The Chosen Episode Guide: season 2, Episode 7
S2, E7
It is disappointing that in an episode that is almost entirely fictional, the one part that is found in the Bible is glossed right over. Jesus begins teaching the disciples the Lord’s prayer, which fades away as soon as Jesus begins.
Biblical: What We Find in Scripture
The conversation of the disciples when Jesus returns isn’t in the Bible, but in Matthew 6, Jesus does teach the disciples to pray in what we call “the Lord’s prayer.”
Unbiblical: What Contradicts Scripture
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Extra-biblical: What Is Made Up but Doesn’t Contradict Scripture
As always, Quintas and Atticus are not characters found in the Bible. There is no indication in the Bible that signs were posted in seeking Jesus for questioning.
Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John’s contest to see who would fish, and whether or not they were all to fish, isn’t in the Bible. Additionally, there is nothing in the Bible to indicate that Jesus had ever choreographed the disciples in preparation for any of his teachings. Rather, we often see Jesus giving last-minute instructions, like directing them to feed the crowds themselves at the feeding of the 5,000 and 4,000. Whatever conversations are later had in this episode while Peter and Andrew are fishing are fictional as well.
Rabbis Shmuel (Samuel) and Yusef (Joseph) aren’t named in Scripture, and this meeting of the rabbis in the opening minutes of this episode is not in the Bible. In fact, there are only 3 Pharisees that are named in the Bible, and the only one that occurs in the Gospels is Nicodemus. Saul (later Paul) and Gamaliel are both named in Acts. When these Pharisees then go to the Roman cohort, we can know that these events are fictional because none of the Pharisees, nor Romans, are named in the Bible.
The Roman plot to arrest Jesus, as well as his subsequent arrest, aren’t found in the Bible. The Jews, mainly by the Jewish religious leaders, are often found to be seeking to arrest Jesus, though this is mostly toward the end of Jesus’ ministry. The Romans seem largely unconcerned with Jesus. This
The fact that the arrest of Jesus is fictional means also that the subsequent argument of the disciples and Andrew’s accusation at Mary Magdalene are fictional and dramatized for this episode.
Jesus is asked, when he heals by declaring that sins are forgiven, who other than God has the authority to forgive sins. The answer, of course, is only God, but that is the point. However, because all of the events of this episode so far are fictional, the question asked in this way is also fictional.
Quintas is a fictional character; therefore, his conversation with Jesus is fiction as well.
The Ethiopian woman isn’t a biblical character.
Again, while Nicodemus plays a prominent role in The Chosen, he plays almost no role in the biblical record. Nicodemus is only found in the gospel of John, and only when he goes to Jesus by night to question him (Jn. 3), when he speaks up saying that Jesus deserves a hearing according to their law (Jn. 7), and in preparing Jesus’ body for burial (Jn. 19).
Helpful: What We Might Be Helpful To the Watcher
While Quintas is fictional, there is a helpful element here, though it isn’t exactly accurate in its application. Quintas tells Jesus that taking a tax collector, starting a “riot”, etc., are “bones.” Pilate had been sent to Israel by Rome because of his poor leadership in other areas of the empire, particularly allowing riots. The one thing Pilate couldn’t have on his hands was another riot. While that has nothing to do with Quintas, a fictional character, it does give insight into why Pilate may have been willing to give up Barabbas instead of Jesus.
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.
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