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The Jefferson Bible: The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth
The Jefferson Bible , or The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth as it is formally titled, was Thomas Jefferson's effort to extract what he considered the pertinent doctrine of Jesus by removing sections of the New Testament containing supernatural aspects as well as perceived misinterpretations he believed had been added by the Four Evangelists. Using a razor, Jefferson cut and arranged selected verses from the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in chronological order, mingling excerpts from one text to those of another in order to create a single narrative. After completion of The Life and Morals , about 1820, Jefferson shared it with a number of friends, but he never allowed it to be published during his lifetime. The most complete form Jefferson produced was inherited by his grandson, Thomas Jefferson Randolph, and was published in 1895 by the National Museum in Washington.
Once published in black-and-white facsimile by the Government Printing Office in 1900 as a gift for new members of Congress, the Jefferson Bible has never before been published in color in its complete form. The Jefferson Bible, Smithsonian Edition is an exact facsimile reproduction based on the original copy in the Smithsonian collections. The Jefferson Bible, Smithsonian Edition is as beautiful an object as was so painstakingly crafted by Thomas Jefferson himself.
Once published in black-and-white facsimile by the Government Printing Office in 1900 as a gift for new members of Congress, the Jefferson Bible has never before been published in color in its complete form. The Jefferson Bible, Smithsonian Edition is an exact facsimile reproduction based on the original copy in the Smithsonian collections. The Jefferson Bible, Smithsonian Edition is as beautiful an object as was so painstakingly crafted by Thomas Jefferson himself.
200 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1819
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About the author
Thomas Jefferson
1,658 books698 followersThomas Jefferson was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. Following the American Revolutionary War and prior to becoming president in 1801, Jefferson was the nation's first U.S. secretary of state under George Washington and then the nation's second vice president under John Adams. Jefferson was a leading proponent of democracy, republicanism, and individual rights, and produced formative documents and decisions at the state, national, and international levels. His writings and advocacy for human rights, including freedom of thought, speech, and religion, served as substantial inspirations to the American Revolution and subsequent Revolutionary War in which the Thirteen Colonies succeeded in breaking from British America and establishing the United States as a sovereign nation.
During the American Revolution, Jefferson represented Virginia at the Second Continental Congress and served as the second governor of Virginia from 1779 to 1781. In 1785, Congress appointed Jefferson U.S. minister to France, where he served from 1785 to 1789. President Washington then appointed Jefferson the nation's first secretary of state, where he served from 1790 to 1793. During this time, in the early 1790s, Jefferson and James Madison organized the Democratic-Republican Party to oppose the Federalist Party during the formation of the nation's First Party System. Jefferson and Federalist John Adams became both friends and political rivals. In the 1796 U.S. presidential election between the two, Jefferson came in second, which made him Adams' vice president under the electoral laws of the time. Four years later, in the 1800 presidential election, Jefferson again challenged Adams, and won the presidency. In 1804, Jefferson was reelected overwhelmingly to a second term.
As president, Jefferson assertively defended the nation's shipping and trade interests against Barbary pirates and aggressive British trade policies, promoted a western expansionist policy with the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the nation's geographic size, and was able to reduce military forces and expenditures following successful negotiations with France. In his second presidential term, Jefferson was beset by difficulties at home, including the trial of his former vice president Aaron Burr. In 1807, Jefferson implemented the Embargo Act to defend the nation's industries from British threats to U.S. shipping, limiting foreign trade and stimulating the birth of the American manufacturing industry. Presidential scholars and historians praise Jefferson's public achievements, including his advocacy of religious freedom and tolerance, his peaceful acquisition of the Louisiana Territory from France, and his leadership in supporting the Lewis and Clark Expedition; they give radically differing interpretations of his views on and relationship with slavery.
Jefferson is ranked by both scholars and in public opinion among the upper-tier of American presidents.
During the American Revolution, Jefferson represented Virginia at the Second Continental Congress and served as the second governor of Virginia from 1779 to 1781. In 1785, Congress appointed Jefferson U.S. minister to France, where he served from 1785 to 1789. President Washington then appointed Jefferson the nation's first secretary of state, where he served from 1790 to 1793. During this time, in the early 1790s, Jefferson and James Madison organized the Democratic-Republican Party to oppose the Federalist Party during the formation of the nation's First Party System. Jefferson and Federalist John Adams became both friends and political rivals. In the 1796 U.S. presidential election between the two, Jefferson came in second, which made him Adams' vice president under the electoral laws of the time. Four years later, in the 1800 presidential election, Jefferson again challenged Adams, and won the presidency. In 1804, Jefferson was reelected overwhelmingly to a second term.
As president, Jefferson assertively defended the nation's shipping and trade interests against Barbary pirates and aggressive British trade policies, promoted a western expansionist policy with the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the nation's geographic size, and was able to reduce military forces and expenditures following successful negotiations with France. In his second presidential term, Jefferson was beset by difficulties at home, including the trial of his former vice president Aaron Burr. In 1807, Jefferson implemented the Embargo Act to defend the nation's industries from British threats to U.S. shipping, limiting foreign trade and stimulating the birth of the American manufacturing industry. Presidential scholars and historians praise Jefferson's public achievements, including his advocacy of religious freedom and tolerance, his peaceful acquisition of the Louisiana Territory from France, and his leadership in supporting the Lewis and Clark Expedition; they give radically differing interpretations of his views on and relationship with slavery.
Jefferson is ranked by both scholars and in public opinion among the upper-tier of American presidents.
