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Watching The Chosen: History, Faith, and Interpretation
What makes The Chosen so popular, and how does it portray Jesus and his disciples?
The Chosen is the first-ever multiple-season television show about Jesus Christ and his first followers. With over half a billion views on its free electronic media app, the show has amassed a worldwide following and has now become available on cable networks, streaming services, and broadcast television venues as well as making appearances in theatrical releases. But what, exactly, makes it so appealing to viewers? And how do its theology and storytelling technique compare with the biblical narratives?
These and other questions are addressed in this fascinating collection of essays written by theologians, biblical scholars, and other academics from a variety of disciplines and perspectives. The authors discuss the theatrical portrayal of Jesus, the theological ideas and ideals represented in the program, and the ways it utilizes—and sometimes overutilizes—artistic license in bringing the stories from the Bible’s four canonical Gospels to the screen. Although approaching the television show as academics, the authors are sympathetic to the faith implications of The Chosen and are themselves writing from a range of theological perspectives. This thought-provoking volume will appeal to people interested in the intersection of theology and popular culture, church leaders seeking to utilize The Chosen in their ministries, and fans of the television show.
Daniel M. Garland Jr.
Robert K. Garcia
Paul Gondreau
Patrick Gray
Matthew Grey
Kenneth Gumbert
Liz Hall
Todd Hall
Jeannine Hanger
John Hilton III
Douglas S. Huffman
James F. Keating
David Kneip
Dolores Morris
Joy E. A. Qualls
Deborah Savage
Jesse Stone
Gaye Strathearn
T. Adam Van Wart
The Chosen is the first-ever multiple-season television show about Jesus Christ and his first followers. With over half a billion views on its free electronic media app, the show has amassed a worldwide following and has now become available on cable networks, streaming services, and broadcast television venues as well as making appearances in theatrical releases. But what, exactly, makes it so appealing to viewers? And how do its theology and storytelling technique compare with the biblical narratives?
These and other questions are addressed in this fascinating collection of essays written by theologians, biblical scholars, and other academics from a variety of disciplines and perspectives. The authors discuss the theatrical portrayal of Jesus, the theological ideas and ideals represented in the program, and the ways it utilizes—and sometimes overutilizes—artistic license in bringing the stories from the Bible’s four canonical Gospels to the screen. Although approaching the television show as academics, the authors are sympathetic to the faith implications of The Chosen and are themselves writing from a range of theological perspectives. This thought-provoking volume will appeal to people interested in the intersection of theology and popular culture, church leaders seeking to utilize The Chosen in their ministries, and fans of the television show.
Daniel M. Garland Jr.
Robert K. Garcia
Paul Gondreau
Patrick Gray
Matthew Grey
Kenneth Gumbert
Liz Hall
Todd Hall
Jeannine Hanger
John Hilton III
Douglas S. Huffman
James F. Keating
David Kneip
Dolores Morris
Joy E. A. Qualls
Deborah Savage
Jesse Stone
Gaye Strathearn
T. Adam Van Wart
275 pages, Paperback
Published July 29, 2025
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12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 11, 2025
Summary: Essays exploring the imagination, storytelling, Christology and treatment of persons, especially women, in “The Chosen.”
Recently, another book I was reviewing had a chapter titled, “Can I call myself a Christian if I Don’t Watch The Chosen?” I resonated, having sometimes wondered in the last couple years whether I was the last Christian in my circles not to watch The Chosen. I’d just seen too many bad movies and videos by Christians, and I didn’t need to watch more. Then this book came. And I felt that I couldn’t review the book without having watched at least a bit of the series. Honestly, Season one, Episode one hooked me, when Jesus healed Mary Magdalene. Now I’m through most of Season Three, having watched most of what the book covers.
One of my discoveries is that many of the contributors to this volume had similar experiences to mine. That is, they approached skeptically and were won over by the imaginative storytelling, the very human and yet divine Jesus, and the way Jesus in The Chosen treats persons, especially women. The essays, seventeen in all, are divided under four topics.
Part One considers “Imagination and Interpretation.” Douglas S. Huffman leads off looking at how the series balances authenticity, plausibility, and relatability. But sometimes people have criticized the imaginative reading between the lines of scripture. David Kneip looks at Philip and Nathanael under the fig tree in John 1:43-51 and how the early church fathers offered similar renderings. Dolores G. Morris considers the show’s approach to the problem of evil and the hiddenness of God, noting the epistemic humility that runs throughout. She also responds to charges that the show adds to scripture, reminding critics that this is historical fiction based on the gospels, which viewers are urged to read. Concluding this section, Kenneth Gumbert, explores the wide appeal beyond Dallas Jenkins own evangelicalism, noting how the storytelling also appeals to the sacramental imagination.
Then Part Two digs more deeply into the storytelling and narrative art of the series. The first essay explores the storytelling through the lens of attachment theory and dual processing models of information. Then T. Adam Van Wert explores how The Chosen affirms the sufficiency of story to invite us to live within the story. Jeannine Hanger focuses on stories from John’s gospel and how these move viewers to take in more of scripture, a reaction of many. Finally, John Hilton III explores how to use The Chosen in the classroom. He offers a helpful set of questions to use with many episodes.
