[Bible] Episode 306: Pete Enns & the Old Testament Nerds - Ask a Scholar Anything (About the Hebrew Bible)

[Bible] Episode 306: Pete Enns & the Old Testament Nerds - Ask a Scholar Anything (About the Hebrew Bible)

Author: Peter Enns and Jared Byas August 11, 2025 Duration: 1:03:59
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

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
[Faith] Episode 66: Angela Patterson - The Faith of Gen Z [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:00
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 exp…
[Bible] Episode 310: Pete Enns - Pete Ruins Ecclesiastes (REISSUE) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:08
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…
[Faith] Episode 65: James Kimmel, Jr. - This Is Your Brain on Revenge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:44
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…
[Bible] Episode 307: Pete Enns - Pete Ruins Proverbs (REISSUE) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:39
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 anc…