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October 19, 2011
Though often claimed by anti-religionists as a Deist, Jefferson states flatly, referring to this cut-and-paste version of the New Testament: "It is a document in proof that I am a REAL CHRISTIAN, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus" (his emphasis).
But note the distinction: Jefferson calls himself a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus, not a disciple of Jesus himself. This is a serious difference, as his discomfort with and his disbelief in the supernatural aspects of the story of Jesus led him to to excise all such events in his edit of the Gospels. Thus there is no walking on water, no calming the storm, no feeding the five thousand, no recalling Lazarus to life, and no resurrection of Jesus himself.
But what remains is the pure doctrine of Jesus, which Jefferson (and I as well) view as the most spectacular recipe for living well and happily ever propounded. "Love thy neighbor as thyself" is the simplest and yet the hardest advice ever given, but no one can dispute its power to transform a life and change the world.
I can't help but believe that even had Jesus performed the miracles and risen from the dead, even if he was the literal Son of God, his understanding of his own doctrine would lead him to discount those very miracles in favor of his desire that we benefit from his teachings and thus obtain eternal life.
I find that the part of me that loves the miracles and fantastic stories about Jesus is a child who is looking for a parent, but the part of me that loves Jesus' pure and difficult teachings is the adult who seeks a guide. Either way, like Jefferson, I strive to be a disciple of Jesus and found in this short book ample food for thought.
But note the distinction: Jefferson calls himself a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus, not a disciple of Jesus himself. This is a serious difference, as his discomfort with and his disbelief in the supernatural aspects of the story of Jesus led him to to excise all such events in his edit of the Gospels. Thus there is no walking on water, no calming the storm, no feeding the five thousand, no recalling Lazarus to life, and no resurrection of Jesus himself.
But what remains is the pure doctrine of Jesus, which Jefferson (and I as well) view as the most spectacular recipe for living well and happily ever propounded. "Love thy neighbor as thyself" is the simplest and yet the hardest advice ever given, but no one can dispute its power to transform a life and change the world.
I can't help but believe that even had Jesus performed the miracles and risen from the dead, even if he was the literal Son of God, his understanding of his own doctrine would lead him to discount those very miracles in favor of his desire that we benefit from his teachings and thus obtain eternal life.
I find that the part of me that loves the miracles and fantastic stories about Jesus is a child who is looking for a parent, but the part of me that loves Jesus' pure and difficult teachings is the adult who seeks a guide. Either way, like Jefferson, I strive to be a disciple of Jesus and found in this short book ample food for thought.
September 24, 2008
As a deist, Thomas Jefferson believed in God as the ultimate creator and believed Jesus to be the greatest moral teacher. This collection of writings confirms his staunch belief in reason over faith. Jefferson believed that the Bible was imperfect insofar as it contained the works of corrupt individuals who sought to use Christianity as a means to control people.
What amazes me the most is how little a role religion played in the election of Thomas Jefferson in both 1800 and 1804. People furiously attacked Jefferson, labeling him as an atheist, but somehow he was still elected. It is very interesting to note that this would not occur in today's environment. He wrote this book because he knew he was not an atheist or without a sense of morality like his enemies claimed. He believed religion to be very personal, between a man and his god. This is why he did not bother with answering questions of his religion since he believed his moral system was clearly intact, and he was consistent in that he did not require to know the religion of others. As history notes, he was a proponent of religious freedom. After reading his extracts, it is very easy to see why.
Perhaps the best experience of reading this collection is my personal recognition of Thomas Jefferson not only as a President, but also as a great philosopher.
What amazes me the most is how little a role religion played in the election of Thomas Jefferson in both 1800 and 1804. People furiously attacked Jefferson, labeling him as an atheist, but somehow he was still elected. It is very interesting to note that this would not occur in today's environment. He wrote this book because he knew he was not an atheist or without a sense of morality like his enemies claimed. He believed religion to be very personal, between a man and his god. This is why he did not bother with answering questions of his religion since he believed his moral system was clearly intact, and he was consistent in that he did not require to know the religion of others. As history notes, he was a proponent of religious freedom. After reading his extracts, it is very easy to see why.
Perhaps the best experience of reading this collection is my personal recognition of Thomas Jefferson not only as a President, but also as a great philosopher.
November 13, 2008
This book is Thomas Jefferson's attempt to distill from the gospels the ethical teachings of Jesus. It presents Jesus
purely as a teacher; no chorus of angels marks his birth, he performs no miracles, and the book ends with his burial. The result is a short, 92 page volume that's easy to read in spite of being written in the same archaic style of English as the King James Bible.
The obvious audience for this book is atheists and agnostics who want a view of Jesus's teachings that's free of, as Jefferson put it, "the corruptions of reason among the ancients." I think even devout Christians might find it useful, though, because it presents a concise, uncluttered view of Jesus's ethical teachings.
purely as a teacher; no chorus of angels marks his birth, he performs no miracles, and the book ends with his burial. The result is a short, 92 page volume that's easy to read in spite of being written in the same archaic style of English as the King James Bible.
The obvious audience for this book is atheists and agnostics who want a view of Jesus's teachings that's free of, as Jefferson put it, "the corruptions of reason among the ancients." I think even devout Christians might find it useful, though, because it presents a concise, uncluttered view of Jesus's ethical teachings.
January 3, 2013
My sister suggested I might get something out of this, after I'd been going on about how bogus everything in the bible is. That Thomas Jefferson took out all the supernatural elements from the Jesus mythology and humanized him and his moral lessons. It's cool that Jefferson was bold enough to attempt that, but it still didn't work for me because Jesus still waxes on about a supernatural god and heaven and hell and spirits, and a lot of his moral lessons are still based around those things, so how could a practical person make sense of it? It was an interesting exercise, but it didn't mend the overall flaws with the religion for me. I sort of mark this book as one of the last steps before I wrote off Christianity as anything useful in my life.
