I may not be a theology student or a Bible-quoting expert, but I found Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ to be a powerful film—one that has the potential to bring lost sheep back to the flock.
Authenticity vs. Artistic License
Mel Gibson (not God, just to be clear) set out to make this film both authentic and engaging, and for the most part, he succeeded. However, a few historical and scriptural inaccuracies stood out:
- While Aramaic was widely spoken at the time, the Gospels were originally written in Greek, and there is evidence that Jesus also spoke Greek (as discussed in scholarly debates, including one on the American Scientific Affiliation forum). Additionally, Latin and Hebrew were also used in that era.
- Another questionable portrayal is the implication that Mary Magdalene and the adulteress being stoned were the same person—a common misconception not supported by the Gospels.
Other than these, the movie stays relatively faithful to the Gospel narratives—except for that one flashback where Jesus casually invents the dinette table. But hey, a little artistic license never hurt anyone.
Is It Anti-Semitic?
In my opinion, the film itself is not anti-Semitic. Nothing was added by the filmmakers that wasn’t already present in the Gospels. And even then, the Gospels, when read in context, are not anti-Semitic.
Yes, the New Testament mentions Jewish leaders plotting against Jesus, but Jesus and His followers were also Jewish. Saying that the Gospels are anti-Semitic would be like saying Chiang Kai-shek was anti-Chinese because he wanted to eliminate Mao Zedong—it just doesn’t make sense.
What likely irks some Jewish groups is that the Bible records that, 2,000 years ago, some Jews (specifically the Pharisees) conspired against a man who claimed to be the Messiah. However, this is historical context, not an indictment of all Jews for all time.
Unfortunately, some people take things out of context—like the pastor in Denver’s Lovingway United Pentecostal Church, who decided to put up a sign reading:
“Jews killed the Lord Jesus.”
This was a blatant misinterpretation of 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15 and only serves to highlight how ignorant some so-called Christians can be. The message of Christ is about love and understanding, not blame.
What Really Matters
At the end of the day, the real question isn’t who killed Christ—it’s why He died.
That, more than anything else, is the true heart of the story.