Within Reason #164 The Chosen Creator: Putting Words in Jesus' Mouth?
80 snips
Aug 9, 2026 
Dallas Jenkins, creator and showrunner of The Chosen, discusses dramatizing Jesus with respect and plausibility. He talks about harmonizing gospel accounts, when and how to invent dialogue, choices about miracles and suffering, portraying Judas and women more fully, and balancing theatrical truth with biblical fidelity.
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Encourage Viewers ToRead The Gospels
- Make viewers check primary sources rather than substitute them with a show.
- Jenkins includes disclaimers and encourages reading the Gospels when viewers want doctrinal certainty.
Adjust Dialogue ForActorTheologicalComfort
- Allow actors' conscience to shape performance and trim lines when they cause theological discomfort.
- Jenkins worked with Jonathan Roumie to rework crucifixion dialogue until both felt reverent yet effective.
Some Lines Aim For Capital T Truth
- Jenkins admits some invented Jesus lines are theologically holistic rather than strictly historical (e.g., 'I am the law of Moses').
- He defends them as capturing 'capital T truth' drawn from the whole Scripture, not isolated historicity.
