The Chosen: Why It Misrepresents Jesus

The Chosen: Why It Misrepresents Jesus

“And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.”(Revelation 22:18–19)

Introduction

Few Christian media projects have captured as much attention as The Chosen. With hundreds of millions of views worldwide, its polished production, emotional storytelling, and crowd-funded success have made it a cultural phenomenon.

But popularity does not equal biblical faithfulness. For all its artistry, The Chosen misrepresents Jesus and departs from Scripture in ways that are spiritually dangerous. Even more concerning, its ties to Mormon production and influence should not be brushed aside.

The Bible never calls us to judge truth by emotional impact or popularity. It commands us to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1). When a series claims to portray the Son of God, accuracy is not optional—it is sacred duty.

Misrepresentations of Jesus

The Jesus of The Chosen is not the Jesus of the Bible. Here are several examples:

Jesus “Needs Help” from Matthew – In the show’s retelling, Jesus consults Matthew for input on the Sermon on the Mount. Scripture records nothing of the kind. “He taught as one who had authority, not as their teachers of the law” (Matthew 7:28–29).

Nicodemus Dialogue Expanded – John 3 records a private nighttime conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. The Chosen inflates this into lengthy, emotional scenes and invented dialogue.

Jesus Refuses Worship – In one episode, Jesus gently resists worship. Yet biblically He consistently receives it—from the disciples after calming the storm (Matthew 14:33), from the healed blind man (John 9:38), and from Thomas after the resurrection (John 20:28).

Mary Magdalene’s Portrayal – The series depicts her as relapsing into drinking and despair. Scripture presents her as fully healed and restored by Jesus (Luke 8:2), not as an ongoing rehabilitation project. That shift softens Christ’s authority and implies incomplete redemption.

Therapeutic Jesus – The show reframes Christ as a kind of ancient counselor—emphasizing empathy and introspection at the expense of divine authority, repentance, and miraculous power.

These deviations may appear harmless, but each one subtly reshapes how people understand Jesus. Every fictionalized detail becomes another brushstroke on a counterfeit portrait. When the image of Christ is distorted, the Gospel itself is endangered.

Disobedience to Scripture’s Warning

God’s Word explicitly warns against adding to or subtracting from His revelation (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18–19). By dramatizing Jesus with altered dialogue, softened miracles, and man-made motives, The Chosen risks creating “another gospel” (Galatians 1:6–9).

When a writer invents lines for the Lord of Glory, it is not artistic liberty—it is spiritual presumption. Creativity ends where divine authorship begins.

Production Background and Mormon Influence

While not officially an LDS production, The Chosen is distributed by Angel Studios (formerly VidAngel), a company founded by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The show is filmed partly on a “Jerusalem” set built by the LDS Church in Utah.

The producers insist that Mormon theology does not influence the writing. But the concern isn’t just affiliation—it’s worldview. Mormonism denies the eternal deity of Christ, teaching that He is a created being rather than the uncreated, co-eternal Son of God. When that worldview underwrites a show about Jesus, it inevitably colors the result.

In The Chosen, that downgrade shows up everywhere: Jesus often appears uncertain, needing advice from His disciples, or hesitating before performing miracles—as if discovering His mission instead of commanding it. In one scene, He struggles to “find the words” for the Sermon on the Mount, asking Matthew for help; in another, He admits to not knowing how He will accomplish certain works. These moments subtly teach that Christ’s power is developing rather than divine, that His knowledge is limited, and that His authority depends on human partnership. It’s a quiet but persistent demotion—Jesus is portrayed as less than sovereign, less than omniscient, and ultimately less than God. That isn’t artistic nuance; it’s theological corruption wrapped in empathy.

Even if no overt heresy appears on screen, the foundation matters. You cannot build a true Christ on a false Christology.

For more on this, see our companion article: “Mormonism: Another Gospel and Its Errors.”

Cultural Comparison: Book Adaptations vs. Scripture

When Hollywood alters a beloved novel, fans protest. They demand loyalty to the author’s vision. If people get enraged when studios mishandle a story, how much more vigilant should believers be when filmmakers put new words in the mouth of Jesus Christ?

The Bible is not a screenplay to be massaged—it is the inspired, infallible Word of God.

Why It Matters Theologically

Misrepresentation matters because:

• Viewers internalize a “TV Jesus” who is warmer, safer, and more therapeutic than the biblical Christ.

• This undermines Scripture’s authority and replaces truth with sentimentality.

• Christianity becomes customizable—reshaped by screenwriters rather than the Spirit.

That is not discipleship; it’s idolatry dressed as inspiration.

Answering the Excuse: “At Least It Introduces People to Jesus”

The most common defense of The Chosen is: “Even if it’s not perfect, at least it introduces people to Jesus.”

Another defense follows quickly: “We always encourage viewers to read their Bible.” That sounds responsible—but it’s hollow. The creators know most people won’t, and that’s precisely the audience they depend on. It’s like a fast-food chain saying, “Be sure to eat vegetables at home,” while making a fortune on fries and milkshakes. The disclaimer doesn’t absolve—it exposes the hypocrisy.

They know people won’t study Scripture for context; that’s the gap their storytelling fills. The emotional attachment their series creates becomes a substitute for biblical knowledge.

Even when viewers do open their Bibles, they often read the show into the text rather than the text into their hearts. That’s eisegesis—reading our assumptions into Scripture instead of letting God’s Word correct us. It’s not learning; it’s confirmation bias wrapped in devotion.

