The Bible For Normal People

Pete Enns is a former seminary professor who got fired for writing a book that asked too many honest questions about the Old Testament. Jared Byas is a philosopher and former pastor. Together, they host The Bible For Normal People -- a weekly podcast that takes academic biblical scholarship and makes it genuinely accessible without stripping out the substance. The format rotates between interview episodes with scholars, theologians, and authors, and duo episodes where Pete and Jared hash out a topic between themselves. Guests have included heavyweights like Walter Brueggemann, N.T. Wright, and Kristin Kobes Du Mez, alongside lesser-known academics doing fascinating work on specific biblical texts. Episodes typically run 45 minutes to an hour, long enough to actually get somewhere with a topic. What sets this show apart is its willingness to sit with uncertainty. Pete and Jared are not interested in giving you neat answers to messy questions. They will talk about why Genesis has two creation stories, what Paul actually meant by certain Greek words, or how ancient Near Eastern context changes your reading of familiar passages. The tone is conversational and often funny -- self-deprecating humor and philosophical tangents give the show a genuine warmth. With over 400 episodes and 3,200+ ratings at 4.7 stars, this podcast has found a large audience among people who grew up in church but started wondering if there was more to the story. It is honest, smart, and refreshingly undogmatic.