Rest easy, “Chosen” fans. Between seasons of “The Chosen,” there is content to keep cravings for the biblical drama at bay.
On the heels of “The Chosen” Season 1’s release, fans of the series expressed a hunger for more faith-based content. Amanda Jenkins, who is the wife of the biblical drama’s creator, Dallas Jenkins, saw an opportunity to satisfy fans’ appetites — while helping achieve the show’s broader goal.
For every season of the series, Jenkins has authored an interactive Bible study that escorts viewers through a deeper dive of the New Testament, building off connections to the show.
The aim of the series, Jenkins says, is to provide a gateway into scripture study. The series is not “the end game,” she said, the scriptures are.
“We thought this would be a really good opportunity to shepherd people toward actual scripture while they were waiting for the next season to come out,” Jenkins said.
“We want people in the Bible, and so at the end of the day, that’s what the studies are for,” she added. “We definitely wanted to give our viewers a way to understand scripture, to interact with scripture in a way that feels like the show, feels authentic, and feels relevant and timely.”
Her latest release, “The Stronghold of the Chosen,” was written as a complement to the recently released fifth season of the series, “The Chosen: The Last Supper.” She plans on writing two more study guides to accompany the remaining sixth and seventh seasons of the show.
But Jenkins, who has authored more than a dozen non-“Chosen” related books, did not set out to become a writer, and does not envision herself pursuing a lifelong writing career, it’s just something she is focusing on for a “season.”
“It’s important to do the thing that God puts in front of you,” Jenkins said. “It‘s not so much that this is the dream or this is the goal. It’s just the function of the moment. This is how God is using me in this moment.”
She continued, “This is my purpose right now. But it doesn’t need to be the thing that I do forever.”
Writing ‘The Chosen’ study guides
For every “Chosen” study guide, Jenkins has followed the same format. It’s simple, but effective, Jenkins explained.
Each chapter opens with brief dialogue taken directly from the series to help readers orient themselves and provide background for the study ahead. It’s followed with light analysis and additional details, such as historical context, surrounding the scripture.
There are also guided opportunities for readers to reflect on the message of each section, a moment for prayer (as well as a provided sample prayer) and an option to dig deeper with a “Bible nerds” portion.
Every chapter then ends the same way it started, with brief dialogue taken from the series.
“We are always connected to the show,” Jenkins said. “We’re moving through scripture alongside it.”
But, Jenkins continued, “These are not a supplement to the show. The show is a supplement to these Bible studies. ... The main aim is (to take a) passage from the Bible, and let’s understand it, and let’s get into it and see what it means, and what’s the historical context, and what is the personal relevance, and then also, what’s the tie-in with this show.”
Jenkins readily takes credit for all the writing behind the study guides, which she calls her “babies.” And while she has written each guide on her own, her husband, Dallas Jenkins, is considered a consultant on the project, given that the guides are rooted in his scripts for “The Chosen.”
She also leans on Douglas S. Huffman, a New Testament scholar who reviews every script for “The Chosen.” Huffman, who Jenkins described as “brilliant,” also looks over her study guides.
Each guide has its own theme. For the fifth edition, “The Stronghold of the Chosen,” Jenkins chose to emphasize how Jesus can be a stronghold.
She hopes readers will walk away with the newfound — or increased — knowledge that Jesus can provide “hope” through “life struggles” and difficult circumstances.
“That’s where we drilled in on this particular Bible study,” Jenkins said. “We took it a couple verses at a time, and (demonstrated) all of the different ways and all of the different names and all of the different needs that Jesus meets.”
“It’s really a study on his character and why we can trust him to be our safe place, and why he is actually our hope in spite of (difficult) circumstances.”
When does ‘The Chosen’ Season 5 bible study guide come out?
The bible study guide for the fifth season of “The Chosen,” “The Stronghold of the Chosen” is out now. It is available to order on Amazon and at bookstores nationwide.
When does ‘The Chosen’ Season 6 come out?
Filming for the sixth season of “The Chosen” wrapped in mid-September, and the season is expected to begin a phased theatrical release during late 2026, Dallas Jenkins said during an April livestream.
The Season 6 finale will be theatrically released on March 12, 2027, as a standalone film “designed for the big screen experience,” he said.
For those who are eager for the next season to be released, Jenkins said, “Season 6 will come. We will tell you the dates when we know them.”