I was not going to write any more about the Chosen but a friend of ours who read what I had written asked my opinion of season 4, so I am continuing my review.
Season 3
I don't recall not seeing the major theological errors in season 3 like I did in Season2. Although, I found it rather amusing in season 3 episode 2, when Peter and his wife decided it was time to start their family now. I can only find one example of family planning in the Bible, and it didn't end well. It's in Gen 35:9-10. Family planning is a 20th century concept.
Season 4
Episode 2
I really enjoyed when Jesus told Matthew forgiveness is a gift that someone can give when you apologize. And I enjoyed the reconciliation of Peter and Matthew. Dallas's portrayal of the frequent bickering of Jesus' disciples I think, may not be far from the truth. I was really starting to enjoy the Chosen again until episode 3
Episode 3
I found episode 3 very very disturbing. Dallas makes up a story, that's nowhere in the Bible, about Thomas having a fiancé that gets run through with a sword by a Roman soldier while the crowd is doing some strange shuffle dance. (I know the crowd is Chosen fans not paid actors, but I must admit that it was pretty funny looking. What did Dallas tell them to do?) Jesus is then whisked away by His disciples to protect him and then when Jesus comes back He does nothing. Apparently Dallas wanted to illustrate that God doesn't always answer our prayers or he wanted to give Thomas an excuse for why later he won't believe that Jesus rose from the dead until he sees Him.
We often refer to Thomas as "Doubting Thomas", but the others didn't believe either, until they saw Jesus in the flesh.
"And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them." Luke 24:11
"Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came." John 20:24
So it doesn't seem like Thomas was any more of a doubter then the other 10.
While it is true that God does not always answer our prayers in the way we would like, the Bible gives us some of the reasons why.
James 4:3 says, "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures."
And Paul was given a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble "And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure." 2 Cor 12:7
There are plenty of real examples in the Bible of people's prayers not being answered. Why manufacture this very disturbing story that almost certainly didn't happen?
With David and Bathsheba (the story at the beginning of episode 3) God told David why through Nathan the prophet. He said, "…However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die." 2 Sam 12:14 But, David was hoping to change God's mind.
In my opinion, God was being merciful to the illegitimate child of David and Bathsheba by taking him to heaven. It saved the child from the shame he would have had if he had become king. He would not have been allowed in the temple.
Deut 23:2 "One of illegitimate birth shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord.
Also Jesus DID NOT need anyone to protect Him. Several times the Jews tried to kill Him But He just walked away such as in Luke 4:29, John 8:59, and John 10:31-39. When Jesus was crucified he laid down His life willingly.
Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
John 10:17-18 "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father."
Also, though this may seem minor, the disciples did not bring a bucket of water to wash off the mud of the man that was born blind from birth. He was told to wash in the pool of Siloam. Why change the story?
And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. John 9:7
Episode 4
I enjoyed that they portrayed Gaius as the centurion mentioned in Matt 8:5
Episode 6
In Season 4 Episode 6 Jesus and his disciples get stoned. This almost certainly did not happen.
John 8:59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
John 10:31-39 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him……….39 Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand.
Episode 7
According to Dallas Thomas was bitter and angry that Jesus rose Lazarus from the grave but not his fiancé. Another untrue story from Dallas's imagination.
Episode 8
I did enjoy episode 8 and didn't notice any blatant errors in that episode. However, I don't agree with Dallas's portrayal of Pilate. As I said in my review of season 2, I believe Pilate was more righteous than the Jewish leaders.
Dallas's other Movies
I really enjoyed Dallas's other movies including The Ride, Midnight Clear, The Resurrection of Gavin Stone, and The Best Christmas Pagent Ever. It's just a shame that he treated "The Chosen" as if it's a fiction. "The Chosen" should have a disclaimer at the beginning of every episode that says "Based on a true story".
The Resurrection of Gavin Stone flopped in the theaters because the secular critics gave it a bad rating and unfortunately it seems that most Christians listen to the secular critics rather than a movie review from a Christian point of view like Plugged in.com