About this episode

Pete talks with Dale Allison about the strengths and limits of biblical scholarship and the complexities of interpreting history and theology.

In this week’s episode of Pete Ruins Everything, Pete talks with Dale Allison about the strengths and limits of biblical scholarship. They explore what historical research can and cannot tell us about Jesus, the Bible, and the ancient world, while reflecting on the value of expertise, intellectual humility, and the challenges of interpreting the past. Together, they discuss why scholars often disagree, how new evidence and perspectives can change long-held conclusions, and why faith and curiosity can coexist with uncertainty. Throughout the conversation, they invite listeners to embrace the complexity of history and theology with honesty, openness, and humility. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/episode-332-pete-ruins-everything-with-dale-allison Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/DaHZU-JINiQ ********** 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…

People in this episode

Hosts: Peter Enns, Jared Byas

Guest: Dale Allison

Topics covered

• biblical scholarship
• historical research
• Jesus
• the Bible
• interpretation
• faith
• curiosity

Keywords

• biblical scholarship
• historical research
• Jesus
• interpretation
• faith
• curiosity
• expertise
• intellectual humility

Sponsors

Brooklyn Bedding, Factor

More episodes of The Bible For Normal People

• [Bible] Episode 333: Nathan MacDonald - The Messy History of the Priesthood · July 13, 2026 · 48 min
• [Bible] Episode 331 : Jared Byas - 10 Aha Moments in Biblical Scholarship: Part 2 · June 15, 2026 · 1h 11m

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