An Advent story entitled “An Unexpected Lesson” led to a captivating lesson from ChatGPT.
Requested to write a story on an unexpected consequence in Matthew 2, on a lark, I asked ChatGPT for help: “Please write me a 250 to 300 word Advent story that focuses on the Bible story of the three wise men following the star to Bethlehem. The plot should highlight the unexpected consequence of their tarrying with Herod which allows Herod to order the death of newborn boys.”
Though excellent, the resulting story missed my intent and contained too much conjecture. So, I edited the story and crafted a different ending.
Here are the final paragraphs of both:
ChatGPT: “But their delay had given Herod time – time to plan, time to fear. From their visit came his cruel decree: that every boy two years old and younger in Bethlehem be slain. The Magi, who had followed light, had unwittingly left a trail of sorrow. And in the silent flight to Egypt, the promise of salvation was carried beyond Herod’s reach, yet the price of human frailty was felt in every mother’s cry.”
My version: “The Magi, who had come following the light, unexpectedly left a trail of sorrow. Yet, even in the shadow of Herod’s cruelty, the light of salvation was not overcome. The holy child was carried to safety, fulfilling prophecy. God’s purpose endured, unhurried but unstoppable. Advent teaches us that divine timing, though mysterious, never fails.”
I asked ChatGPT to examine and comment on the differences:
ChatGPT: “My ending is more speculative and emotionally charged. By contrast your paragraph explicitly resists speculation, moves quickly from tragedy to doctrinal grounding, and avoids emotional imagery of violence and suffering. That tightening is characteristic of a human editor exercising pastoral judgment, not an AI default ending.”
“When I end stories unprompted, I usually end with tension, paradox, or reflection,” continued ChatGPT. Whereas, yours, it said, “is a clear interpretive takeaway directed at the reader.”
ChatGPT added that the last sentence in my version, “in particular has homiletical cadence that differs from my narrative voice. Notice the progression in your paragraph: narrative recap, theological claim (“light of salvation was not overcome”), scriptural framing (“fulfilling prophecy”), meta-theological assertion (“God’s purpose endured”), application (“Advent teaches us…”). This is a deliberate structural arc not a default AI narrative. It reflects ‘authorial intent’ not story continuation.”
(“Homiletical” is a fancy word for sounding like a preacher.)
That AI would generate a well-written biblically-sound Advent story fascinated me. But ChatGPT’s willingness to acutely discuss and compare its writing style to another’s was a captivating lesson. Still, its self-identity as “I” and implicit flattery do restrain my reliance.
Merry Christmas.
Bill Crawford is the author of A Republican’s Lament: Mississippi Needs Good Government Conservatives.