The danger isn’t just ignorance—it’s inoculation. After hours of “cinematic Jesus,” many believe they already know Him. They no longer approach the Word for truth but for validation.

The Chosen does not introduce people to the biblical Jesus. It introduces them to a cinematic facsimile—a Jesus written by screenwriters and tailored for mass approval. This is bait-and-switch evangelism, the kind of deception that feels holy because it feels familiar.

Scripture warns us plainly: “False Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24). Paul echoes it: “If anyone preaches another gospel … let that person be cursed” (Galatians 1:8–9).

Imagine a marriage where the groom lifts the veil and realizes it’s not the bride he loved. That’s not introduction—that’s betrayal. And betrayal packaged as faith is the most dangerous kind of lie.

People can feel inspired, emotional, even “changed,” yet remain unsaved because their faith rests in a counterfeit Christ. The devil doesn’t mind you believing in Jesus—as long as it’s not the real one.

The Mary Problem: Grace Without Transformation

One of the most troubling storylines in The Chosen is its portrayal of Mary Magdalene’s relapse into sin. It’s presented as emotional and relatable—but it’s theologically false.

Jesus’ deliverance of Mary was complete. “Whom the Son sets free is truly free” (John 8:36). Scripture never suggests her healing was temporary or conditional. By showing her return to bondage, the show promotes a soft gospel—a cycle of sin and self-help instead of repentance and renewal.

This directly contradicts John 8:11, where Jesus tells the forgiven woman, “Go and sin no more,” and Hebrews 10:26–27, which warns, “If we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.”

When redemption is rewritten as relapse, grace becomes permission and holiness becomes optional. That is not mercy—it is spiritual malpractice.

Every time The Chosen weakens a miracle, it weakens the Messiah. Jesus never performed partial healings or temporary deliverances. When He cast out demons, they did not come back for Season Two. When He cleansed lepers, they stayed clean. His power is not episodic—it’s eternal.

The Real Issue: A False Jesus

The tragedy of The Chosen isn’t mere dramatization—it’s redefinition. The series replaces the holy, sovereign Son of God with a sentimentalized figure whose strength lies in empathy rather than divinity.

That version can comfort emotions but cannot command repentance. It can inspire tears but cannot save souls. It’s a golden calf in modern packaging—familiar enough to worship, different enough to destroy.

Conclusion

The Chosen is not harmless Christian entertainment. It is a beautifully produced counterfeit that invites people to love a fictional Jesus while believing they have met the real one.

Yes, the show can stir curiosity—but curiosity is not conversion. Only the true Christ saves, and He is found in Scripture, not on a screen.

The danger isn’t that people will stop loving Jesus; it’s that they’ll start loving the wrong one.

“So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10–11)

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT). Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Reference Notes

1. Jesus consults Matthew for the Sermon on the Mount: Season 2, Episode 8 dramatizes Jesus asking Matthew to help structure and refine the Sermon on the Mount, even requesting suggestions for its opening. Scripture records no such collaboration, and Jesus is portrayed in the Gospels as speaking by His own divine authority (Matthew 7:28–29).

2. Expanded dialogue with Nicodemus: Season 1, Episode 7 greatly expands Jesus’ nighttime meeting with Nicodemus (John 3), adding long emotional exchanges and fictional dialogue not found in Scripture.

3. Jesus refuses worship: In the same episode (S1E7), Nicodemus bows in reverence and Jesus gently resists—a departure from the Gospels, where He consistently accepts worship (Matthew 14:33; John 9:38; John 20:28).

4. Mary Magdalene relapse storyline: In Season 2, Episode 5, Mary is depicted as returning to drinking and despair after trauma. Scripture presents her as healed and restored (Luke 8:2), with no relapse narrative. The scene implies Christ’s deliverance was partial rather than permanent.

5. Jesus portrayed as uncertain or dependent: In Season 2, Episode 3 (“Matthew 4:24”), Jesus is shown as emotionally exhausted and uncertain how He will sustain His ministry, while His disciples discuss how to help Him plan His next steps. Scripture portrays Jesus as weary (John 4:6) but never confused or unsure of His purpose (John 13:3; 16:30).

6. Jesus presented as learning or seeking input: Throughout multiple episodes, Jesus is shown seeking advice or collaboration from His disciples—for example, asking Matthew’s opinion on parables or Simon’s guidance on travel plans. This reversal of teacher and student subtly diminishes His divine omniscience and aligns with the notion of a “developing” Messiah.

7. LDS connection through production: The series is distributed by Angel Studios (formerly VidAngel), a company founded by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Filming often takes place at a “Jerusalem set” constructed by the LDS Church in Utah.

8. LDS theology and Christ: While the show’s creator, Dallas Jenkins, states that Mormon beliefs do not guide the writing, it is important to note that LDS doctrine denies the eternal deity of Christ, teaching instead that He is a created being and “spirit child of Elohim.” This distinction underscores the concern about Mormon influence on a global portrayal of Jesus.

9. Creator’s public statements: Jenkins has repeatedly referred to Latter-day Saints as “brothers and sisters in Christ” in interviews (2021–2023). While intended as ecumenical cooperation, such language blurs essential doctrinal boundaries—particularly on the nature of Christ’s deity.

10. Audience impact and perception: Critics across Christian traditions have warned that deviations from the biblical narrative risk shaping viewers’ perception of Jesus more than the Gospels themselves—a problem intensified by the show’s massive global reach.