Jordan Peterson Is Not A Bible Teacher

The American Church is in a world of trouble. Churches across the country continue to struggle to keep the doors open, young people are walking away completely from even the idea of God, churches with influence peddle lies and a false gospel (e.g., Catholicism and NAR), and some other churches minimize or avoid sin altogether (e.g., Lakewood Church and Saddleback Church). Not to mention, it seems like we’re constantly hearing about fallen Christian leaders (e.g., Ravi Zacharias and Steve Lawson), and now we have a strong push to equate conservative politics with Christianity. And let’s not forget the harm Country music has done to the Church… I’m kidding. Mostly. With all these difficulties and questionable messages, it’s no wonder Christians and seekers are turning to strong, confident men who appear to see our current culture the way we do. One of the most prominent examples is Jordan Peterson. Now, I can’t believe I have to say this, but apparently I must… Jordan Peterson is not a Bible teacher, and we need to stop turning to him for answers.

Who Is Jordan Peterson?

Jordan Peterson is an author best known for his book, 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos. Aside from being a best-selling author, Peterson is a respected psychologist and a podcaster, though his website refers to his podcasting as being an “online educator.” I suppose that sounds more impressive and is in keeping with his academic reputation. Speaking of titles that mean very little in the grand scheme of things, he is also a Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto. (Did I mention he’s Canadian?) Essentially, that’s just a fancy way of saying he has retired, but he contributed significantly prior to retirement. It’s honorary and only really matters to other collegiate professionals. He wants you to know about his honorary title, though. You can be sure about that.

Jordan Peterson Is Not A Bible Teacher…But He Thinks He Is

In the last few years, Peterson has teamed up with DailyWire+ to create content on marriage, narcissism, and other psychological topics. However, he has opted to add the Bible as a self-proclaimed area of expertise. For the record, as of the day I publish this, Jordan Peterson is not a Christian. That’s not my opinion. He does not claim to be. (But I’d be so excited to find out he came to faith today!)

Online Content

On DailyWire+, you’ll be able to find a series on Genesis, one on Exodus, and one on the gospel. All three are multiple episodes with each episode lasting a couple of hours. The structure is the same. A panel of men sit around a table and discuss whatever passage of Scripture Peterson is reading. We’ll talk more about this in a little bit.

Peterson also has a documentary on DailyWire+ that I find appalling for even existing. Logos & Literacy is a “journey through the Museum of the Bible.” In the documentary he talks with experts in the fields of history, philosophy, and theology to dive into the Bible’s and how it still impacts us today. Of course, as a believer, I’m in favor of telling people about the Bible. On the other hand, why is an admitted unbeliever the one leading this conversation and positioning himself as the expert on the Bible? More importantly, why in the world would those running the Museum of the Bible allow someone who hasn’t come to faith through Jesus Christ to use their museum to incorrectly teach untold numbers about the Word of God? Frankly, it’s disgusting and seems like naiveté or simply a financial decision. Either way, I’m not amused.

His Newest Book

Finally, Peterson’s book, We Who Wrestle with God: Perceptions of the Divine, was released in November 2024. I have read part of the book, but like many other people before me have said, it reads like a man’s ramblings. Jordan Peterson often struggles to find his point, and he just strings together big words to say absolutely nothing. This is generally true in his writing and “online educating.” It’s like he’s in competition with someone we all know for the biggest word salad.

I’m not sure how to describe the book. So, I’ll just share the description from Amazon. As you’ll see, it’s a bold book to write if you aren’t a man of faith.

“In We Who Wrestle with God, Dr. Peterson guides us through the ancient, foundational stories of the Western world. In riveting detail, he analyzes the Biblical accounts of rebellion, sacrifice, suffering, and triumph that stabilize, inspire, and unite us culturally and psychologically. Adam and Eve and the eternal fall of mankind; the resentful and ultimately murderous war of Cain and Abel; the cataclysmic flood of Noah; the spectacular collapse of the Tower of Babel; Abraham’s terrible adventure; and the epic of Moses and the Israelites. What could such stories possibly mean? What force wrote and assembled them over the long centuries? How did they bring our spirits and the world together, and point us in the same direction?

It is time for us to understand such things, scientifically and spiritually; to become conscious of the structure of our souls and our societies; and to see ourselves and others as if for the first time.”

Amazon description

Jordan Peterson Has Swerved Out Of His Lane

Like someone behind the wheel with too little sleep or too much to drink, Peterson has swerved into our lane. The Christian lane. Personally, I don’t like Jordan Peterson’s pompous personality, but I can concede that many people look up to him. In addition, I can’t suggest that he isn’t an educated man with a long scholarly career under his belt. But none of that makes him qualified to teach the Bible. I’d argue that any born-again Christian, no matter his or her education, is more qualified to teach the Bible than him. Jordan Peterson is not a Bible teacher. He’s a lost soul who has co-opted God’s Word for personal gain (i.e., money and public recognition).

Why Jordan Peterson Is Not A Bible Teacher

I want to share some real examples from Peterson’s Bible series, The Gospels, in order to explain why I so strongly oppose his teaching the Bible. I’ll be looking specifically at the final episode entitled Crucifixion and Resurrection. I figure that the panel’s conversation on the most essential miracle of Christianity should be instructive on Jordan Peterson’s success or lack thereof when evaluating how well he teaches the Word of God. We ought to begin first by naming who was on the discussion panel.

The Players

1. Dr. Jordan Peterson – We’ve already discussed his background.

2. Jonathan Pageau – Christian Thinker and Artist

3. Dr. Douglas Hedley – Professor of Philosophy of Religion at Cambridge University

4. John Vervaeke – Associate Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Science at the University of Toronto

5. Gregg Hurwitz – Novelist, Screenwriter, and Comic Book Creator

6. Konstantin Kisin – Satirist, Author, and Co-host of Triggernometry Podcast

7. Dr. James Orr – Associate Professor of Philosophy of Religion at Cambridge University

8. Dennis Prager – Co-founder of PragerU and Author

9. Dr. Stephen Blackwood – President of Ralston College

Are any of these men believers? I can’t say with certainty, but I’m leaning toward unlikely. Several of them in the episode I’m going to discuss said they were not Christian, leaving no confusion. One man, Pageau, seemed to be the Christian representative, but his approach to the world and the Bible is symbolic. Though that perspective likely makes for beautiful thoughts and ideas for his artwork, it isn’t particularly useful for understanding the Word.

Something that the men noted in this episode was that there was not one Protestant representative. This made their alleged search for truth a little light in perspective, especially biblical perspective.

How Jordan Peterson Handled Being A Bible Teacher

This group of men claimed to be seeking truth by digging into the Scriptures, but they did this by coming at their challenge with unbiblical worldviews and an exclusively intellectual approach. Let’s look at what I mean.

1. God And The Bible Were Not Held In High Regard

Within the first twelve minutes, Jordan Peterson addressed Matthew 27:46.

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

Matthew 27:46

Peterson confidently declared that this verse is proof that even God has doubts. *deep sigh* What, I wonder, does he think Jesus was doubting? Christianity 101…hey, even English 101…would make that interpretation seem bonkers. And, friend, it is absolutely bonkers. Jesus and the Father are one (John 10:30), and as Jesus bore our sins, He was separated from the Father for the first time. Mind you, this separation was temporary. The cross was undeserved agony for Jesus, and He felt abandonment for that short time on the cross. He didn’t doubt. He suffered. For us.

Jesus Doesn’t Respond Like Us

The panel obviously looked at Jesus like a man. Sure, they called Him God, but they spoke about Him as if He is just like us. For instance, Jordan Peterson said Christ could “be finished” and die gracefully because he exhausted Himself in the pursuit of His life. I don’t mean to pick on Peterson, but that doesn’t even really mean anything. In the pursuit of His life? Also, none of that interpretation is scriptural. He died gracefully because He loves us and the Father. Jesus was obediently fulfilling the Father’s will, and He knew there was no other way to save us wretched creatures. He wasn’t just a tired guy who had pursued the life He wanted, and thus, felt ready to die.

All of the men on the panel expressed surprise that Jesus could still feel connected to the Father when He was at His lowest point. That is a clear indication that none of these men understand the oneness between Christ and the Father. They can only understand the suffering at the cross as mortal men. Seemingly, they don’t really believe in the deity of Christ.

In fact, Jordan Peterson frequently referred to elements of the Bible in fictional terms, displaying an overarching disbelief. For example, in their discussion of Christ’s suffering, Peterson mentioned the “mythology of Pontius Pilate.” He further indicated his fictional view of the Bible by constantly referring to philosophers and works of literature to interpret the Bible. His favorite men to use as a key to understanding God are Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle. Jordan Peterson elevates man’s philosophy over the truth of God’s Word every chance he gets.

2. Mining For Meaning

Have you ever sat in a literature class in high school or college and spent the entire time digging out hidden meaning in the text? The Great Gatsby always comes to mind when I think about this. In my mind’s eye I can still see that green light at the end of Daisy’s dock. It’s not just a green light, though. It represents Gatsby’s desire/hope to rekindle his relationship with Daisy. It also symbolizes his jealousy. It’s fun to look for hidden meaning in written works, but sometimes the words mean exactly what they say and nothing more.

Among many other reasons, Jordan Peterson is not a Bible teacher because he constantly looks for imagery and symbolism in everything. The Bible has plenty of that, but God isn’t playing a game with us to see if we can find the hidden meanings. He wants us to know Him and be saved. So, these mining expeditions may give men like Peterson an opportunity to pontificate on things that they know nothing about. They’re creating fiction. Nothing more. Allow me to share a few examples.

• The crucifixion story tells us about our own lived experiences in this life. Like Jesus, we all walk our own road to Calvary.

• Paradise is the Garden of Eden. Therefore, when Jesus tells the thief on the cross that he will be with Jesus in Paradise, He means they are going back to the Garden.

• The story of Moses is a call to fight tyranny.

• Abraham was called to expend into a greater “enterprise.”

• The resurrection is a “pattern of reality.”

• “I don’t think it’s fair to say God is real like a table is real.” – Jordan Peterson

Saying The Quiet Part Out Loud

Gregg Hurwitz, the fiction writer, went as far as to say that Jesus is “open to interpretation.” He said that as his novels are personal to each individual reading them, so is Jesus. We have our own experiences when reading a novel, and each of us will believe and see Him differently based on how He presents to us. That about sums up how Jordan Peterson and his crew of academic fools. They get to make it up as they go along. They seek truth without accepting that there is only one truth to find.

3. It’s All For The Good

A great deal of the conversation revolved around the social good. May I say, please, that I like social good? That’s not the point of the gospel, though. Jesus didn’t die on the cross in order to make us nicer to each other. He did it to glorify God the Father and so we could be reconciled to the Father and have eternal life with Him. Eternally speaking, our kindness and charity mean very little. Is that a hot take? I don’t think it should be.

Dennis Prager, an outspoken Jew, said something that genuinely surprised me. He said he fears the demise of Christianity, and if we care about goodness, we need to protect it. Of course, he went on to say the goodness was from the moral laws Christians took from the Jews. But nonetheless, he boiled Christianity down to the “good” it can do in society. While I agree believers do, in fact, improve society for the better, I can’t say that the here-and-now good deeds are what Jesus died for.

4. What Does It All Mean?

The meaning of life came up several times, and glorifying God never came up. Leading others to Christ was noticeably absent, as well. However, sacrifice, living life to the fullest, confronting evil, and helping others came up several times. In fact, this, as Jordan Peterson would teach, is what the crucifixion teaches us. It shows us to confront evil and give of ourselves. What a sad view of the cross. What a waste! They’ve missed it, and this was the crucifixion and resurrection episode!

It’s funny to me (not “ha ha” funny) that all religions besides Christianity focus on works, even those that worship things we wouldn’t assign an alleged “divine identity.” These men seem to worship themselves, personal accomplishments, education, etc., but it all boils down to doing good works. And not one man on that panel could say, “We’ll never do enough good, and that’s why we need a Savior.” I’m equal parts angry and heartsick.

Jordan Peterson Is Not A Bible Teacher Because He Doesn’t Understand The Resurrection

Dennis Prager asked a good question. He seemed as if he genuinely wanted to know the answer, and not one man was able to give it. He asked why Jesus’ resurrection was more important than that of Lazarus. Fair enough, right? So, what did these scholars come up with?

To summarize, the men said Lazarus’s resurrection was more like a resuscitation. He was back, but he would die again. Jesus, on the other hand, would not die again. That was pretty much it.

Prager pushed back and reminded them that Jesus went to be with the Father again, and he likened that to death. Some of the men tried to correct that, but no one was clear that Jesus’ ascension was not death. They weren’t very clear on anything.

What They Missed About The Resurrection

Jesus’ resurrection wasn’t just another miracle. It was the miracle. Without the resurrection, our God is yet another dead god. A false god. Jesus, however, was raised to life again, defeating death. His death and resurrection, though, weren’t only for show. It served a purpose that only He could accomplish.

Christ fulfilled the law. In other words, He never sinned. And then He became the substitutionary atonement on the cross for all who will believe by paying the price for our sins. Jesus was the final sacrifice as the perfect lamb of God. Hebrews tells us that our sins can’t be forgiven without sin.

“Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”

Hebrews 9:22 (ESV)

Because Jesus was without sin, His sacrifice ended the sacrificial system by which the Jews lived. As He said on the cross, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). And now He can sit at the right hand of the Father because He has paid our debt.

So What?

That’s all fine and dandy, but who cares? Well, we all should. None of us can save ourselves. We need Jesus Christ as our Savior to be reconciled to the Father. Thankfully, because of the crucifixion and resurrection, that’s possible. We can be saved.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 6:23

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Romans 10:9-10

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Romans 10:13

Salvation. That’s what the crucifixion and resurrection are all about. Jordan Person is not a Bible teacher if he doesn’t grasp the true significance of this historical event. What a danger it is for Christians (or anyone) to turn to Peterson for insight into our holy text!

Final Thought

I recently heard Todd Friel refer to his spiritual gift as being a party pooper. I can relate, Mr. Friel, and it looks like I’m doing it again.

Jordan Peterson is a highly educated, fast talking man who speaks with authority. In this case, however, he speaks with authority he doesn’t have. Christian, Peterson has nothing to offer you in terms of Bible teaching. In more than two hours of discussion, I’m not confident I could pull out one doctrinally correct thing he or his guests said.

Of course, we should pray for Jordan Peterson, but we should stop treating him as someone to turn to better understand God, relationships, or the world around us. His “wisdom” is of this world, and his worldview is completely absent of the true God. Jordan Peterson is not a Bible teacher. He’s a desperately lost man being told he’s brilliant as he creates his own version of Jesus. Don’t follow this man. Just pray for him and find solid men of God from whom to learn. I recommend starting in your local church.

What do you think about Jordan Peterson teaching the Bible?

Image courtesy of Ben White via Unsplash.