February 19, 2017
I found myself missing the miracles. And although I did love reading the moral-based stories, there was still repetition amongst them. You would think Jefferson could have trimmed the fat, so to speak, and removed the duplicates. But overall a nice summary of Jesus' teachings.
September 1, 2010
To thoroughly grasp the hubris, imagine it in modern day: a US president whose religious beliefs are widely regarded as insufficient and blasphemous towards Christian doctrine, deciding that he doesn't really care for the Bible as it's written--too many miracles, and that Paul character, he's gotta go--so he'll just take some scissors, snip out the good parts, and rearrange them into a better order. Clearly, Thomas Jefferson predated cable news networks. Apparently, the Jefferson Bible is now distributed to members of the US Congress; I can't help but wonder how many of them have actually read it before lauding the Protestant religiosity of founding fathers. (The introductory matter in this edition claims that Jefferson's beliefs tended towards Unitarian, although it is published by the Unitarian church, and I'm having difficulty confirming anything more concrete than a "close alignment" with Unitarianism.)
Jefferson doesn't set out as many religious scholars do in an attempt to quarantine a historical Jesus from the embellishments of later generations' evangelizing competitiveness. If this were his goal I would expect a heavier reliance on the earlier gospels, especially Mark, but this isn't the case; basically, Jefferson snips out the miraculous and supernatural, leaving barebones biographical detail and the words attributed to Jesus himself, and rearranges things into an approximation of Chronological order (though several of the stories that appear in more than one gospel are separated by several pages). The translation is King James with almost no deviations, despite Jefferson using a side-by-side English/French/Greek/Latin edition. (Again, here a modern dedicated biblical historian would, I imagine, try to go back to the most original texts possible, though one can imagine the limitations of this in 19th century Virginia.)
One of the things that is both problematic and intensely lucky about Christianity, as opposed to more recent religions such as Islam, is that the details of Jesus's life and sayings were not recorded as they happened. We have, for example, a huge body of information via Hadiths and the Qu'ran about Muhammed that borders on TMI (a recent reading of Fatima Mernissi's The Veil and the Male Elite: A Feminist Interpretation of Women's Rights in Islam underscored this to me). Without too much information on the trivial details of Jesus's life, Christians are free to deviate from them rather than have every small dietary or sartorial choice be regarded as a religious pronouncement. This, at least, is consistent with the message of Jesus in the gospels. The downside, of course, is the resultant disagreement over resolving conflicts among spiritual texts written long after the fact.
The Jesus that is left after Jefferson's clippings is not unfamiliar, and perhaps more interesting for attracting followers through his Temple-reforming rabble rousing and philosophical questioning rather than miracle-performance. It worked well enough for Martin Luther, after all, I suppose. In the end, though, it probably gives more insight into Jefferson and his religious beliefs than it does into Christianity.
Jefferson doesn't set out as many religious scholars do in an attempt to quarantine a historical Jesus from the embellishments of later generations' evangelizing competitiveness. If this were his goal I would expect a heavier reliance on the earlier gospels, especially Mark, but this isn't the case; basically, Jefferson snips out the miraculous and supernatural, leaving barebones biographical detail and the words attributed to Jesus himself, and rearranges things into an approximation of Chronological order (though several of the stories that appear in more than one gospel are separated by several pages). The translation is King James with almost no deviations, despite Jefferson using a side-by-side English/French/Greek/Latin edition. (Again, here a modern dedicated biblical historian would, I imagine, try to go back to the most original texts possible, though one can imagine the limitations of this in 19th century Virginia.)
One of the things that is both problematic and intensely lucky about Christianity, as opposed to more recent religions such as Islam, is that the details of Jesus's life and sayings were not recorded as they happened. We have, for example, a huge body of information via Hadiths and the Qu'ran about Muhammed that borders on TMI (a recent reading of Fatima Mernissi's The Veil and the Male Elite: A Feminist Interpretation of Women's Rights in Islam underscored this to me). Without too much information on the trivial details of Jesus's life, Christians are free to deviate from them rather than have every small dietary or sartorial choice be regarded as a religious pronouncement. This, at least, is consistent with the message of Jesus in the gospels. The downside, of course, is the resultant disagreement over resolving conflicts among spiritual texts written long after the fact.
The Jesus that is left after Jefferson's clippings is not unfamiliar, and perhaps more interesting for attracting followers through his Temple-reforming rabble rousing and philosophical questioning rather than miracle-performance. It worked well enough for Martin Luther, after all, I suppose. In the end, though, it probably gives more insight into Jefferson and his religious beliefs than it does into Christianity.
February 19, 2012
Finally, Smithsonian Offers Jefferson Bible for General Readers
If you’re choosing an edition of the so-called Jefferson Bible, my strong recommendation is: Snap up a copy of this gorgeous Smithsonian facsimile of Jefferson’s original work, which he created by hand with his razor and pot of glue.
Nationwide studies show that most American households own a Bible, most Americans claim they read the Bible regularly, and regular Bible readers own multiple editions. Many Americans preach, teach and share in small groups that include Bible study. This is the first time in two centuries that a reasonably priced facsimile of Jefferson’s Bible is available for general readers. This gorgeous Smithsonian edition is likely to go out of print and, perhaps, become a collector’s item. From a practical standpoint, imagine the spirited discussions you can spark in your class or small group by passing around a copy. Buy it now, while this edition is still available.
