The Bible For Normal People

[Faith] Episode 72: Roberto De La Noval & Jordan Wood - How the Early Church Read the Bible (Reissue from Bonus)

In this week’s episode of Faith for Normal People, Jared talks with Roberto de la Noval and Jordan Wood about the church fathers, the development of doctrine, and how early Christians approached the Bible. They explore how figures like Augustine and Origen understood Scripture as something meant to transform people rather than simply provide literal answers, and why “problem passages” were often seen as invitations to think more deeply. Together, they invite listeners to see Christian tradition not as static or simplistic, but as a long, creative conversation about how to make sense of God, Scripture, and human experience.  Show Notes → thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/episode-72-roberto-de-la-noval-and-jordan-wood-how-the-early-church-read-the-bible [https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/episode-72-roberto-de-la-noval-and-jordan-wood-how-the-early-church-read-the-bible] Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/JukXifVwhQo [https://youtu.be/JukXifVwhQo] ********** This episode is brought to you by Brooklyn Bedding, which knows sleep isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why they offer mattresses for every body, every sleep style – even in hard-to-find sizes. Go to brooklynbedding.com and use promo code BIBLE at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. ********** This episode is sponsored by Garrett Theological Seminary. Whether you feel called to care and counsel, public service, prophetic arts, or non-profit management, there’s a program at Garrett Seminary that’s right for you. Apply by July 15th to begin a Master’s degree this fall. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠garrett.edu/normalpeople⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://garrett.edu/normalpeople]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

[Bible] Episode 329: Jared Byas - 10 Aha Moments in Biblical Scholarship: Part 1

In this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jared takes listeners on a tour through the history of modern biblical scholarship, tracing key “aha moments” that changed how scholars understand the Bible. From source criticism and the Documentary Hypothesis to oral tradition and the rise of fundamentalism, he explores how new questions about the Bible’s origins reshaped both academia and the church. Together, these developments invite listeners to see the Bible not as a static text dropped from heaven, but as a deeply human collection of traditions formed over time. Show Notes → www.thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/bible-episode-329-jared-byas-10-aha-moments-in-biblical-scholarship-part-1 [https://www.thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/bible-episode-329-jared-byas-10-aha-moments-in-biblical-scholarship-part-1] Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/g1e9UwFRtWI [https://youtu.be/g1e9UwFRtWI] ********** This episode is brought to you by Brooklyn Bedding, which knows sleep isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why they offer mattresses for every body, every sleep style – even in hard-to-find sizes. Go to brooklynbedding.com and use promo code BIBLE at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. ********** This episode is sponsored by Garrett Theological Seminary. Whether you feel called to care and counsel, public service, prophetic arts, or non-profit management, there’s a program at Garrett Seminary that’s right for you. Apply by July 15th to begin a Master’s degree this fall. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠garrett.edu/normalpeople⁠⁠⁠ [http://garrett.edu/normalpeople]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

[Bible] Episode 328: Vanessa Lovelace - Is Deuteronomy History?

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.  Show Notes → https://www.thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/bible-episode-328-vanessa-lovelace-is-deuteronomy-history [https://www.thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/bible-episode-328-vanessa-lovelace-is-deuteronomy-history] Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/G_UCwYd-7hI [https://youtu.be/G_UCwYd-7hI] ********** This episode is brought to you by Brooklyn Bedding, which knows sleep isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why they offer mattresses for every body, every sleep style – even in hard-to-find sizes. Go to brooklynbedding.com and use promo code BIBLE at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. ********** This episode is sponsored by Garrett Theological Seminary. Whether you feel called to care and counsel, public service, prophetic arts, or non-profit management, there’s a program at Garrett Seminary that’s right for you. Apply by July 15th to begin a Master’s degree this fall. Learn more at ⁠⁠garrett.edu/normalpeople⁠⁠ [http://garrett.edu/normalpeople]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

[Bible] Episode 327: Douglas Campbell - Ripping Up the Romans Road

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.  Show Notes → http://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode/episodes/bible-episode-327-douglas-campbell-ripping-up-the-romans-road [http://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode/episodes/bible-episode-327-douglas-campbell-ripping-up-the-romans-road] Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/8Wl1LZ_mEqo [https://youtu.be/8Wl1LZ_mEqo] ********** This episode is brought to you by Brooklyn Bedding, which knows sleep isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why they offer mattresses for every body, every sleep style – even in hard-to-find sizes. Go to brooklynbedding.com and use promo code BIBLE at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. ********** This episode is sponsored by Garrett Theological Seminary. Whether you feel called to care and counsel, public service, prophetic arts, or non-profit management, there’s a program at Garrett Seminary that’s right for you. Apply by July 15th to begin a Master’s degree this fall. Learn more at ⁠garrett.edu/normalpeople⁠ [http://garrett.edu/normalpeople]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

[Bible] Episode 326: Chris Keith - How do Scholars Reconstruct the "Historical Jesus?"

In this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with Chris Keith about the historical Jesus, and how scholars approach the gap between the Jesus of history and the Jesus of the Gospels. They explore why the Gospels themselves raise questions about modern ideas of history, how different methods have tried to reconstruct Jesus, and why certainty can be elusive. Together, they invite listeners to approach both the Bible and their faith with greater humility, recognizing that asking honest questions doesn’t have to diminish meaning, and can actually deepen it. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/episode-326-chris-keith-how-do-scholars-reconstruct-the-historical-jesus [https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/episode-326-chris-keith-how-do-scholars-reconstruct-the-historical-jesus] Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/ipzANHJZA-M [https://youtu.be/ipzANHJZA-M] ********** This episode is brought to you by Brooklyn Bedding, which knows sleep isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why they offer mattresses for every body, every sleep style – even in hard-to-find sizes. Go to brooklynbedding.com and use promo code BIBLE at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. ********** This episode is sponsored by Garrett Theological Seminary. Whether you feel called to care and counsel, public service, prophetic arts, or non-profit management, there’s a program at Garrett Seminary that’s right for you. Apply by July 15th to begin a Master’s degree this fall. Learn more at garrett.edu/normalpeople [http://garrett.edu/normalpeople]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]