S2, E2

Most of this episode is either fiction, or even in this case error. However, the episode lands on a pretty good note with a fairly biblical presentation of the calling of Philip and Nathaniel.

Biblical: What We Find in Scripture

After Jesus calls Philip in Jn. 1, Philip goes and finds Nathaniel. While almost everything in this episode is either fictional or erroneous, at least this detail is correct (Jn. 1:45).
I’m not willing to relate it to any one specific account, but Jesus is recorded by the gospel writers as telling the disciples 3 times that he would be departing from them, and each time they did not understand. Each of these 3 predictions of his death occurred while Jesus and the disciples were on the road. However, it seems as though each of these predictions was to all of the disciples, not just Peter.
Philip’s seeking of Nathaniel, Nathaniel’s initial rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, Philip’s invitation to Nathaniel to “come and see”, Jesus’ calling Nathaniel and Israelite in whom there is no deceit, Jesus saying he saw Nathaniel under the fig tree, Nathaniel’s confession of who Jesus is, and Jesus statement that Nathaniel will see greater things than this are all recorded in Jn. 1:45-51. There are certainly some embellishments there in order to round out the scene. But this scene where Philip seeks Jesus is quite correct.

Unbiblical: What Contradicts Scripture

The scene where Philip comes into the field with 4 of the disciples is not recorded in the Bible. Philip’s calling is recorded in Jn. 1:43-44. There is an anachronism in the scene as well as a contradiction to John’s record of his calling. First, the anachronism, or something that is not correct to the time. These events are supposed to happen early on in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus’ early ministry was marked by wide acceptance, even enthusiasm, of Jesus’ ministry. The disciples would not likely have been so hesitant at that point, especially of one individual who wouldn’t have been part of a band of raiders. The error comes in the fact that Philip was looking for Jesus. Jn. 1:43 reveals Philip and Nathaniel were called when Jesus, upon entering into Galilee, found Philip. When Jesus comes into the camp later, Philip introduces himself. Again, John records that Jesus found Philip, not the other way around. Nathaniel’s calling comes right after Philip’s.

Extra-biblical: What Is Made Up but Doesn’t Contradict Scripture

It is unclear who is in the opening scene, and I am unclear on how this is going to connect to any story, but it at least appears to be something fictional.
Philip’s meeting of Matthew, and their subsequent conversation on the road, is not found in the Bible.
Matthew’s continued social awkwardness, even disability, isn’t found in the pages of the Bible. There isn’t any indication in the Bible that Matthew struggled in this way.
The architect from the opening scene is later, who also has the drink in the bar, is later revealed to be Nathaniel. Jn. 1:45ff (ff means “following”) records Nathaniel under the tree burning a set of plans and asking of God, “do you see me?” This is probably setting the stage, as recorded in John 1, for Nathaniel’s calling. When Jesus called Nathaniel, he is questioned by Nathaniel as to how the Messiah could possibly come from Nazareth. It is at this point that Jesus tells Nathaniel that he saw him under the fig tree (Jn. 1:48).
Nicodemus continues to be a character that, while biblical, has a lot of fictional things about him inserted. This is the case in this episode. Additionally, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, Ramah is not a character in the Bible. Any part she plays in any episode is not found in the Bible.
Philip’s story of John’s disciples not knowing each other’s names is not in the Bible.
We have no record that Simon Peter objected to any of the disciples writing things down.

Helpful: What We Might Be Helpful To the Watcher

While we have no record in the Bible of the disciples using push carts to move their stuff, the scene on the road is helpful. The disciples must have had some way to move their belongings. If we learn something from Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, it is not unlikely that there may have been other times that the disciples didn’t want to let Jesus do menial tasks as their rabbi, and it wouldn’t have been unlikely that Jesus insisted on doing them. At the end of this episode, that scene is still fictional.

Dangerous: Things That Have Been Added That Might Be Dangerous to Accept as Fact

I believe that there is a danger inherent in every episode, and for that reason, I’m including this suggestion in every episode guide. The danger is assuming that the things in the episodes of the Chosen that are not in the Bible are true, part of the biblical record. In order to avoid this danger, I would encourage everyone who watches the Chosen to compare it to the biblical record. IN part, this is because most of what is in each episode of the Chosen is not found in the Bible. There is more speculation here than actual events recorded in the Bible. If you want a harmony of all of the gospels in chronological order to aid this, then I would recommend purchasing a copy of One Perfect Life by John MacArthur. It is a compilation of all of the gospel records in order of the events as best as we can understand.

Anachronisms and Errors: Things that are out of place regarding the time, etc.

Again, Matthew is said to have a dog, this time saying himself as he recounts what he had before following Jesus. Dogs were not kept as pets in Israel. They were considered ritually unclean animals.