What is in Jefferson’s Bible? First of all, Jefferson never called it “The Jefferson Bible,” although that is now such a widely used title that even the Smithsonian edition uses that phrase as the main title for the new color facsimile. Jefferson’s own original title appears as the sub-title of the Smithsonian edition. However, his original intention is captured in that first title: Jefferson only included the life and teachings of Jesus using verses from the Gospels.
How did Jefferson produce his Bible? Equipped with a razor and glue, the Smithsonian says: “At seventy-seven years of age, Thomas Jefferson constructed his book by cutting excerpts from six printed volumes published in English, French, Latin, and Greek of the Gospels of the New Testament. He arranged them to tell a chronological and edited story of Jesus’s life, parables, and moral teaching. Left behind in the source material were those elements that he could not support through reason or that he believed were later embellishments, such as the miracles and the Resurrection.
“The act of cutting and rearranging passages from the New Testament to create something fresh was an ambitious, even audacious initiative, but not an act of disrespect. Through this distillation Jefferson sought to clarify Jesus’s teachings, which he believed provided ‘the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man.’”
A second recommendation, if you’re a Bible collector or Bible-study teacher: You also should snap up Tarcher’s new release of the now-classic 1940 edition of The Jefferson Bible.
If you’re choosing an edition of the so-called Jefferson Bible, my strong recommendation is: Snap up a copy of this gorgeous Smithsonian facsimile of Jefferson’s original work, which he created by hand with his razor and pot of glue.
Nationwide studies show that most American households own a Bible, most Americans claim they read the Bible regularly, and regular Bible readers own multiple editions. Many Americans preach, teach and share in small groups that include Bible study. This is the first time in two centuries that a reasonably priced facsimile of Jefferson’s Bible is available for general readers. This gorgeous Smithsonian edition is likely to go out of print and, perhaps, become a collector’s item. From a practical standpoint, imagine the spirited discussions you can spark in your class or small group by passing around a copy. Buy it now, while this edition is still available.
What is in Jefferson’s Bible? First of all, Jefferson never called it “The Jefferson Bible,” although that is now such a widely used title that even the Smithsonian edition uses that phrase as the main title for the new color facsimile. Jefferson’s own original title appears as the sub-title of the Smithsonian edition. However, his original intention is captured in that first title: Jefferson only included the life and teachings of Jesus using verses from the Gospels.
How did Jefferson produce his Bible? Equipped with a razor and glue, the Smithsonian says: “At seventy-seven years of age, Thomas Jefferson constructed his book by cutting excerpts from six printed volumes published in English, French, Latin, and Greek of the Gospels of the New Testament. He arranged them to tell a chronological and edited story of Jesus’s life, parables, and moral teaching. Left behind in the source material were those elements that he could not support through reason or that he believed were later embellishments, such as the miracles and the Resurrection.
“The act of cutting and rearranging passages from the New Testament to create something fresh was an ambitious, even audacious initiative, but not an act of disrespect. Through this distillation Jefferson sought to clarify Jesus’s teachings, which he believed provided ‘the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man.’”
A second recommendation, if you’re a Bible collector or Bible-study teacher: You also should snap up Tarcher’s new release of the now-classic 1940 edition of The Jefferson Bible.
May 25, 2012
Says a Lot about Jefferson!
Jefferson's Bible is an important work both for what it shows of a pivotal Founding Father and lynch-pin president, and what it doesn't show. Jefferson was neither the passionate Christian that some try to paint him as, nor was he the foaming at the mouth Deist that others attempt to paint him as. Jefferson was earlier in his life leaning more toward Deism and toward the end of his life best described as a Unitarian in the sense that the word was used in that day. In an effort to paint their positions, camps from both sides fail to account for the fact that Jefferson was human and his journey through life developed his thinking in these areas and he showed progression and modification of his positions as learning and experience tempered them.
Jefferson clearly rejected Trinitarian theology and believed the gospel narratives to be tarnished with later redaction by the early Church. His "Bible" as such was an attempt to cull out those redactions and isolate those words and teachings of Christ that reflect the moral code of Jesus Christ that Jefferson held to be the highest such teaching known to man. He was in effect trying to identify that theoretical "Q document" that Biblical Scholars from Jefferson's day until now believe existed which had only the words of Christ as he spoke them recorded.
Jefferson's Bible demonstrates both Jefferson's judgement as to what true Christianity (by his definition) entailed, and also what was baggage and needed to be removed. Jefferson revered Christ's moral code and teachings, even as he rejected his deity. This is eminently clear in Jefferson's writings, especially in his lengthy, latter year correspondence with John Adams.
Those who try and demonstrate Jefferson as to one side or the other demonstrate their own bias and need for Jefferson to be cast into their own camp.
Don't make the same mistake. Read the text at face value and determine what it says to you about Jefferson. Then, if you want, wade into the swamp of what others want to tell you it says about Jefferson and his view of our nation. You'll be equipped to reject either extreme and let Jefferson speak for himself.
Those who feel the need to cast stones at it for some felt need to protect the Bible miss the point. This is not about the Bible. The Bible has stood for centuries before Jefferson and will stand long after Jefferson is forgotten. It's about what Jefferson thought, and what he believed and should be read first and foremost from that position.
Jefferson's Bible is an important work both for what it shows of a pivotal Founding Father and lynch-pin president, and what it doesn't show. Jefferson was neither the passionate Christian that some try to paint him as, nor was he the foaming at the mouth Deist that others attempt to paint him as. Jefferson was earlier in his life leaning more toward Deism and toward the end of his life best described as a Unitarian in the sense that the word was used in that day. In an effort to paint their positions, camps from both sides fail to account for the fact that Jefferson was human and his journey through life developed his thinking in these areas and he showed progression and modification of his positions as learning and experience tempered them.
