The Story of Jesus as a Thriller? Bear Grylls Explains Why

Published: October 21, 2025

By Movieguide® Staff

For TV survivalist Bear Grylls, writing his latest book was a “humbling” but “powerful” process.

“This book is different,” he said of The Greatest Story Ever Told during an interview with THE 700 CLUB. “This book — it’s all of our stories, tied up in one, tied up in the greatest story ever told. It’s a story that changed lives for thousands of years, and it’s changing lives today.”

What makes Grylls’ book stand out from others that tell Jesus’ story is the writing style.

“For me, it was so logical — write the story of Jesus as a thriller,” he explained. “You know, short, punchy chapters, 100% theologically accurate…one pastor wrote, ‘This is kind of like John Grisham being tasked to write the Jesus story.’”

Grylls shared that he is “so proud” of this book, adding, “I’ve never received so much feedback from something I’ve done like this, from people of all cultures, all faiths, all countries.”

“It was a humbling process, but a really beautiful, powerful one,” he concluded.

Grylls spoke to CBN about how important The Greatest Story Ever Told was to him, sharing, “It’s the proudest thing in my work I’ve ever done. I would give up everything — every summit, every Emmy — they pale into insignificance compared to this, because it’s history, it’s His-story, it’s the story of Christ, written in a way that is accessible.”

“If I could only be remembered for one thing, this would be it,” he said.

He also shared his hopes for what readers take away from the book — “I did it because I really want people to experience this story. Because the story changes us. It gets in people’s hearts and doesn’t let them go.”

At an event at Liberty University, Grylls spoke about how his faith sustains him.

“People often ask me, ‘What has helped you in so many deserts and jungles and tough places?’” he said. “The truth for me is found in that one word: faith. I’ve learned that on our own we’re pretty weak, but connected to something bigger than us, [we] become stronger.”

Grylls added, “My faith helps me in so many ways, in so many moments…In the good times and in the less good times, I’ve learned to lean on the beautiful presence of Christ within me, within all of us. [It is] empowering, quiet, always there, and it has never let me down.”

Grylls has gone on adventures all over the world, but for the TV personality, his relationship with Christ remains the most important journey in his life.

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