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The Bible For Normal People

Peter Enns and Jared Byas
Christianity
Bible
Judaism
Islam
Interreligious Dialogue
Abrahamic Religions
Grief
Paul
Spirituality
Theology
God
Second Kings
Cultural Interpretation
Poetry
Speaking In Tongues
The Quran
1 & 2 Samuel
Dead Sea Scrolls
Virgin Birth
The Gospel Of Mark

A weekly podcast talk show having serious talks about the sacred book. Hosted by Peter Enns and Jared Byas.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes406Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ChristianityReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for The Bible For Normal People

Latest Episodes

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 loc... more

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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 Jer... more

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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 bibl... more

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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... more

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Recent Guests

Matthew Vines
Author and founder of The Reformation Project
The Reformation Project
Episode: [Bible] Episode 319: Matthew Vines - The Bible Isn't Against Gay Marriage
Mark S. Smith
Professor of Old Testament and Exegesis at Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Episode: [Bible] Episode 318: Mark S. Smith - The Many Gods of Israel
Jared Stacy
A theologian, ethicist, and former pastor
Author of Reality in Ruins, How Conspiracy Theory Became an Evangelical Crisis
Episode: [Faith] Episode 71: Jared Stacy - The Evangelical to Conspiracy Theory Pipeline
N.T. Wright
Former Bishop of Durham and Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University
Episode: [Bible] Episode 317: N.T. Wright - The Book of Ephesians
Diana Butler Bass
Award-winning writer, scholar, and speaker
Episode: [Faith] Episode 69: Diana Butler Bass - Resisting Christmas (And Why the Christian Calendar Still Matters)
Kent Sparks
Provost and professor of Hebrew Bible
Eastern University
Episode: [Bible] Episode 315: Kent Sparks - The Beginnings of Israelite Religion
Kristin Kobes Du Mez
Historian, writer, speaker, and professor of history at Calvin University
Calvin University
Episode: [Faith] Episode 68: Kristin Kobes Du Mez - A Modern Church History of Toxic Masculinity (REISSUE)
Shayna Sheinfeld
Professor of religion at Augsburg University, focusing on sacred texts from Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Augsburg University
Episode: [Bible] Episode 314: Shayna Sheinfeld - The Complicated World of Second Temple Judaism
Liz Charlotte Grant
Award-winning essayist and author of 'Knock at the Sky, Seeking God in Genesis After Losing Faith in the Bible'
Author
Episode: [Faith] Episode 67: Liz Charlotte Grant - The Gift of an Unclear Text

Hosts

Pete Enns
Co-host and primary voice on biblical interpretation and scholarly discussion
Jared Byas
Co-host focused on making complex biblical topics accessible and engaging

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 5k ratings
  • Excellent, thoughtful, informed, intriguing

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Julian Heaton
    24 days ago
  • Progressive “Christianity”

    The first episode I listened to immediately had me on guard with the language and keywords being used. Progressive & liberal theology. Use your discernment.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    nlctnc
    Canadaa month ago
  • Early Benefits

    I’ve only listened to a dozen of their episodes, but I already have to leave a review, because something significant has been set in motion. These two dudes have fanned my spark of agency in faith. Over the last couple weeks my devotional studies have been remarkably deeper, more probing, even jarring as I’ve had to let go of fundamental beliefs that don’t hold up to scrutiny. It’s no coincidence that this growth coincides with time around Peter and Jared; critical thinkers, and their didactic g... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stephen Lyell
    New Zealanda month ago
  • INTERESTING, THOUGHT PROVOKING, NOURISHING

    This program makes academic discussion of a wide range of topics in or about the bible relevant and accessible to non-academics — it is neither pretentious nor vacuous —It is friendly and playful without being chatty. It skillfully challenges ideas without ever demonizing what it questions. This is a safe place to explore and question ideas and practices and doctrines with curiosity and integrity.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cbpgca
    United States4 months ago
  • The only God-ordained podcast

    I love The Bible for Normal People. When I preach (occasionally) at church , I always look to see if there’s a podcast that is relevant; and there usually is. The “Pete spoils….” Series gives you in depth, critical analysis of biblical material. I particularly enjoyed his interpretation of “Hebel” in Ecclesiastes as Absurd. I was ridiculed by my OT lecturer for using that translation in 1983 and never quite got over it!!! The spin-off show, “Faith for Normal People “ is also ace. The episode wi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ianfatbudgie
    United Kingdom6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A safe space to explore difficult questions about faith and scripture, with engaging guests.
Appreciated for rigorous analysis that stays charitable and curious, though some episodes are polarizing for listeners on either side.
Thoughtful, challenging, and accessible—scholarly depth without being stuffy.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

[Bible] Episode 318: Mark S. Smith - The Many Gods of Israel
Q: Was Yahweh always the sole God, or did other deities ever share prominence?
The discussion highlights a progression from a main god with others around, to the concept of a national god, and eventually to exclusive worship in some texts, though earlier periods show competing deities.
[Bible] Episode 318: Mark S. Smith - The Many Gods of Israel
Q: What do you mean by Israel's polytheistic background?
Smith explains that biblical evidence, inscriptions, and Ugaritic texts show multiple deities around Israel and a spectrum where Yahweh was often seen alongside other gods, with monotheism developing gradually.
[Faith] Episode 71: Jared Stacy - The Evangelical to Conspiracy Theory Pipeline
Q: Can you say a little bit more about this idea of conspiratorial thinking and how it's different from journalistic or curious thinking?
Jared explains that the line between conspiracy theory and accounts of aggregate power is thin, and that conspiratorial thinking often retains the idea of individualism and apocalyptic concerns.
[Faith] Episode 71: Jared Stacy - The Evangelical to Conspiracy Theory Pipeline
Q: How do you define conspiracy?
Jared defines conspiracy theory as a storytelling act that claims to reveal hidden truths, but that always implies a broader story or a bigger story.
[Bible] Episode 317: N.T. Wright - The Book of Ephesians
Q: What do you hope people will take away from Ephesians?
A vision of the church as standing at the intersection of heaven and earth in order to demonstrate to the world that there is a different way to be human.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Bible For Normal People

What is The Bible For Normal People about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show consistently explores biblical interpretation, historical context, and contemporary relevance with a scholarly yet accessible approach. Episodes often center on how to read Scripture critically, understand its historical setting, and apply nuanced insights to modern faith debates. Guests range from biblical scholars to theologians and church historians, bringing emphasis on openness, rigorous inquiry, and often bold challenges to traditional readings. A notable strength is its ability to pair rigorous scholarship with personal, often provocative, conversations that invite listeners to question assumptions while staying engaged with faith. This mix makes it appealing to listeners who want thoughtful, non-dogmatic discussion about t... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Bible For Normal People?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Bible For Normal People:

1. No Small Endeavor with Lee C. Camp
2. The Holy Post
3. Data Over Dogma
4. Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman
5. Everything Belongs: Living the Teachings of Richard Rohr Forward

How many episodes of The Bible For Normal People are there?

The Bible For Normal People launched 9 years ago and published 406 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Bible For Normal People?

Recent guests on The Bible For Normal People include:

1. Matthew Vines
2. Mark S. Smith
3. Jared Stacy
4. N.T. Wright
5. Diana Butler Bass
6. Kent Sparks
7. Kristin Kobes Du Mez
8. Shayna Sheinfeld

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