Jefferson clearly rejected Trinitarian theology and believed the gospel narratives to be tarnished with later redaction by the early Church. His "Bible" as such was an attempt to cull out those redactions and isolate those words and teachings of Christ that reflect the moral code of Jesus Christ that Jefferson held to be the highest such teaching known to man. He was in effect trying to identify that theoretical "Q document" that Biblical Scholars from Jefferson's day until now believe existed which had only the words of Christ as he spoke them recorded.
Jefferson's Bible demonstrates both Jefferson's judgement as to what true Christianity (by his definition) entailed, and also what was baggage and needed to be removed. Jefferson revered Christ's moral code and teachings, even as he rejected his deity. This is eminently clear in Jefferson's writings, especially in his lengthy, latter year correspondence with John Adams.
Those who try and demonstrate Jefferson as to one side or the other demonstrate their own bias and need for Jefferson to be cast into their own camp.
Don't make the same mistake. Read the text at face value and determine what it says to you about Jefferson. Then, if you want, wade into the swamp of what others want to tell you it says about Jefferson and his view of our nation. You'll be equipped to reject either extreme and let Jefferson speak for himself.
Those who feel the need to cast stones at it for some felt need to protect the Bible miss the point. This is not about the Bible. The Bible has stood for centuries before Jefferson and will stand long after Jefferson is forgotten. It's about what Jefferson thought, and what he believed and should be read first and foremost from that position.
May 19, 2011
"We must reduce our volume to the simple evangelists, select, even from them, the very words only of Jesus. There will be remaining the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man."
With this goal, Jefferson set about with razor in hand to extract the true words and actions of Jesus from the enveloping hype and miracle stories of the Gospels. Rejecting the virgin birth, the annunciation, and even the resurrection, Jefferson wanted to dig down to Jesus’ message of absolute love and service. The result is a chronological new Gospel formed by merging select portions of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
An excellent, concise introduction by Forrest Church and an afterward by Jaroslav Pelikan ([see Whose Bible Is It] http://www.dubiousdisciple.com/2011/0...) round out the book. Jefferson espoused a Unitarian philosophy, subjugating the topic of religion in his library to the category of “moral philosophy.” Pelikan, in his afterward about Jefferson’s contemporaries, classifies Jefferson among the “Enlightenment rationalists.” After reading Jefferson’s Bible, I’d say that’s a fair assessment.
With this goal, Jefferson set about with razor in hand to extract the true words and actions of Jesus from the enveloping hype and miracle stories of the Gospels. Rejecting the virgin birth, the annunciation, and even the resurrection, Jefferson wanted to dig down to Jesus’ message of absolute love and service. The result is a chronological new Gospel formed by merging select portions of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
An excellent, concise introduction by Forrest Church and an afterward by Jaroslav Pelikan ([see Whose Bible Is It] http://www.dubiousdisciple.com/2011/0...) round out the book. Jefferson espoused a Unitarian philosophy, subjugating the topic of religion in his library to the category of “moral philosophy.” Pelikan, in his afterward about Jefferson’s contemporaries, classifies Jefferson among the “Enlightenment rationalists.” After reading Jefferson’s Bible, I’d say that’s a fair assessment.
December 27, 2012
Well, first off, this is the "Life and morals of Jesus of Nazareth" its not the "Jefferson bible," Jefferson would have been horrified if he learned someone took a book where he compiled the moral philosophy of Jesus and called it his bible. I have heard that according to the original preface, it was suppose to be for the native Indians, though there is no evidence of it reaching them, we have no right to create a new motive for Jefferson.
Next, Jefferson cutting from a bible and pasting in another book, is no reason for the delight and glee from secularist and horror from Christians. Think about it, Jefferson didn't have a computer where he could copy and paste the moral philosophy of Christ from the bible into a book, so he did exactly what I would do if I had several bibles. I personally once cut verses from a bible to paste in a painting, I suppose 200 years from now, someone will find the painting and think I was some anti-Christian, irreligious, bible hating deist, because I applied my scissors to the Holy Bible!
Now as far as the content, so many of reviews just focus and delight on what is LEFT out and yet don't feel any discomfort about what is there. Though it is obvious that Jefferson didn't allow any of Jesus' miracles to be recorded and he didn't include the resurrection of Christ at the end, it is still rather interesting what he did leave in the so called "Jefferson bible." There is much more then moral teachings here.
So yeah, for a so called "Secular humanist" among many atheist and a Deist among "Christians," how do they make sense of all Jefferson left in? For I suppose they must assume that Jefferson cut out all the supernatural crap he disagreed with, and what is left in the Jefferson bible is the "Diamonds from the dung hill". The way some reviewers are acting, I suppose we can say what Jefferson left in the Jefferson Bible, he approved of? So what are these diamonds salvaged from the dung hill?
I just read the it and inside the "Jefferson bible" we find many examples of heaven, the fires of hell and both devils and angels. Also, most of Jesus' mentions of the second coming, the final Judgment, the Kingdom of God, salvation, Jesus' mighty works and that Jesus is the Son of God are all here! Jesus affirms the resurrection, Noah and the flood and Sodom and Gomorrah. Most importantly almost every reference to prayer from Jesus is in the "Jefferson bible", even God giving the Holy Spirit to all who ask. We also find fulfilled prophesy; Jesus prophesies Peter will deny him 3 times before the cock crows and later we read of this happening. So yeah, there is a lot more, I could make this into an extremely long review and just post example after example directly from the eBook, of all that shouldn't have survived Jefferson's scissors and bible blotter!
so yeah for a so called Deist, it sure seems odd he didn't clip out all mentions of prayer, God's activity on the earth, as well as prophesy, the second coming, angels and demons and the Holy Spirit and Jesus being the actual Son of God, the Christ and the King whose Kingdom is not of this earth. It would be nice to find some explanation for all Jefferson left in there, if he really was creating for himself his own bible without the supernatural. Is not the resurrection, the Holy Spirit, prophesy and salvation supernatural? Oh Hitchen's and Dawkin's, how did all this nonsense make it into this book from your secular saint?
O.K with all of that aside, i must say i really enjoyed "The Life and morals of Jesus." As far as Jesus' life, its extremely brief, the book is primarily the read letters of the bible, Jesus' teachings all put together seamlessly. I am glad Jefferson did this, it was a pleasure to read Jesus' teachings without the constant interruptions of miracles.
Next, Jefferson cutting from a bible and pasting in another book, is no reason for the delight and glee from secularist and horror from Christians. Think about it, Jefferson didn't have a computer where he could copy and paste the moral philosophy of Christ from the bible into a book, so he did exactly what I would do if I had several bibles. I personally once cut verses from a bible to paste in a painting, I suppose 200 years from now, someone will find the painting and think I was some anti-Christian, irreligious, bible hating deist, because I applied my scissors to the Holy Bible!
Now as far as the content, so many of reviews just focus and delight on what is LEFT out and yet don't feel any discomfort about what is there. Though it is obvious that Jefferson didn't allow any of Jesus' miracles to be recorded and he didn't include the resurrection of Christ at the end, it is still rather interesting what he did leave in the so called "Jefferson bible." There is much more then moral teachings here.
So yeah, for a so called "Secular humanist" among many atheist and a Deist among "Christians," how do they make sense of all Jefferson left in? For I suppose they must assume that Jefferson cut out all the supernatural crap he disagreed with, and what is left in the Jefferson bible is the "Diamonds from the dung hill". The way some reviewers are acting, I suppose we can say what Jefferson left in the Jefferson Bible, he approved of? So what are these diamonds salvaged from the dung hill?
I just read the it and inside the "Jefferson bible" we find many examples of heaven, the fires of hell and both devils and angels. Also, most of Jesus' mentions of the second coming, the final Judgment, the Kingdom of God, salvation, Jesus' mighty works and that Jesus is the Son of God are all here! Jesus affirms the resurrection, Noah and the flood and Sodom and Gomorrah. Most importantly almost every reference to prayer from Jesus is in the "Jefferson bible", even God giving the Holy Spirit to all who ask. We also find fulfilled prophesy; Jesus prophesies Peter will deny him 3 times before the cock crows and later we read of this happening. So yeah, there is a lot more, I could make this into an extremely long review and just post example after example directly from the eBook, of all that shouldn't have survived Jefferson's scissors and bible blotter!
so yeah for a so called Deist, it sure seems odd he didn't clip out all mentions of prayer, God's activity on the earth, as well as prophesy, the second coming, angels and demons and the Holy Spirit and Jesus being the actual Son of God, the Christ and the King whose Kingdom is not of this earth. It would be nice to find some explanation for all Jefferson left in there, if he really was creating for himself his own bible without the supernatural. Is not the resurrection, the Holy Spirit, prophesy and salvation supernatural? Oh Hitchen's and Dawkin's, how did all this nonsense make it into this book from your secular saint?
O.K with all of that aside, i must say i really enjoyed "The Life and morals of Jesus." As far as Jesus' life, its extremely brief, the book is primarily the read letters of the bible, Jesus' teachings all put together seamlessly. I am glad Jefferson did this, it was a pleasure to read Jesus' teachings without the constant interruptions of miracles.
March 4, 2010
This is the way the Bible is supposed to be. Thomas Jefferson, founding father and President of the USA has cut away all the supernatural BS behind Jesus Christ and his life time. Dug hard into various Bibles of the times and manages to find the wisdom of a progressive Jewish rebel. This Jesus was killed for believing in treating people equally and finding the best of human nature.
The supernatural birth and other mystical events of Jesus' life have been removed and instead readers will discover a new vision in the man called Jesus, with all the mystical mumbo-jumbo that the church has added to him to make him seem like a divine being.
Instead we see a person who even during his childhood questioned his family and leaders with critical reasoning skills that were probably self-taught. Jesus learned that they were manipulating the public for their own personal gain over the betterment of all. He hung out with criminals, whores and the lowest end of the public, treated them with compassion and became an accidental leader to them.
His martyrdom was then justified by the church to make him divine much like the ancient demi-gods like Hercules, Peresus, and other Greek/Roman heroes that inspired the people. His "divinity" has been cut by Jefferson's own hand and instead we see through the church's deception and lies to keep the public in control and instead see that Jesus was a rebel with a cause to help to better not only his fellow Jews but all people everywhere. The pseudo-mystical nature of his birth to the documentation of his supposed resurrection have been cut away and we still see a good leader who inspired people to help people.
Unlike the many Christians today who turn their backs on their own fellow human being in the name of Christ and don't bother to lend a helping hand as Jesus did. Jefferson took the true teachings of Jesus the man and rebel leader to heart. Those teaching helped America throw off the shackles of English rule and domination to allow America the right to be free.
The supernatural birth and other mystical events of Jesus' life have been removed and instead readers will discover a new vision in the man called Jesus, with all the mystical mumbo-jumbo that the church has added to him to make him seem like a divine being.
Instead we see a person who even during his childhood questioned his family and leaders with critical reasoning skills that were probably self-taught. Jesus learned that they were manipulating the public for their own personal gain over the betterment of all. He hung out with criminals, whores and the lowest end of the public, treated them with compassion and became an accidental leader to them.
His martyrdom was then justified by the church to make him divine much like the ancient demi-gods like Hercules, Peresus, and other Greek/Roman heroes that inspired the people. His "divinity" has been cut by Jefferson's own hand and instead we see through the church's deception and lies to keep the public in control and instead see that Jesus was a rebel with a cause to help to better not only his fellow Jews but all people everywhere. The pseudo-mystical nature of his birth to the documentation of his supposed resurrection have been cut away and we still see a good leader who inspired people to help people.
Unlike the many Christians today who turn their backs on their own fellow human being in the name of Christ and don't bother to lend a helping hand as Jesus did. Jefferson took the true teachings of Jesus the man and rebel leader to heart. Those teaching helped America throw off the shackles of English rule and domination to allow America the right to be free.
May 24, 2009
Brilliant editing...when considered with his design for the University of Virginia grounds sheds light on TJ's careful consideration, no, critical inquiry into the spectrum of 18th c norms. Everything is in play with reason the blade that carves the irrelevant and nonsense from core truths. UVA is an architectural analog. Though it can be debated that it is less successful as a unified work because it is new, untested function from an old form (a core campus from a Roman temple and forum), it is a gathering of edited architectural pieces (pavilions) around a new social space ruled by a Temple of reason open to the physical and intellectual frontier (west). I find both the JB and UVA profoundly inspiring as an imagining and creation of a more perfect present from a critically examined past. We need more of this now!
March 21, 2016
This is Thomas Jefferson's own interpretation of the most important parts of the Bible (the birth, teachings, and death of Jesus). I picked it up mostly because I like Thomas Jefferson, and wanted to understand a bit more about his morality and motivations, but... eh. I'm not Christian, and have a huge amount of skepticism when it comes to the idea of using a 2ooo year old book as a practical guide for morality and ethics, so... yeah. Not the book for me.
April 6, 2021
This is a 4-star review because of the conceptualization and execution of the finished product, in addition to the erudite forewords which describe the history of the document's creation and the artifact's restoration.
The Jefferson Bible is a work to be studied. Not so much from a religious perspective, but from a scholarly one. This is a look into the mind of perhaps the greatest of the U.S. Founders and his privately-held views on religion. In his political life, he was a staunch advocate for and driver of the (critically important) concept of church-state separation. Further, he was a man who put reason at the forefront and argued (correctly, in my opinion) that great moral strength derives from reason, rather than emotion or obedience or some other source.
The "bible" part of the book is just fascinating. Each folio is four columns that run the Greek and Latin translations on the left, and the French and the English on the right, telling the same elements of the life and teachings of Jesus. Naturally, I only focused my attention on the English column.
Having been raised Lutheran, I was familiar with the four gospels and the various parts of Jesus' life and teachings each contained. However, I wanted to see how Jefferson (meticulously) cut and pasted just the elements that would be considered biographical or instructional. Virtually all references to miracles and the supernatural (transmuting water into wine, resurrecting Lazarus, etc) are absent. There is no mention of a virgin conception at the beginning, and the work ends with the stone rolling to close in Jesus' tomb. There is a bit of prophesying (Peter denying Jesus 3 times before the cock crow, for example), but that's about it.
The only thing that seems a bit strange is that a man who believes in reason above all things still managed to at least appear to believe a heaven/hell afterlife (or an afterlife at all). It could also have been that Jefferson was not going to be able to cut those references out, as many of the parables deal with how such-and-such a person will not receive eternal life and such-and-such a person might. So, based on that I suppose it's possible (though I'm sure his biographers would tell me with greater certainty) that Jefferson wasn't so much into that idea literally as much as the general idea that "such-and-such a person" is doing good things or doing bad things.
History buffs, Jefferson fans, and other objective-minded folk would probably enjoy this on some level. Gnostic theists and zealots should avoid.
The Jefferson Bible is a work to be studied. Not so much from a religious perspective, but from a scholarly one. This is a look into the mind of perhaps the greatest of the U.S. Founders and his privately-held views on religion. In his political life, he was a staunch advocate for and driver of the (critically important) concept of church-state separation. Further, he was a man who put reason at the forefront and argued (correctly, in my opinion) that great moral strength derives from reason, rather than emotion or obedience or some other source.
The "bible" part of the book is just fascinating. Each folio is four columns that run the Greek and Latin translations on the left, and the French and the English on the right, telling the same elements of the life and teachings of Jesus. Naturally, I only focused my attention on the English column.
Having been raised Lutheran, I was familiar with the four gospels and the various parts of Jesus' life and teachings each contained. However, I wanted to see how Jefferson (meticulously) cut and pasted just the elements that would be considered biographical or instructional. Virtually all references to miracles and the supernatural (transmuting water into wine, resurrecting Lazarus, etc) are absent. There is no mention of a virgin conception at the beginning, and the work ends with the stone rolling to close in Jesus' tomb. There is a bit of prophesying (Peter denying Jesus 3 times before the cock crow, for example), but that's about it.
The only thing that seems a bit strange is that a man who believes in reason above all things still managed to at least appear to believe a heaven/hell afterlife (or an afterlife at all). It could also have been that Jefferson was not going to be able to cut those references out, as many of the parables deal with how such-and-such a person will not receive eternal life and such-and-such a person might. So, based on that I suppose it's possible (though I'm sure his biographers would tell me with greater certainty) that Jefferson wasn't so much into that idea literally as much as the general idea that "such-and-such a person" is doing good things or doing bad things.
