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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?”

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.

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.

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).

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.

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by Matthew Paul Turner, co-author of the new kids’ book “What Is the Bible?” alongside the late Rachel Held Evans. Matthew opens up about how parenting has shaped him, from questioning his own beliefs to embracing a more open, loving approach. He talks about learning from his kids, unlearning old mindsets, and creating a space where curiosity and kindness lead the way.

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jared and co-host Aaron Higashi talk with Roberto de la Noval about the doctrine of universalism, the belief that all people will ultimately be reconciled with God. Rob addresses common misconceptions and its roots in the early Church, explaining how theology develops from biblical interpretation, and examining the evolution of doctrine and the role of historical context in shaping belief.

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete concludes a lengthy expedition through the book of Genesis with the story of Joseph—emphasizing its role as a bridge between the patriarchal narratives and Israel’s national history, and breaking down how Joseph’s story reflects themes of sibling rivalry, deception, and redemption while also foreshadowing Israel’s future struggles and triumphs.

How do experiences of pain, identity, and reconciliation shape one’s understanding of God and faith? In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by Esau McCaulley to talk about how his faith has been formed in the midst of family trauma, anti-Black racism, and the search for identity in America. Together they ponder forgiveness as a transformative process, the hard parts of cultivating a desire for others' flourishing, and the ways suffering can deepen faith.

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Jared Byas talks with therapist and author Hillary McBride along with theologian and psychological scientist Preston McDaniel Hill about the psychological impacts of navigating faith transitions. They explore how faith intersects with mental health and discuss the importance of community, self-trust, and relational support during the process. Together, Hillary and Preston lead the Spiritual First Responders Project (https://www.sfrproject.org) designed to help individuals with faith shifts through evidence-based practices led by licensed professionals.

What parts of our faith are worth holding onto? In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry joins Pete and Jared to discuss ways to think differently about scripture and the importance of keeping love at the center of your being. This is a reissue of The Bible for Normal People Episode 192 from February 2022.

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Elizabeth Orr joins Pete and Jared to discuss the Enneagram and its role in fostering self-compassion and personal growth. Together they highlight how understanding your Enneagram type can lead to greater self-awareness and healthier relationships, and how self-discovery tools like the Enneagram give us a chance to love ourselves—and therefore our neighbors—better.

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jennifer Garcia Bashaw joins Pete and Jared to discuss how various atonement theories attempt to explain Jesus’s death. This is a reissue of The Bible for Normal People Episode 183 from October 2021.