The Danger of Editorializing Holy Scripture in The Chosen

The Danger of Editorializing Holy Scripture in The Chosen

The Chosen, created by Dallas Jenkins, has captivated audiences with its cinematic portrayal of Jesus and His disciples, offering a fresh perspective on familiar biblical narratives. While the show has been praised for its production quality and emotional depth, it raises significant concerns for those who hold Scripture as the inspired, inerrant Word of God. The danger lies in the show’s tendency to editorialize holy Scripture—adding, altering, or reinterpreting events in ways that deviate from the biblical text. This practice risks presenting a distorted image of Christ, undermining the authority of God’s Word and potentially leading viewers astray. As Charles Spurgeon wisely noted, discernment is not merely distinguishing truth from lies but recognizing the “almost true” from the truth. This critique examines specific examples from The Chosen that illustrate this editorializing, supported by Scripture that warns against adding to or taking away from God’s Word.

The Authority of Scripture: Once Delivered, Divinely Inspired

The Bible is clear about its own authority and sufficiency. Jude 1:3 exhorts believers to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (NKJV). This verse underscores that the truth of God’s Word, as delivered through divine inspiration, is complete and unchanging. Furthermore, Revelation 22:18-19 issues a stern warning: “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life” (NKJV). These passages emphasize that Scripture is not to be altered or supplemented with human inventions.

The Holy Spirit, in His divine wisdom, inspired the biblical writers to record precisely what God intended for humanity to know. As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 affirms, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (NKJV). God could have provided exhaustive details about every moment of Jesus’ life, filling in every “blank” with additional context. Yet, in His omniscience, He chose to give us the Word as it stands, sufficient for all generations, including those in 2025 reading about first-century Palestine. When The Chosen inserts extrabiblical dialogue, scenes, or motivations, it risks presuming to improve upon what God deemed sufficient, thereby undermining the divine authority of Scripture.

Editorializing in The Chosen: Specific Examples

The Chosen frequently takes liberties with the biblical narrative, adding scenes and dialogue not found in Scripture. While artistic license is expected in dramatizations, the show’s editorializing often crosses into theological misrepresentation, particularly in its portrayal of Jesus. Two key examples highlight this issue: the depiction of Jesus’ interaction with Nicodemus in the context of John 3:16 and the portrayal of Jesus rehearsing the Sermon on the Mount.

Misrepresenting Christ’s Deity in the Nicodemus Scene

In the episode depicting Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus (drawn from John 3), The Chosen introduces a troubling scene where Nicodemus quotes Psalm 2:12, saying, “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way” (NKJV), while kneeling before Jesus. In the show, Jesus responds by telling Nicodemus not to bow or kneel to Him, then completes the Psalm by saying, “Blessed are all those who take refuge in Him,” as though reassuring Nicodemus not to fear the Son’s anger. This exchange is entirely invented and contradicts the biblical portrayal of Jesus.

Scripture never records Jesus rejecting worship or discouraging anyone from kneeling before Him. On the contrary, Jesus consistently accepted worship as God incarnate. For example, in Matthew 14:33, after Jesus walks on water, the disciples “worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God’” (NKJV), and Jesus does not rebuke them. In John 20:28, Thomas declares, “My Lord and my God!” (NKJV), and Jesus affirms his faith. Hebrews 1:6 states, “Let all the angels of God worship Him” (NKJV), affirming that Jesus, as God, is worthy of all glory, honor, and worship. By depicting Jesus as rejecting Nicodemus’ act of reverence, The Chosen presents a Jesus who appears to deny His own deity—a portrayal that aligns more with the views of groups like Jehovah’s Witnesses or Muslims, who reject Christ’s divinity, than with the biblical Jesus.

This editorial choice is not a minor creative flourish but a serious theological error. By suggesting Jesus would discourage worship, the show risks presenting “another Jesus” (2 Corinthians 11:4), a false Christ who makes no claim to deity. This misrepresentation could mislead viewers, particularly those unfamiliar with Scripture, into questioning the core Christian doctrine of Christ’s divinity. The alteration of Psalm 2:12’s context further compounds the issue, as it implies Jesus is correcting Nicodemus’ fear of divine judgment rather than affirming His authority as the Son. This is not poetic license but a distortion of Christ’s identity and mission, constituting a “blasphemous assault on the gospel” by presenting a false Christ.

Jesus Rehearsing the Sermon on the Mount

Another glaring example of editorializing occurs in the scene where Jesus is depicted rehearsing the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) with Matthew. In this invented scenario, Jesus is portrayed as nervously fretting over His opening line, seeking the perfect “hook” to capture His audience’s attention. He wakes Matthew to discuss his opener, ultimately settling on describing the sermon as “a road map on how to find me.” This portrayal is not only absent from Scripture but also fundamentally misrepresents Jesus’ nature and authority.

The Bible presents Jesus as God Almighty, omniscient and sovereign, who speaks with divine authority. In John 12:49-50, Jesus declares, “For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life” (NKJV). Jesus never struggled to find the right words, as His teaching came directly from the Father. The suggestion that He would anxiously rehearse His sermon or seek human input undermines His divine wisdom and authority.

Moreover, Jesus’ own teaching contradicts this portrayal. In Matthew 10:19-20, He instructs His disciples, “Do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (NKJV). If Jesus taught His disciples not to worry about their words because the Spirit would guide them, it is absurd to suggest that He Himself would fret over His phrasing. The Sermon on the Mount is a divinely inspired masterpiece, not a humanly crafted speech requiring a catchy “hook.” Characterizing it as “a road map on how to find me” reduces its profound theological weight to a simplistic, self-help-style message, further distorting Christ’s purpose and teaching.

The Danger of Editorializing: A False Christ

These examples illustrate how The Chosen’s editorializing goes beyond creative storytelling to misrepresenting the person and work of Jesus Christ. By adding scenes, dialogue, and motivations not found in Scripture, the show risks presenting a Jesus who is less than divine, less than authoritative, and less than the Savior revealed in God’s Word. This is not a trivial matter. As Paul warns in Galatians 1:8, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed” (NKJV). The Jesus of The Chosen—who rejects worship, frets over His words, and reinterprets Scripture to downplay His authority—bears troubling similarities to a false Christ, one that aligns more with human imagination than with divine revelation.

For viewers, particularly those with limited biblical knowledge, these portrayals can shape their understanding of Jesus in ways that contradict Scripture. A Jehovah’s Witness or Muslim watching the Nicodemus scene might feel validated in their rejection of Christ’s deity, seeing a Jesus who deflects worship. A seeker might view Jesus as a relatable, uncertain teacher rather than the omniscient Son of God. Such misrepresentations can sow confusion and weaken the gospel’s clarity.

Conclusion: Guarding the Truth of God’s Word

While The Chosen may aim to make Jesus accessible and relatable, its editorializing of holy Scripture crosses a dangerous line. The Word of God, “once for all delivered to the saints,” is sufficient and authoritative, inspired by the Holy Spirit to convey exactly what God intended. By adding extrabiblical scenes and dialogue that alter Christ’s character and message, the show risks presenting a false Christ, undermining the gospel’s truth. As believers, we must heed Spurgeon’s call to discernment, distinguishing the “almost true” from the truth. Rather than relying on dramatizations that take liberties with Scripture, we are called to test all things against the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 5:21) and hold fast to the Jesus revealed therein—the divine, authoritative, and worthy Savior who alone is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).