The Bible Series: A Television Retelling of Scripture
The Bible is a television miniseries that brings stories from the Old and New Testaments to the screen. Produced by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, it first aired in the United States in 2013. Across five episodes, each divided into two parts, the series follows a broad narrative from the creation of the world to the early Christian era.
Stories from Genesis to the New Testament
The series presents a selection of well-known biblical accounts, including Noah and the flood, Abraham and Sarah, Moses and the Exodus, the life of King David, and the story of Jesus. Its later episodes focus on Jesus’s ministry, crucifixion and resurrection, before turning to the beginnings of the early Church.
Rather than attempting to include every passage or event, The Bible chooses key moments and links them into a single dramatic storyline. This makes the series an accessible introduction for viewers who may be unfamiliar with the biblical narrative, while offering those who know the texts a visual interpretation of familiar stories.
Cast and production
Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado plays Jesus, with Roma Downey appearing as Mary, the mother of Jesus. The production combines live-action performances with visual effects and large-scale settings to portray events from different periods and locations.
The series was created for a broad television audience, and its storytelling places emphasis on themes such as faith, courage, sacrifice, forgiveness and hope. As with any screen adaptation, some scenes and details are shaped for dramatic purposes. Viewers looking for the wording and context of particular passages can read the relevant books of the Bible alongside the programme.
A continuing story
The success of The Bible led to the follow-up series A.D. The Bible Continues, released in 2015. It focuses on the apostles and the early Christian community in the years after Jesus’s death and resurrection.
Why watch The Bible?
The Bible offers a sweeping dramatisation of stories that have shaped religious belief, art and culture for centuries. It can be watched as a historical and spiritual drama, a starting point for exploring Scripture, or a way to revisit familiar accounts through television storytelling.
Whether watching alone or discussing the episodes with others, viewers may find it helpful to compare the programme’s portrayal with the biblical texts themselves. The series is an interpretation on screen; the Bible remains the source for the accounts it depicts.
Exploring the Bible Series: Availability, Accuracy, and Its Cancellation
- Is there a TV series about the Bible?
- Is the Bible series on Netflix accurate?
- Is the Bible series on Netflix?
- Why was the Bible series cancelled?
Is there a TV series about the Bible?
Yes. Several television series bring biblical stories to the screen, including The Bible (2013), a miniseries covering key events from Genesis to the early Church, and its follow-up, A.D. The Bible Continues (2015), which focuses on the apostles after Jesus’s death and resurrection. Other programmes explore particular biblical figures or periods, so the best choice depends on which stories you would like to watch.
Is the Bible series on Netflix accurate?
The 2013 The Bible series is based on biblical stories, but it is a dramatisation rather than a word-for-word retelling. It selects and condenses events, and some dialogue, character details and scenes are adapted for television. For a fuller understanding of any story, it is best to read the relevant passages in the Bible alongside the series.
Is the Bible series on Netflix?
Availability of The Bible series on Netflix can vary by country and change over time. To see whether it is currently available in the UK, search for The Bible in the Netflix app or on its website; if it does not appear, check other streaming services or rental platforms.
Why was the Bible series cancelled?
The 2013 miniseries The Bible was not cancelled; it was made as a limited series and finished after its planned five episodes. Its follow-up, A.D. The Bible Continues, was cancelled after one season, following lower-than-expected television ratings.