The Bible Artist Podcast
By Kevin Keating
For blogs, Bible studies, and other resources, visit www.thebibleartist.com
The Bible Artist PodcastJan 25, 2023
Debriefing The Chosen Season 4: Controversies, Themes, & Characters
The Chosen Season 4 SPOILER WARNING. Kyle and Kevin have another lively conversation about The Chosen Season 4, in which they discuss: the conflict between Angel Studios and The Chosen LLC (and why it doesn't matter), the controversy over the death of THAT character, key themes in Season 4 like death, grief, power, glory, pragmatism, and the gap between God's perspective and the human perspective, as well as their thoughts on the development of various characters like Mary Magdalene, Jesus, Matthew, and Joanna. Plus: Kevin and Kyle rank Seasons 1-4 of The Chosen.
Additional Resources
The Chosen Season 4 Recap, Review, & Analysis
The Chosen Season 4 Streaming Delay Controversy
Why Didn't Jesus Heal Her Controversy
I am the Law of Moses Controversy
The Rainbow Flag Controversy
Support The Bible Artist
Catherine Lidstone on Mary of Bethany in The Chosen Season 4 and 47 Days with Jesus
Catherine Lidstone joins Kevin to talk about her role as Mary of Bethany in The Chosen Season 4 and her starring role as Juliana in 47 Days with Jesus. SPOILER WARNING: specific events from Season 4 are discussed. Over the course of the conversation, Catherine and Kevin discuss:
- The confusion that comes with having 3 Marys on set
- Catherine's personal connection with the role
- Scorpion attacks
- The significance of anointing Jesus' feet
- The unique way 47 Days with Jesus blends the biblical events with a modern story
- The value of retelling biblical stories in new ways.
More Resources from The Bible Artist Lazarus, Martha, & Mary of Bethany in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters) The Chosen Season 4 Ep. 7 Recap, Review, & Analysis The Chosen Season 4 Ep. 8 Recap, Review, & Analysis Support the Bible Artist
The Chosen Season 4 Finale: Analyzing and Responding to Episodes 7-8
SPOILER ALERT - key details about The Chosen Season 4 (especially the Finale) are included both in the video and in the description that follows: Kevin and Kyle discuss Episodes 7-8 of The Chosen Season 4, including key moments and characters like: the Mary/Matthew flash-forward, the raising of Lazarus (and Thomas' response), Pilate, Claudia, and Joanna, Shmuel's response to Mary anointing Jesus' feet, and the build up to the Palm Sunday Triumphal Entry. Along the way, they sprinkle in their predictions and personal reactions. Support The Bible Artist Join my Buy Me a Coffee
More Resources on The Chosen Season 4
Going the Extra Mile: Discussing Episodes 4-6 of The Chosen Season 4
SPOILER ALERT - key details about The Chosen Season 4 Episodes 4-6 are included both in the video and in the description that follows: Kevin and Kyle discuss Episodes 4-6 of The Chosen Season 4, including key moments like: Quintus' demotion and Gaius' promotion, the mourning over Ramah, Gaius' surprisingly humble faith and the disciples' surprisingly arrogant power grab, Jesus going the extra mile for the Roman soldiers, the Mary/Martha story, the fall of Judas, and the attempt to stone Jesus in the Temple. Along the way, they sprinkle in predictions, personal reactions, and thoughts on changes they would have made. Support The Bible Artist Join my Buy Me a Coffee More Resources on The Chosen Season 4
Binging The Chosen, Making Sense of THAT Moment in Season 4 Episode 3, & More
Kevin is joined by his friend and fellow Act One Alumni, Kyle Cowgill, who recently discovered The Chosen and binged all the way through Episode 3 of Season 4 over the past two weeks. In a wide-ranging and freewheeling discussion, they consider some of their favorite - and least favorite - elements of Seasons 1-3 of The Chosen before turning to Season 4 and sharing their favorite moments, their thoughts on the controversial ending of Episode 3, and their predictions for what lies ahead. SPOILER WARNING!
More Resources from The Bible Artist
Season 4 Episode 1 Review, Recap, Analysis
Season 4 Episode 2 Review, Recap, Analysis
Season 4 Episode 3 Review, Recap, Analysis
Why did THAT character die in Season 4 Episode 3? (YT Short)
Why does Jesus not heal THAT character in Seaosn 4 Episode 3? (YT Short)
Discussing The Chosen with Shaan Sharma (Shmuel)
This week on The Bible Artist Podcast, Shaan Sharma joins Kevin to discuss his role as Shmuel, a Pharisee leader and the primary opponent of Jesus in The Chosen. Topics include:
- Shaan's personal journey as an actor
- The SAG-AFTRA strike and agreement
- Who were the Pharisees?
- Shmuel's motivations, perspective, and strengths/weaknesses
- The encounter between Shmuel and Jesus in The Chosen Season 3 Episode 8
- The fun - and challenge - of portraying a biblical "villain"
- What's ahead for Shmuel in The Chosen Season 4
- The future of The Chosen franchise
Additional Resources from The Bible Artist Blog
- Yussif, Jairus, & Shmuel in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters)
- The Chosen Cinematic Universe: Challenges & Opportunities to Grow
- The Chosen Season 4 Trailer Analysis
- The Chosen Season 3 Episode 8: Recap, Review, & Analysis
- The Chosen Season 4 Episode 2: Recap, Review, & Analysis
Want to support The Bible Artist?
Elijah Alexander on Atticus, The Chosen Season 4, & the Enduring Value of Biblical Stories
The Chosen cast member, Elijah Alexander, joins Kevin on The Bible Artist Podcast to discuss his role as Atticus Aemilius, a cohortes urbanae, a Roman agent investigating the rising popularity of Jesus and his disciples in Judea and Galilee. Elijah brings a wealth of knowledge to the role, having been steeped in biblical stories and the ancient Greco-Roman texts from an early age. In our conversation, we discuss:
- Elijah's passion for biblical stories
- How the arts can inspire hope and courage
- Elijah's richly nuanced take on Atticus' motivations and goals
- The reluctant alliance between Atticus and the disciples of Jesus
- The nature of his relationship with Pilate
- The dramatic tension and rising stakes in The Chosen Season 4
It's an inspirational conversation. I hope you enjoy! More Info on Elijah Alexander and the Mitzvah Project:http://elijahalexander.net/
Resources on The Bible Artist Blog -Quintus, Gaius, and Atticus in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters) -Pontius Pilate & His Wife in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters)
-The Chosen Season 4 Episode 2: Recap, Review, & Analysis -Bible Study and Discussion Guides
David Amito on John the Baptist, Death, and The Chosen Season 4
The Chosen cast member, David Amito, joins Kevin on The Bible Artist Podcast to discuss his role as John the Baptist (aka John the Baptizer), the prophet who prepared the way for the ministry of Jesus and helped announce the arrival of the Messiah. After a brief detour discussing their shared love of horror films and the misunderstanding and controversy that surrounded David’s experimental film, Antrum, Kevin and David dig deep into:
- John the Baptist’s singular focus and love of life
- The similarities and differences between John and Jesus
- The thoughts that John must be having as his death approaches in The Chosen Season 4 (spoiler - but not really).
Kevin and David also talk about the joyful and collaboration and creativity on the set of The Chosen and what has made the show (and its portrayal of John the Baptist) resonate with so many fans.
David Amito on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/david_amito/
More Resources on The Chosen from The Bible Artist
-The Chosen Season 4 Episode 1: Recap, Review, & Analysis
-The Chosen Season 4 Episode 2: Recap, Review, & Analysis
-John the Baptist in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters)
-The Chosen Season 4 Official Trailer: Key Insights
-Creepy John and Dallas Jenkins (The Chosen Controversies)
-Bible Study and Discussion Guides
Little James & The Chosen Season 4: A Conversation with Jordan Walker Ross
Jordan Walker Ross joins Kevin on The Bible Artist Podcast to discuss his role as Little James in The Chosen, the hit Bible series that explores the life and ministry of Jesus through the eyes of his followers. Recently, news broke that The Chosen Season 4 will debut in theaters in February and Little James will play an important role in the upcoming season. In their conversation, Jordan and Kevin discuss:
- Jordan's personal experiences as an aspiring actor with cerebral palsy and scoliosis
- Jordan's podcast, "What's your limp?" and learning to love our vulnerabilities
- Jordan's audition for The Chosen (Hint: it was for the role of another disciple)
- How Jordan researched and developed Little James' character
- The big Little James scene in The Chosen Season 3
- What's ahead for Little James (and the other disciples) in The Chosen Season 4
- Dealing with the excitement - and controversy - that surround The Chosen
- Jordan's other upcoming films, The Shift (December 1, 2023) and El Tonto Por Cristo (2024)
Additional Resources from The Bible Artist Blog
An Animated Christmas Musical: Chris Cragin Day on The Unusual Tale of Mary and Joseph's Baby
Chris Cragin-Day is a theater professor and writer of numerous plays, musicals, and screenplays, including The Unusual Tale of Mary and Joseph's Baby, a musical retelling of the biblical Christmas story, which is also being developed into an animated film. Chris and I discuss the inspiration behind the upcoming film, her unique approach to adapting/retelling the beloved story of the virgin Mary's conception and Jesus' birth, the unique power of animated film, and why it's important for Christians to tell stories that speak to a broad audience - including non-Christians.
Links
http://www.chriscragin-day.com/
https://www.theunusualtale.com
Song Clip: Why does God have to look so human?
Song Video Clip: Herod's Way
Song Video Clip: Never Gonna
Song Video Clip: Eggplant Casserole
About The Bible Artist:
My name is Kevin Keating and I believe the Arts can give us fresh eyes to see the significance of the Bible and the beauty of the Gospel. I also believe the Bible can provide the arts with complex characters and stories with profound insight into the human condition I’ve been a fan of Bible art for most of my life, and so over the past few years on the Bible Artist blog I’ve been exploring popular Bible adaptations like The Chosen and I’ve been encouraging Christian communities to discuss and engage with the arts. For more resources, visit www.thebibleartist.com. To support the Bible Artist, become a member of my Buy Me a Coffee page.
Arve Solli on Bible X, Gate Zero, & Biblical Video Games
Arve Solli is head of Bible X, a video game development team dedicated to providing easy access to the world’s most impactful message through immersive experiences. Currently, the Bible X team is in the process of raising support on Kickstarter for Gate Zero, a video game that takes players back to the days of Jesus and allows them to engage with the locations and events described in the Gospels.
During our conversation, Arve and I discussed a variety of topics, including:
- The timeless relevance of Scripture
- The value of Bible-based video games
- The challenges of adapting biblical stories into an interactive medium
It was a fun discussion that shed a light on a whole new area of biblical adaptation. I hope you enjoy it!
About The Bible Artist:
I believe the Arts can give us fresh eyes to see the significance of the Bible and the beauty of the Gospel. I also believe the Bible can provide the arts with complex characters and stories with profound insight into the human condition I’ve been a fan of Bible art for most of my life, and so over the past few years on the Bible Artist blog I’ve been exploring popular Bible adaptations like The Chosen and I’ve been encouraging Christian communities to discuss and engage with the arts. For more resources, visit www.thebibleartist.com. To support the Bible Artist, become a member of my Buy Me a Coffee page.
John Hendrix on the Miracle Man, Bible Adaptation, & Subcreation
John Hendrix is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling illustrator and author of several children’s books, including Miracle Man: The Story of Jesus, Go and Do Likewise: The Parables & Wisdom of Jesus, The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer & the Plot to Kill Hitler, The Holy Ghost: a Spirited Comic, and many others. In my most recent installment of the Bible Artist podcast (a video episode), I talk to John about a variety of topics, including:
- How Tolkien's concept of subcreation applies to biblical adaptation
- John's unique use of typography to depict the power of Jesus
- His favorite easter eggs in Miracle Man
- Why drawing during the sermon is not a distraction
Miracle Man may be my favorite illustrated depiction of the life of Jesus, and so I had a blast hearing John talk more about the story behind the book and some of the theological easter eggs that he included in his illustrations. I hope you enjoy our conversation!
Other Popular Books by John Hendrix:
John Brown: His Fight for Freedom
Shooting at the Stars: The Christmas Truce of 1914
Drawing is Magic: Discovering Yourself in a Sketchbook
About The Bible Artist:
I believe the Arts can give us fresh eyes to see the significance of the Bible and the beauty of the Gospel. I also believe the Bible can provide the arts with complex characters and stories with profound insight into the human condition I’ve been a fan of Bible art for most of my life, and so over the past few years on the Bible Artist blog I’ve been exploring popular Bible adaptations like The Chosen and I’ve been encouraging Christian communities to discuss and engage with the arts. For more resources, visit www.thebibleartist.com. To support the Bible Artist, become a member of my Buy Me a Coffee page.
Christopher Powers on Full of Eyes and Visual Exegesis
Christopher Powers is a pastor, artist, and the creator of Full of Eyes, a ministry that seeks to visually proclaim the glory of God taught in Scripture. Our conversation covers a variety of topics: What is visual exegesis? What does it mean to be full of eyes? And why are the symbolic dimensions of Scripture so important? Christopher also walks us through a few pieces of exegetical art and explains how the rich symbolism points us to Christ. It's a spiritual feast, full of insights that I'm still mulling over and cherishing in my heart.
Links & References:
Col. 1:18 (ESV) ‘He is the Head of the Body, the Church…’
John 6:40 (ESV), “…this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life…”
Habakkuk 2:14 (ESV) ‘…the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the glory of YHWH as the waters cover the sea’.
-Image on Full of Eyes Visual Library
Find Full of Eyes Online
- Full of Eyes Visual Library
- Full of Eyes Shop
- Full of Eyes Patreon
- Full of Eyes Instagram
- Full of Eyes YouTube
- Full of Eyes Twitter
About The Bible Artist:
I believe the Arts can give us fresh eyes to see the significance of the Bible and the beauty of the Gospel. I also believe the Bible can provide the arts with complex characters and stories with profound insight into the human condition I’ve been a fan of Bible art for most of my life, and so over the past few years on the Bible Artist blog I’ve been exploring popular Bible adaptations like The Chosen and I’ve been encouraging Christian communities to discuss and engage with the arts. For more resources, visit www.thebibleartist.com. To support the Bible Artist, become a member of my Buy Me a Coffee page.
The Chosen Season 4 Predictions (Audio Blog)
The Chosen Season 4 began production recently and it is natural for fans to be curious about what we can expect in the new season. In today's podcast (based on a recent blog), I look at where Season 3 left off and what we know about the upcoming seasons. From there, I predict some of the key biblical events that we can expect in Season 4 and what the shape of the season itself may look like.
About The Bible Artist Blog:
I believe the Arts can give us fresh eyes to see the significance of the Bible and the beauty of the Gospel. I also believe the Bible can provide the arts with complex characters and stories with profound insight into the human condition I’ve been a fan of Bible art for most of my life, and so over the past few years on the Bible Artist blog I’ve been exploring popular Bible adaptations like The Chosen and I’ve been encouraging Christian communities to discuss and engage with the arts. Now I’m excited to share some of the insights that I’ve gained with you, because who knows, maybe today’s episode will inspire you to create something beautiful. For more resources, visit www.thebibleartist.com
Intro Music:
excerpt from "Kyrie" (Lobo de Mesquita Missa para Quarta-feira de Cinzas)
Performed by Vox Brasiliensis
https://musopen.org/music/43467-missa-para-quarta-feira-de-cinzas/
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
The Word of Glory: The 2nd Judgment of John (John 1:29-39)
The Word of Glory is an adaptation of the Gospel of John into narrative poetry written by Kevin Keating. The poem closely follows the shape of the original text but amplifies the metaphors, symbolism, and biblical allusions. The 2nd Judgment of John adapts John 1:29-39, in which John the Baptist proclaims that Jesus is the Lamb of God and encourages his disciples to follow him. This is Section 2 of Book I, which runs from John 1:19-John 12:50.
For more information about Kevin Keating's work, please check out www.thebibleartist.com
Intro Music:
excerpt from "Kyrie" (Lobo de Mesquita Missa para Quarta-feira de Cinzas)
Performed by Vox Brasiliensis
https://musopen.org/music/43467-missa-para-quarta-feira-de-cinzas/
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Little James in The Chosen and Scripture (Adapting Biblical Characters Audio Blog)
On the blog I have an ongoing series exploring how The Chosen adapts biblical characters, and in today’s podcast I’ll be revisiting a post I wrote just a few months ago about how The Chosen depicts Little James or as he’s more traditionally known, James the Lesser.
Up until his big moment in Episode 2 of Season 3, Little James has played an appropriately small role in The Chosen. With only a handful of lines in The Chosen Season 1, most viewers barely even took notice of him. Season 2 finally started giving James a little more depth through his interactions with the other disciples, but in Season 3, Little James finally got his moment to shine.
About The Bible Artist Blog:
I believe the Arts can give us fresh eyes to see the significance of the Bible and the beauty of the Gospel. I also believe the Bible can provide the arts with complex characters and stories with profound insight into the human condition I’ve been a fan of Bible art for most of my life, and so over the past few years on the Bible Artist blog I’ve been exploring popular Bible adaptations like The Chosen and I’ve been encouraging Christian communities to discuss and engage with the arts. Now I’m excited to share some of the insights that I’ve gained with you, because who knows, maybe today’s episode will inspire you to create something beautiful. For more resources, visit www.thebibleartist.com
Intro Music:
excerpt from "Kyrie" (Lobo de Mesquita Missa para Quarta-feira de Cinzas)
Performed by Vox Brasiliensis
https://musopen.org/music/43467-missa-para-quarta-feira-de-cinzas/
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Scripture References:
Mark 15:40 (ESV)
Galatians 1:18-19 (ESV)
John 19:25 (ESV)
Matthew 10:1-4
Acts 15
James 1:1
Leviticus 21:16-21
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (ESV)
The Word of Glory: The 1st Judgment of John (John 1:19-28)
The Word of Glory is an adaptation of the Gospel of John into narrative poetry written by Kevin Keating. The poem closely follows the shape of the original text but amplifies the metaphors, symbolism, and biblical allusions. The 1st Judgment of John adapts John 1:19-28, in which servants of the religious elite in Jerusalem come to John the Baptist and question him about his ministry. This is Section I of Book I, which runs from John 1:19-John 12:50.
For more information about Kevin Keating's work, please check out www.thebibleartist.com
Intro Music:
excerpt from "Kyrie" (Lobo de Mesquita Missa para Quarta-feira de Cinzas)
Performed by Vox Brasiliensis
https://musopen.org/music/43467-missa-para-quarta-feira-de-cinzas/
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Quintus & Gaius in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters Audio Blog)
The Chosen has become one of the most popular and successful adaptations of the Bible and depictions of Jesus in recent memory. On The Bible Artist Blog I have an ongoing series exploring how The Chosen adapts biblical characters, and in today’s podcast I revisit an old post I wrote about Gaius and Quintus, two of the main Roman characters that we’ve encountered in the series so far. Although "Quintus" and "Gaius" are not names found within the Gospel accounts, if we analyze the depiction of these characters in light of the Gospel stories that involve Roman soldiers, it becomes clear that The Chosen is still building them out of biblical material. After analyzing the portrayal of each character, I point to some of the biblical stories that The Chosen will most likely include them in, before finally making some predictions about where Quintus and Gaius will end up by the end of the series.
About The Bible Artist Blog:
I believe the Arts can give us fresh eyes to see the significance of the Bible and the beauty of the Gospel. I also believe the Bible can provide the arts with complex characters and stories with profound insight into the human condition I’ve been a fan of Bible art for most of my life, and so over the past few years on the Bible Artist blog I’ve been exploring popular Bible adaptations like The Chosen and I’ve been encouraging Christian communities to discuss and engage with the arts. Now I’m excited to share some of the insights that I’ve gained with you, because who knows, maybe today’s episode will inspire you to create something beautiful. For more resources, visit www.thebibleartist.com
Intro Music:
excerpt from "Kyrie" (Lobo de Mesquita Missa para Quarta-feira de Cinzas)
Performed by Vox Brasiliensis
https://musopen.org/music/43467-missa-para-quarta-feira-de-cinzas/
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Scripture References:
The Chosen Season 3 Finale: 5 Predictions
Later this week, on Thursday February 2, The Chosen Season 3 Finale (Episodes 7 & 8) will premiere in theaters. If you’re planning on watching the Finale with your small group, youth ministry, or family and you want to do a Bible study in advance, check out The Bible Artist Blog to find a small group bible study that focuses on the feeding of the 5,000, which we know will be the focus of Episode 8. I’ll also do recap, review, and analysis of Episode 7 & Episode 8.
Here on the podcast, in today’s episode I offer 5 predictions I have for The Chosen Season 3 Finale, based on what we've seen so far in The Chosen Season 3 and what we know from Scripture.
More on my prediction about John the Baptist can be found in a recent email newsletter.
Intro Music:
excerpt from "Kyrie" (Lobo de Mesquita Missa para Quarta-feira de Cinzas)
Performed by Vox Brasiliensis
https://musopen.org/music/43467-missa-para-quarta-feira-de-cinzas/
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Scripture References:
The Feeding of the 5,000 & John's Death: Matthew 14, Mark 6:14-56, Luke 9:7-27, John 6
The Manna in the Wilderness: Exodus 16
Elisha Feeds Hundreds: 2 Kings 4:42-44
The Centurion's Slave is Healed: Matthew 8:5-13
Judas is a Thief: John 12
The Word of Glory: Prologue (John 1:1-18)
The Word of Glory is an adaptation of the Gospel of John into narrative poetry written by Kevin Keating. The poem closely follows the shape of the original text but amplifies the metaphors, symbolism, and biblical allusions. The Prologue adapts John 1:1-18, which is famous for describing the pre-incarnate Christ as "The Word" that was with God and was God.
For more information about Kevin Keating's work, please check out www.thebibleartist.com
Intro Music:
excerpt from "Kyrie" (Lobo de Mesquita Missa para Quarta-feira de Cinzas)
Performed by Vox Brasiliensis
https://musopen.org/music/43467-missa-para-quarta-feira-de-cinzas/
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
John the Baptist in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters Audio Blog)
The death of John the Baptist in The Chosen is drawing nigh. In this episode of The Bible Artist Podcast, I explore what the Bible has to say about John and how The Chosen has brought his character to life over the past three seasons. This episode is an audio version of a blog post that can be found here
Intro Music:
excerpt from "Kyrie" (Lobo de Mesquita Missa para Quarta-feira de Cinzas)
Performed by Vox Brasiliensis
https://musopen.org/music/43467-missa-para-quarta-feira-de-cinzas/
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Scripture References:
Luke 1:39-45 (ESV)
Mark 1:2-8 (ESV)
2 Kings 1:8 (ESV)
Malachi 4:5-6 (ESV)
Matthew 17:11-13 (ESV)
Matthew 11:2-6 (ESV)
Mark 6:17-29 (ESV)
John 1:15 (ESV)