oqEnwwk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared sit down with Malcolm Foley to explore the connection between racism and greed in American history, and the calling of Christians to live differently. Drawing from his book The Anti-Greed Gospel, they discuss how economic self-interest has fueled racial injustice, how the church has been both complicit and resistant, and what it means to practice economic solidarity rooted in the life of Jesus. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-59-malcolm-foley-the-connection-between-racism-and-greed/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/5SJuPmry2_g Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared sit down with Caroline Blyth and Emily Colgan to dive into the many forms of violence in the Bible, including violence attributed to God. They discuss how ancient context, gender dynamics, and structural power inform these texts, why confronting them matters, and how faith communities can engage these difficult passages with honesty and care. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-300-caroline-blyth-emily-colgan-what-to-do-about-violence-in-the-bible/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/sD43EBvkAGM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared sit down with Adis Duderija to discuss the rich diversity of belief within Islam. Adis outlines various expressions of the faith, challenges the idea of Islam as monolithic, and explores some of the history behind how these iterations came to be.  Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-58-adis-duderija-the-diversity-of-islam/ Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/jYinHLAHSHc ********** This episode is brought to you by Skylight. The Skylight Calendar is here to keep your family organized! This beautifully designed digital display syncs with your existing calendars, making it effortless to track events, appointments, and reminders in one easy-to-see place. Right now, Skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15 inch Calendars by going to SkylightCal.com/BIBLE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with Garrick Allen about the concept of paratexts—elements like chapter numbers, footnotes, titles, and formatting that surround the biblical text—and how these often-overlooked features significantly shape how we interpret Scripture. Together they explore how the Bible is a dynamic, evolving tradition influenced by centuries of human interaction and editorial choices. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-299-garrick-allen-somethings-hiding-in-the-margins-of-your-bible/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/VB3xThCuCEU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this reissue of The Bible for Normal People Episode 133: The Book of Job, Pete takes us on a provocative journey through Job, challenging traditional interpretations of suffering, divine justice, and the nature of God. Rather than seeing Job as a lesson in patient endurance, Pete explores the book as a complex, layered critique of transactional theology—and even a possible parable of Israel’s exile. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-298-pete-enns-pete-ruins-job-reissue/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/fnssF8y2vk0 ********** This episode is brought to you by Hims. Start your free online visit today at hims.com/NORMALPEOPLE. Results vary. Based on studies of topical and oral minoxidil and finasteride. Prescription products require an online consultation with a healthcare provider who will determine if a prescription is appropriate. Restrictions apply. See website for full details and important safety information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete Enns and Anna Sieges Beal talk with theologian Janet Williams about apophatic theology, a tradition that emphasizes the mystery of God by acknowledging the limits of human language and understanding. Janet explores how describing God by what God is not—rather than what God is—can open up a deeper, more expansive experience of the divine. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-57-janet-williams-what-we-can-and-cant-say-about-god/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/i4BPhsMg41k ********** This episode is brought to you by Skylight. The Skylight Calendar is here to keep your family organized! This beautifully designed digital display syncs with your existing calendars, making it effortless to track events, appointments, and reminders in one easy-to-see place. Right now, Skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15 inch Calendars by going to SkylightCal.com/BIBLE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices