Beards & Bible Podcast

Few books of the Bible have generated more questions, confusion, and debate than the book of Revelation. In this special teaching episode, we explore how to understand and interpret this fascinating book, uncover its original message, and discover why its central focus is not fear, speculation, or conspiracy—but Jesus.

Textual criticism is basically the process of comparing all the oldest and best ancient copies of the Bible we’ve discovered, so we can get as close as possible to the original words the biblical authors wrote. Properly understood- it’s not scary, it’s not anti-faith, and it doesn’t deny the inspiration of Scripture — it’s simply good scholarship. And modern Bible translations use this approach to draw from a much larger, older, and more diverse set of manuscripts than translators had access to in the 1600s. The goal is clarity, accuracy, and faithfulness to the earliest text we can reconstruct. But the KJV-Only movement takes a very different path. It leans solely on the Textus Receptus, a smaller collection of later manuscripts that the King James translators used. While those manuscripts are valuable, they represent only a sliver of the evidence we have today— which means the KJV-Only position often struggles to account for the full reality of how Bible translation actually works and how language naturally develops over time. In the first part of a two-part series, we’re going to hear from Seth Knorr from BibleTheologyBlog.com as he explains and defends the textual-criticism approach to Bible translation—unpacking how it works, why it uses a broader and earlier set of manuscripts, and how it differs from the KJV-Only reliance on the Textus Receptus.

We’ve all heard it — “Judge not, lest you be judged.” But what did Jesus really mean by that? Is it ever right to confront another believer about sin or unhealthy behavior? And if so, how do we do that without becoming hypocritical, self-righteous, or unloving? In this episode, we’re diving into one of the hardest parts of Christian community — holding one another accountable in a way that actually honors God. How do you approach a friend who’s drifting spiritually? What do you do when someone “calls you out” in a way that hurts more than it helps? And what does it look like to stand for truth among non-believers without being judgmental or defensive? At what point does something like Church Discipline get involved in the process? These are the kinds of critical conversations we can’t afford to avoid — and today, we’re talking about how to have them with grace, truth, and courage.

As of October 8th, 2025, the U.S. government is shut down. Lawmakers in Washington are deadlocked over federal spending — House Republicans pushing for deeper cuts and stronger border security, while Democrats are pushing back, warning that essential services and federal paychecks could be delayed if an agreement isn’t reached soon. It’s another reminder of how divided and fragile things can feel politically in our country. Meanwhile, in the Middle East, this week marks two years since the October 7th attacks- when Hamas terrorists murdered around 1,200 people in Israel and took over 250 hostages. Since then, Israel’s war in Gaza has devastated the region- with tens of thousands killed, millions displaced, and deep global tension about how peace can ever return to that part of the world. So in this episode, we’re talking about the instability of our times — in politics, in war, in culture — and how Jesus’ words in Mark 13 remind us that none of this takes God by surprise. Nations will rise and fall, wars will come and go, but His kingdom remains unshaken.

More and more people today say, “I’m spiritual, but not religious.” But what does that actually mean, and why is it so common in our generation? In this episode, we explore why one in three Americans now identify as SBNR, six defining aspects of this mindset and why they matter, and why practices like crystals, energy healing, and horoscopes have become so attractive. We’ll also look at the surprising ways this trend could be good for the Church and the major challenges it presents. If spirituality has become a curated experience, what happens when God doesn’t fit our custom order?

For over 400 years, the King James Version of the Bible has shaped the English-speaking world—one could argue that it’s been the single most influential and important book in the English-speaking world. But for some Christians today, it’s more than just a trusted translation—it’s the only legitimate translation. The King James Only movement insists that all other English translations are flawed, dangerous, or even deceptive. But where did this idea come from? Why do some believers cling so tightly to this one version? And what does the actual history—of manuscripts, translations, and church tradition—really say? In this episode, we’ll explore the roots of the KJV-only position, the arguments that fuel it, and why a faithful reading of Scripture doesn’t have to mean speaking 17th-century English.