Part Three focuses on Christology and history. Paul Gandreau addresses the very human portrayal of Jesus in the context of historical Christological debates. Daniel M. Garland Jr. elaborates the bridegroom theology portrayed in the series’ treatments of John’s gospel. But how does the portrayal of Jesus relate to the “quests” for the historical Jesus? James F. Keating takes up this subject. Finally, in this section., Patrick Gray considers how The Chosen portrays the traditional Evangelists: Matthew, Luke, and John.
One of the most compelling aspects of The Chosen for me is how Jesus encounters various individuals. Jesse Stone considers this emotional resonance. Deborah Savage shows how this portrayal of Jesus in relationship exemplifies John Paul II’s personalism. Then Robert K. Garcia builds on this, showing the portrayal of the infinite worth of each individual. Finally, the concluding essays center on the women in The Chosen. The first shows how dialogue amplifies women’s voices. The second offers a rhetorical analysis of Jesus’ interactions with women and how these elevate the status of women.
In sum, reading these essays enhanced my appreciation for the storytelling artistry and the historical authenticity of the series. They also confirmed the high view of scripture evident in this “historical fiction.” All this suggests to me that the series creators have immersed themselves deeply in the gospel narratives. Above all, the discussion confirmed my own sense of the compelling portrayal of Jesus, the most believable I’ve seen. While one doesn’t need this book to watch The Chosen, reading it will enable you to enter more deeply into the series. It has for me.
_______________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
Recently, another book I was reviewing had a chapter titled, “Can I call myself a Christian if I Don’t Watch The Chosen?” I resonated, having sometimes wondered in the last couple years whether I was the last Christian in my circles not to watch The Chosen. I’d just seen too many bad movies and videos by Christians, and I didn’t need to watch more. Then this book came. And I felt that I couldn’t review the book without having watched at least a bit of the series. Honestly, Season one, Episode one hooked me, when Jesus healed Mary Magdalene. Now I’m through most of Season Three, having watched most of what the book covers.
One of my discoveries is that many of the contributors to this volume had similar experiences to mine. That is, they approached skeptically and were won over by the imaginative storytelling, the very human and yet divine Jesus, and the way Jesus in The Chosen treats persons, especially women. The essays, seventeen in all, are divided under four topics.
Part One considers “Imagination and Interpretation.” Douglas S. Huffman leads off looking at how the series balances authenticity, plausibility, and relatability. But sometimes people have criticized the imaginative reading between the lines of scripture. David Kneip looks at Philip and Nathanael under the fig tree in John 1:43-51 and how the early church fathers offered similar renderings. Dolores G. Morris considers the show’s approach to the problem of evil and the hiddenness of God, noting the epistemic humility that runs throughout. She also responds to charges that the show adds to scripture, reminding critics that this is historical fiction based on the gospels, which viewers are urged to read. Concluding this section, Kenneth Gumbert, explores the wide appeal beyond Dallas Jenkins own evangelicalism, noting how the storytelling also appeals to the sacramental imagination.
Then Part Two digs more deeply into the storytelling and narrative art of the series. The first essay explores the storytelling through the lens of attachment theory and dual processing models of information. Then T. Adam Van Wert explores how The Chosen affirms the sufficiency of story to invite us to live within the story. Jeannine Hanger focuses on stories from John’s gospel and how these move viewers to take in more of scripture, a reaction of many. Finally, John Hilton III explores how to use The Chosen in the classroom. He offers a helpful set of questions to use with many episodes.
Part Three focuses on Christology and history. Paul Gandreau addresses the very human portrayal of Jesus in the context of historical Christological debates. Daniel M. Garland Jr. elaborates the bridegroom theology portrayed in the series’ treatments of John’s gospel. But how does the portrayal of Jesus relate to the “quests” for the historical Jesus? James F. Keating takes up this subject. Finally, in this section., Patrick Gray considers how The Chosen portrays the traditional Evangelists: Matthew, Luke, and John.
One of the most compelling aspects of The Chosen for me is how Jesus encounters various individuals. Jesse Stone considers this emotional resonance. Deborah Savage shows how this portrayal of Jesus in relationship exemplifies John Paul II’s personalism. Then Robert K. Garcia builds on this, showing the portrayal of the infinite worth of each individual. Finally, the concluding essays center on the women in The Chosen. The first shows how dialogue amplifies women’s voices. The second offers a rhetorical analysis of Jesus’ interactions with women and how these elevate the status of women.
In sum, reading these essays enhanced my appreciation for the storytelling artistry and the historical authenticity of the series. They also confirmed the high view of scripture evident in this “historical fiction.” All this suggests to me that the series creators have immersed themselves deeply in the gospel narratives. Above all, the discussion confirmed my own sense of the compelling portrayal of Jesus, the most believable I’ve seen. While one doesn’t need this book to watch The Chosen, reading it will enable you to enter more deeply into the series. It has for me.
_______________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
Displaying 1 of 1 review