Have you watched The Chosen? What did you get out of it?
We are watching it as a Family this Lent. We just finished Episode 3 and it is very well done. The first episode gave me chills at the end.
I do wish that the actors who play St. Peter and Andrew were switched. I always pictured Peter to be the more manly of the apostles. They make him out to be somewhat of a buffoon.
I love that the actors who play Jesus in the “The Chosen” and “The Passion of the Christ” are both Catholic Christians in real life!
I watched one of the behind the scene Podcast with the director, some of the team, and a couple of the actors talking about Jesus’ “brothers” (Matthew 12:48) and the director said that he is aware of both the traditional view that these were not Mary’s biological children, more likely cousins, and he is aware of the more modern view that these were children that Mary and Joseph had together (which is not what Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and some Protestant Christians believe). Because of this riff, the director made a point not to portray these “brothers” one way or the other.
I would love to hear what others think of “The Chosen.” Often what happens with these sorts of things is that Christians whom have not seen it, are most critical. I work with many different Christians (a Wife of a Church of God Minister, a Lutheran, and three from the United Brethren Church) and they were hesitant to watch it, worried that it might not be true to the Bible. They all now speak very highly of “The Chosen.” I remember when Mel Gibson came out with “The Passion” and the same thing happened. We are our biggest critics (except when it comes to those cheesy Christian movies for some reason ; )
I’ve heard good things about “the Chosen”.unfortunately,i get bare bones minimum cable and can’t watch it.Per Scripture,St Peter on occasion was a profane drunken person,flawed person,but holy.A little comforting to know that they weren’t always perfect flawless people,gives the rest of us hope…
1 Like
Your local Library may have “The Chosen” on DVD. My Wife got me the first Season on Blu-Ray for Christmas.
thank you,prayers for you and your family…
There is an app for your phone for the CHOSEN
IT IS FREE!
4 Likes
I absolutely love the Chosen and recommend it to anyone who’ll listen! Like Ignatian Spirituality, the Gospels have come alive for me.
3 Likes
It really does make you feel you are getting to know Christ and the apostles as an untimate friend. Sometimes it is a bit slow-moving though.
Yes! I love this series.
I’ve watch it and LOVE it I’ve “payed it forward” to help them keep up with their projects you can download their app
ANGEL STUDIOS for FREE they have other things to watch besides The Chosen… funny comedians even
1 Like
The Chosen is excellent. What troubles me is how many can criticize it for one reason or another when we must realize that this is not what actually transpired! I believe it is true to the Gospels. They lend a perspective of each of the characters that helps our feeble minds recall that these people are, were human and flawed. Example, Would they have had a sense of humor and struggles? Of course. I once heard someone criticize the backpack Jesus used as looking too modern. Really? Let’s accept or use what we can from the film. It is not perfect as it is created by people who I personally believe are guided by the Holy Spirit yet flawed, like us.
1 Like
I enjoyed The Chosen and appreciated the reflection of the disciples and Jesus as humans with flaws and individual personalities like us. This shows that as humans we can err and yet believe and ask forgiveness and God still loves us.
I am on my 3 cycle of watching it and always get something more. I also saw the trailers with the director and actors. All inspired by the Holy Ghost.
1 Like
My Wife and I went to see “The Shift” in the theater last night. The acting is good. You’ll recognize some of the actors. Great date night movie. Here is a link to get $5 tickets to go see it.
Yes, my wife and I have watched each season as it became available and are looking forward to the next one.
1 Like
Not only did I watch. I bought the First three seasons and have just bought my tickets to see all of Season 4 at the movie theatre
1 Like
In this post, I will show the teaching that Jesus’s four brothers (Matt. 13:55, Mk. 6:3) were His half-siblings is false.
Firstly, only Jesus is called the son of Joseph and Mary (Matt. 13:55, Mk. 6:3).
Secondly, the Koine Greek word "ἀδελφός’’ (sing. adelphos, brother;pl. ἀδελφοί/adelphoi, brothers) has the following definitions: “fellow-countryman,” “disciple/follower,” “one of the same faith,” and “kinsman/kinswoman, or relative,” e.g., sibling, cousin, nephew, niece, uncle, aunt, etc. In the plural, it regularly refers to men and women.
