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“The Chosen” is a television series depicting the life of Christ. Season 1, which premiered in 2019 (including a pilot episode on the birth of Christ in 2017), attracted attention for various reasons: it is a pioneering TV show portraying Christ’s life across multiple seasons (with plans for a total of seven seasons); it was funded by the public, receiving more donations (over $40 million as of 2023) than any other media project to date; it is the first series to debut simultaneously in all countries through its dedicated app (garnering over 108 million views in 180 countries to date); and it is acclaimed for its compelling storytelling.
Viewers can watch “The Chosen” for free, without any fees or subscriptions required. DVDs of each season are also available for purchase. The show’s creator, Dallas Jenkins (son of Jerry Jenkins, co-author of Left Behind), holds a degree in Biblical Studies. Jenkins assembled a team of expert consultants to ensure the script’s biblical and historical accuracy. The panel included a Messianic Jewish rabbi, a Catholic priest, and an evangelical professor of biblical studies.
Jenkins’ primary aim in developing the series was to deepen people’s understanding of Jesus and foster a greater appreciation for Scripture. To achieve this, he and the other writers took the gospel narratives and incorporated what they deemed as plausible details about the lives of the biblical characters mentioned. They provided backgrounds for well-known figures and developed lesser-known characters who are briefly mentioned in Scripture. The objective was to portray the individuals in the Bible as relatable individuals grappling with similar challenges that we all face. In “The Chosen,” the disciples have families and friends, maintain reputations, exhibit humor, and wrestle with financial and other concerns.
Like all historical storytelling, sSome artistic license is evident in “The Chosen.” In this series, a significant amount of artistic license is often taken. When retelling the gospel accounts, the writers have added or altered certain characters, storylines, and details from the original inspired text. These changes aim to provide each episode with a sense of realism. An example of such artistic choices is portraying the disciple Matthew as a young man on the Asperger’s/autism spectrum. While there is no direct biblical evidence supporting Matthew having this disorder, it is a plausible detail that the writers felt justified in incorporating through artistic license. Since no one claims that the show represents God’s Word or is equivalent to the Bible, the creators of “The Chosen” consider such artistic license acceptable and even expected in a medium like television. As long as viewers recognize that what they are watching is art and not reality—and they compare it with Scripture—there is no risk of confusion. It should be understood that, despite its historical accuracy and attention to cultural context, “The Chosen” presents just one perspective from a particular group about what it might have been like to be near Jesus.
Dramatizations of biblical events, such as those in “The Chosen,” offer an opportunity to share the gospel with individuals who may not otherwise engage with the Bible. For believers, these dramatizations can foster spiritual growth by reminding us that the Bible goes beyond mere storytelling—it recounts real events in the lives of actual people who experienced emotions, relationships, and concerns similar to our own.
There have been concerns raised about the involvement of members of the Mormon Church in the production of “The Chosen” and the use of resources owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to film the show. It is true that the distributor of the show, VidAngel, was established by two Mormons. Additionally, there are worries about certain statements made by Dallas Jenkins that appear to be supportive of Mormons.As his brothers and sisters in Christ. Are these concerns sufficient to prevent us from watching The Chosen? That is a matter of personal conviction. The question we need to ask is, “Is this a Mormon show?” That is, “Does this show teach Mormon theology?” The answer is “no,” at least so far. Nothing in the series is promoting uniquely Mormon doctrine, or Catholic, or that of any other group. So, it is possible to use things owned by a Mormon company without producing a Mormon product. Most people, if they don’t hear about Mormons on the set, would never think that The Chosen has an LDS connection at all. That is because the finished product is not Mormon.
The show’s evangelical creators still retain full control over the content of the show. As long as that does not change and The Chosen keeps seeking to produce a faithful retelling of the life of Christ, whether or not to watch The Chosen is a matter of Christian freedom and discernment. If elements of errant theology begin creeping into the show itself, then the creators will have betrayed their viewers and the truth of the gospel. Until that time, watching The Chosen is a matter of conscience. Some Christians will appreciate the retelling of Jesus’ life. Others will have difficulty with the artistic license involved in portraying Jesus’ life on film. Still, others will find a myriad of other reasons not to watch the show, including the Mormon or Catholic involvement, even if Mormon or Catholic theology is not promoted. Each person is to prayerfully discern whether watching the show will be a benefit or a hindrance to his/her walk with the Lord: “Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind” «One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. », (Romans 14:5).
