"Exodus for Normal People" by Peter Enns

Exodus for Normal People is a brief guide to reading (spoiler alert) the book of Exodus and what biblical scholars tend to say about it. This book isn’t only about deliverance. In fact, it’s not even primarily about deliverance; instead, it’s about God and why this God delivers in the first place. In this book, Peter Enns lets the theology of Exodus shine through a bit more clearly, even if it thwarts conventional assumptions.

"The title says it all—this is a wonderful introduction to the text, themes, and meaning of the Bible’s second book for normal people—those who are curious about the Bible, but never dove deeply into the text. In a clever, chatty, and casual style, Pete Enns interprets Exodus as “mythicized history,” written in “the religious language of a tribalistic, Iron Age society,” making contemporary biblical scholarship, based on archeology and study of the ancient Near East, interesting and accessible."

Marc Brettler

"Once again, Peter Enns uses his unique combination of candor and humor to make biblical scholarship accessible to “normal people”. In The Exodus for Normal People Enns draws on his academic expertise to introduce the reader to the biblical book Exodus, highlighting its important connections to other biblical texts. Readers who want more scholarship but in a non-academic (dare I say, boring!) manner will find that this book scratches that itch."

Cynthia Shafer-Elliott

"Entertaining and informative! A seasoned biblical pro - Pete Enns - knows Exodus as well as anyone. Enns communicates one of the most important biblical stories in such a manner that even “normal” people can enter its pages and wrestle with the challenges critical biblical scholarship poses. Moreover, he does so with humor and grace. This is a gift!"

Emerson Powery

"Pete Enns does it again! In Exodus for Normal People, he provides us with a roadmap for understanding the book of Exodus through the lens of what concerned ancient people. He makes accessible the best of biblical scholarship with humor and insight, reminding us to respect Scripture in all its complexities. A hard task that Pete makes look simple."

Richard Rohr

"Pete Enns is a real scholar who doesn’t write like one — thank heavens. He writes with knowledge of the scholarship but in the language of a thoughtful layperson. Reading Enns one feels like the author is having a personal chat with his reader. He is smart, leaned, and witty. In a word: normal."

Richard Elliott Friedman

"With a style at turns cheeky and self-deprecating, Pete Enns’s Exodus for Normal People is an impressive guide to the confusing text that is Exodus. Enns has a knack for giving voice to honest questions that too often go unexpressed; he then answers them with insight, clarity, and wit. The result is a learned and entertaining walk through Exodus that injects new life into this influential biblical book."

Jeffrey Stackert

About the Author

Peter Enns (Ph.D. Harvard University) is Abram S. Clemens professor of Biblical Studies at Eastern University. He has taught undergraduate, seminary, and doctoral courses at numerous other schools, including Princeton Theological Seminary, Harvard Divinity School, and Temple University. Pete speaks and writes regularly to diverse audiences about the intersection of the ancient setting of Bible and contemporary Christian faith. He is a frequent contributor to journals and encyclopedias, and has written, edited, and contributed to nearly 20 books, including The Sin of Certainty: Why God Desires Our Trust More than Our “Correct” Beliefs; The Bible Tells Me So: Why Defending Scripture Has Made Us Unable to Read It, Inspiration and Incarnation: Evangelicals and the Problem of the Old Testament, and The Evolution of Adam: What the Bible Does and Doesn’t Say about Human Origins. Enns resides in suburban Philadelphia with his wife Susan. His popular blog, The Bible for Normal People, can be found at peteenns.com.

Pete Enns & The Bible for Normal People

About the Author