[Bible] Episode 258: Marc Brettler & Alan Lenzi - The Problem of Evil (Part 1)

[Bible] Episode 258: Marc Brettler & Alan Lenzi - The Problem of Evil (Part 1)

Author: Peter Enns and Jared Byas October 23, 2023 Duration: 55:48
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Marc Brettler and Alan Lenzi join Pete and Jared to discuss the context of evil in the Bible and other ancient Mesopotamian texts, giving insight into how people thousands of years ago wrestled with divine sovereignty and human suffering. This is the first of two episodes on the problem of evil—don’t miss part two on Faith for Normal People as Pete and Jared discuss theological frameworks with Tom Oord. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’ve probably heard the Bible quoted, preached, and argued about, but how often do you get to explore it with curiosity instead of certainty? That’s the space The Bible For Normal People creates each week. Hosts Peter Enns and Jared Byas-scholars who understand both the academic weight and the everyday weight of scripture-guide conversations that are genuinely engaging and refreshingly human. They aren’t here to provide simple answers. Instead, they sit down with a diverse range of thinkers, from theologians and historians to artists and activists, to ask the complicated questions regular people actually have. In this podcast, you’ll hear discussions that acknowledge the ancient, messy, and profound nature of these texts, all while dismantling the idea that you need a special degree or piety to engage with them. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt on the outside of traditional religious dialogue but remains intrigued by the Bible’s stories, poetry, and enduring influence on culture and personal faith. The tone is conversational and often lighthearted, even when tackling heavy subjects, making deep scholarship accessible and relevant. If you’re looking for a place where doubt is welcome, history matters, and the sacred book is examined with both respect and honest inquiry, you’ve found it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Bible For Normal People
Podcast Episodes
Episode 202: Jeff Chu - Grief as a Biblical Practice (REISSUE) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:25
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jeff Chu joins Pete and Jared to discuss what the Bible has to say about grief and what grief looks like as a personal, communal, and spiritual practice. Show Notes → Learn…
Episode 201: Debra Rienstra - Eco-Theology: Beyond Stewardship [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:17
How are faith and nature interwoven? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Debra Rienstra joins Pete and Jared to discuss the value of the created world in scripture and what it looks like to care for the earth…
Episode 200: Pete Enns & Jared Byas - Does the Bible Still Matter? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:01
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared celebrate their two-hundredth episode by discussing why the Bible still matters, looking at the Bible as a book of wisdom, and approaching the Bible without…
Episode 197: Jared Byas - Making of the Modern Mindset, Part 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:13
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People Podcast, Jared Byas explores how fundamentalist evangelicalism has bought into the modern mindset in some important ways, while condemning it in other ways. Show Notes → Lea…
Episode 195: Gary Rendsburg - History and the Exodus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:41
How does the Bible interact with history? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Gary Rendsburg joins Pete and Jared to discuss how history, epic, and theology are interwoven to create the biblical narrative. Sh…
Episode 194: Pete Enns - Staying Christian Is Hard, Isn't It? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:19
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete works through some common issues that make it hard to stay Christian and shares a few personal reasons why he stays Christian anyway. Show Notes → Learn more about you…
Episode 193: Lisa Sharon Harper - The Meaning of the Image of God [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:53
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People Podcast, Lisa Sharon Harper joins Pete and Jared to discuss the impact that colonization and enslavement had on Scripture and how to begin the humble business of decolonizin…