Genesis for Normal People: A guide to the most controversial, misunderstood, and abused book of the Bible (The Bible for Normal People)

Adam and Eve vs. evolution. Genesis 1 vs. the Big Bang theory. Biblical literalists vs...well, everyone else.

The book of Genesis and the narratives within it fuel some of the most hotly debated topics of our time. No wonder the average person can feel intimidated opening up these scared texts. What if you get them wrong?

That's where we come in. In this freshly updated, accessible commentary on the book of Genesis, Peter Enns and Jared Byas take you beyond the controversy and invite you to discover ancient stories that anyone can understand—stories that have gripped people for millennia. If you're not a Bible scholar but want to be able to read Genesis well and understand the big picture story its telling, this brief, witty guide is the book you've been waiting for.

Genesis for Normal People illuminates the characters that fill the book of Genesis, so that we might resonate with their choices and struggles even as we marvel at their distant ancient world. And that's what you'll find here—not scientific proof texts or simple moral tales, but a distant world made accessible, and a strange, sometimes dangerous story filled with rich possibilities.

With clear summaries and a thought-provoking discussion guide, Genesis for Normal People is the perfect jumping off point for personal reflection or group discussion.

But don't take our word for it...here's what other folks have said.

“This book is a welcome antidote to the mystification about the book of Genesis that goes around. It is accessible for readers who want to take the plunge into this old text. It is gentle in leading readers to a critical sense of the text in response to a “late” trauma in Israel. It is imaginative in its articulation of a book that might otherwise be off-putting. The convergence of accessibility, gentleness, and imagination make this a very fine read.”– Walter Brueggemann, Professor Emeritus, Columbia Theological Seminary

“Genesis for Normal People is the perfect starting point for Christians who want to read the book of Genesis more faithfully and honestly. Enns and Byas break down the history, genre, culture, and context of this fascinating book of the Bible, so that “normal people”—you know, those who can’t read ancient Hebrew—can get a better sense of its purpose, meaning and relevance. The authors manage to simplify without dumbing down, challenge without confusing, and dig for deep truth without compromising their intellectual integrity. A must–read for anyone who care enough about the Bible to want to read and understand it on its own terms.”– Rachel Held Evans, author of A Year of Biblical Womanhood

“The stories in the book of Genesis are among the most well known in the Bible—so much so that it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that Genesis is an ancient document from a cultural setting very different from our own. Enns and Byas have provided a highly readable volume that reminds readers of its reality while explaining the meaning and significance of Genesis in light of its ancient context. An ideal book for individual and study groups interested in understanding Genesis on its own terms.”– John R. Franke, General Coordinator for The Gospel and Our Culture Network

“Evangelical Old Testament scholarship has come of age and is now coming out from behind the shadows of suppression and secrecy. No one represents this fresh coming of age more than Peter Enns, who, with co-author Jared Byas, makes available to any Bible reader a fresh engagement with Genesis—readable, responsible, and recognizably fresh.”– Scot McKnight, Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary