Anchored by the Word is the podcast ministry of Westlake Baptist Church on the shores of the beautiful Smith Mountain Lake in Moneta, VA. Hosted by Lead Pastor Justin Likens, we discuss areas of practical theology and making the scriptures both accessible and engaging for people everywhere, be they seekers looking to know more about the faith or long-time followers of Jesus.
Anchored by the Word is the podcast ministry of Westlake Baptist Church on the shores of the beautiful Smith Mountain Lake in Moneta, VA. Hosted by Lead Pastor Justin Likens, we discuss areas of practical theology and making the scriptures both accessible and engaging for people everywhere, be they seekers looking to know more about the faith or long-time followers of Jesus.
In this episode of Anchored by the Word, Pastor Justin addresses an important and sometimes controversial topic: modern Bible translations. Prompted by a recent conversation with a "King James only" advocate and the concerns of a new believer, he takes time to answer the question, “Are modern translations missing verses?” and explains why we can have full confidence that God’s Word has been faithfully preserved.
Throughout the episode, Pastor Justin unpacks the history of chapters and verse divisions, the cultural differences between how Scripture was learned in biblical times versus today, and why some verses appear differently in various translations. Using examples such as Matthew 4:4, Jesus’ words from the cross, and Acts 8:37, he shows how translation differences do not change the gospel message or the person and work of Christ.
Ultimately, listeners are reminded that the greatest priority is not which translation they use, but whether they are truly reading, understanding, and obeying God’s Word. No matter the translation, the gospel shines clearly, and God’s faithfulness in preserving His Word gives believers confidence to trust, study, and live by Scripture.