In Matt. 13:55 and Mk. 6:3, Joseph, Simon, James, and Judas (Jude/Thaddeus) are called Jesus’s “ἀδελφοί” (adelphoi, brothers). The context shows that its applicable definition is “kinsman, or relative.” In Gal. 1:19, Paul refers to James of the twelve apostles, and calls him Jesus’s “ἀδελφός” (adelphos, brother), and the context shows that its applicable definition is “kinsman, or relative” as well. Therefore, we can deduce that the James in Matt. 13:55 and Mk. 6:3, and James in Gal. 1:19, were the same person. Of the two James of the twelve apostles, only James of Alphaeus, and at least one brother of his, apostle Judas (Jude/Thaddeus) of Alphaeus, corresponds with Matt. 13:55 and Mk. 6:3. (Matt. 10:3, Mk. 3:18;15:40, Lk. 6:15-16, Ac. 1:13)
Now, compare the above with the scriptural and early Church Father writings below:
Two accounts of the same scene:
I. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers, James, Joses (Joseph), Simon, and Judas?” (Matt. 13:55)
II. “Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses (Joseph), Judah (Jude/Judas), and Simon?” (Mk. 6:3)
Three accounts of the same scene:
I. “Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James (the Less) and Joses (Joseph), and the mother of the sons of Zebedee (Salome).” (Matt. 27:56)
II. “There were also women watching from afar, among whom were both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses (Joseph), and Salome (the mother of the sons of Zebedee)” (Mk. 15:40)
III. “But standing by Jesus’ cross were His Mother (Mary of Joseph), His Mother’s sister Mary the wife of Clopas (the mother of James the Less and Joseph), and Mary Magdalene.” (Jn. 19:25)
Two scenes surrounding the same event:
I. “When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome (the mother of the sons of Zebedee), bought spices, that they might come and anoint him.” (Mk. 16:1)
II. Now they were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James. The other women with them told these things to the apostles." (Lk. 24:9-10)
I. “Mary the wife of Cleophas or Alphaeus [Clopas], who was the mother of James the bishop and apostle, and of Simon and Thaddeus (Jude/Judas), and of one Joseph.” (Papias of Hierapolis [c. 60–130 AD], Fragments of Papias, Frag. 10, cf. Jn. 19:25)
II. “[…] James, who is called the brother of the Lord […] as appears to me, the son of Mary sister of the mother of our Lord […] after ordained by the apostles bishop of Jerusalem, wrote a single epistle, which is reckoned among the seven Catholic epistles” (cf. Jud. 1:1) and “[…] Mary who is described as the mother of James the Less was the wife of Alphaeus and sister of Mary the Lord’s mother” (Jerome of Stridon [c. 347–420 CE], De Viris Illustribus, De Perpetua Uirginitate Beatae Mariae, cf. Jn. 19:25)
III. Eusebius of Caesarea [c. 260–340 AD] relates the following in his Historia Ecclesiastica:
“James, the brother of the Lord, was “[…] the author of the first of the so-called catholic epistles” and that while it is disputed, “as is the case likewise with the epistle that bears the name of Jude, which is also one of the seven so-called catholic epistles”, it is known they have been “[…] read publicly in very many churches.” (Bk. I, ch. 23, cf. Jud. 1:1)
“James […] surnamed the Just […] bishop of the church of Jerusalem. This James was called the brother of the Lord” and “Paul also makes mention of the same James the Just, where he writes, ‘Other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.’” (Bk. II, ch. 1)
“[…] those of the apostles and disciples of the Lord […] with those that were related to the Lord according to the flesh … pronounced Symeon [Simon], the son of Clopas […] to be worthy of the episcopal throne of that parish. He was a cousin, as they say, of the Saviour. For Hegesippus records that Clopas was a brother of Joseph.” (Bk. III, ch. 11)
“Josephus, at least, has not hesitated to testify this in his writings, where he says, ‘These things happened to the Jews to avenge James the Just, who was a brother of Jesus, that is called the Christ.’” (Bk. II, ch. 23)
“[…] the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James” (Flavius Josephus [c. 37-100 CE], Antiquitates Iudaicae, Bk. XX, ch. 9)
“[…] James the Just bishop of Jerusalem” and “[…] but there were two Jameses: one called the Just […] thrown from the pinnacle of the temple […] and beaten to death with a club by a fuller, and another who was beheaded.” (Bk. II, ch. 1) (Clement of Alexandria [c. 150–215 AD], Hypotyposes, Bk. VII, cf. Ac. 12:1-2)
“[…] James the brother of the Lord, succeeded to the government of the Church […] called the Just […]” (Bk. II, ch. 23) and “after James the Just had suffered martyrdom […] Symeon [Simon], the son of the Lord’s uncle, Clopas, was appointed the next bishop […] because he was a cousin of the Lord.” (Bk. III, ch. 22) (Hegesippus [c. 110-180 AD], Hypomnemata)
Summary
The scriptural verses and crossover agreement between all my sources (the early Christian Church Fathers), even if not every surname is listed by each individual source, collectively prove the following:
- Jesus’s brothers (kinsmen/relatives) Joseph, Simon, James, and Judas (Jude/Thaddeus) in Matt. 13:55 and Mk.6:3 were the sons of His Mother’s Spouse’s brother, Alphaeus (Clopas/Cleophas), and his wife Mary of Clopas (Cleophas/Alphaeus), the sister [in-law] of Mary of Joseph (Jn. 19:25), and thus His cousins
- Jesus’s cousins James and Judas (Jude/Thaddeus) of Alphaeus were the same people as the apostles James and Judas (Jude/Thaddeus) of Alphaeus (Clopas/Cleophas) of the Twelve
- Jesus’s cousin and apostle James of Alphaeus of the Twelve was the same person as “James the Less”, “James the brother of the Lord”, “James the Just”, “James the first bishop of Jerusalem”, and the author of the Epistle of James