History buffs, Jefferson fans, and other objective-minded folk would probably enjoy this on some level. Gnostic theists and zealots should avoid.
April 1, 2019
Given that Jesus was just a man, the study of his life requires historical research; we can’t simply accept the truth of the gospels.
October 24, 2013
You have to admire the audacity of the man who wrote "The Declaration of Independence." Who else would take a knife and pot of glue to the very Gospels, and, with an intuitive hermeneutic rooted in his own Enlightenment-era deistic presumptions, attempt to strip away what he considered the "dung" and reveal the "diamonds" of Christ's teachings? Jefferson's attempts to find the universal, essential teachings of Jesus foreshadowed the higher critical approaches of the 19th century, and the 20th century's searches for the hypothetical Q sayings gospel and the "authentic" words of the "historical Jesus". Those facts, plus the insightful preface (by the late UU minister Forrest Church) and afterword (by the late scholar Jaroslav Pelikan), would, by themselves make this a four- or -five star book.
Unfortunately, since the only English translation of the Gospels that Jefferson had on hand was the King James Version, the resulting "Jefferson Bible" retains the usually impenetrable and too often stultifying language of that translation. He also didn't have access to gospel parallels, and evidently didn't think to look at the Gospels synoptically, because his redaction includes many duplicate stories and parables that make reading it more tedious than necessary. Finally, in reading through what remains of the Gospels, I began to see, for the first time, what many of my atheist friends have argued for some time: that there are fewer clear and flawless "diamonds" in Christ's teachings than Sunday school would leave one to believe. The import of many parables, even with interpretations provided, is lost on a modern reader (heck, it might have been lost on a 1st century reader), and the various discourses and teachings don't sum up to a comprehensive ethical or cosmological vision. This book left me wondering whether Jesus' ethics really were that profound (or even coherent!) after all, or if we just continue to assume so as inheritors of a tradition that insists on this as a fact, even after the obviously mythical elements get stripped away.
Unfortunately, since the only English translation of the Gospels that Jefferson had on hand was the King James Version, the resulting "Jefferson Bible" retains the usually impenetrable and too often stultifying language of that translation. He also didn't have access to gospel parallels, and evidently didn't think to look at the Gospels synoptically, because his redaction includes many duplicate stories and parables that make reading it more tedious than necessary. Finally, in reading through what remains of the Gospels, I began to see, for the first time, what many of my atheist friends have argued for some time: that there are fewer clear and flawless "diamonds" in Christ's teachings than Sunday school would leave one to believe. The import of many parables, even with interpretations provided, is lost on a modern reader (heck, it might have been lost on a 1st century reader), and the various discourses and teachings don't sum up to a comprehensive ethical or cosmological vision. This book left me wondering whether Jesus' ethics really were that profound (or even coherent!) after all, or if we just continue to assume so as inheritors of a tradition that insists on this as a fact, even after the obviously mythical elements get stripped away.
November 11, 2025
Thomas Jefferson (yes, the same one who wrote the Declaration of Independence) produced this book by cutting and pasting excerpts from the Gospels so as produce a distillation of who he believed Jesus was and what Jesus's essential teachings were. It mixes parables and other New Testament teachings with biographical description.
There is an introduction which offers the reader more specific insight into Jefferson's thinking than can be gleaned merely from what he includes and what he trims. The Introduction also discusses the similarities and differences between Christian philosophy and that of the Jews, the Greeks, and the Romans.
If you're looking for a condensed version of the New Testament, I'd highly recommend this book. Jefferson was obviously a sharp guy who looked at the Bible from the perspective of Enlightenment-era thinking.
There is an introduction which offers the reader more specific insight into Jefferson's thinking than can be gleaned merely from what he includes and what he trims. The Introduction also discusses the similarities and differences between Christian philosophy and that of the Jews, the Greeks, and the Romans.
If you're looking for a condensed version of the New Testament, I'd highly recommend this book. Jefferson was obviously a sharp guy who looked at the Bible from the perspective of Enlightenment-era thinking.
July 16, 2015
Very interesting sidebar of American History. Jefferson, who was a questioner and often skeptic, believed the teachings of Jesus profound. As a founding father, he was not so obsessed with his own salvation later, but in acting rightly in practice in the present. The forward and introduction, do a lot to enlighten the reader on Jefferson's own viewpoints on religion and freedoms surrounding practice and purpose. As far as the Bible that Jefferson presents goes: it is abridged version of the New Testament. This may offend some- but I found it to be a quick reminder of the breadth of story and teaching. The repetition between the apostle tellers is more evident in this abridgment. If one has read the more complete texts, you will see what Jefferson found important, by seeing what was kept and what was scrapped. In different books I have read that told the story of this Bible, it has been suggested that Jefferson was attempting to make an American Bible that everyone was to use. Those who fathom these falsehoods of our most zealous defender of liberty and freedom from tyranny, should check themselves, the Declaration of Independence he presented and Bill of Rights he defended as Commander-in Chief. To me this was an exercise of a genius, as he toyed with his own personal notions of religion and God. I am happy that this edition is available- it s truly eye-opening to see Jefferson's editorial bone put to use.
January 10, 2008
This is an illuminating and important book historically. Not only does it represent Thomas Jefferson's fearless edit of the Gospels of Matthew,Mark, Luke and John from the New Testament the Bible extracting what he thought was of value from "a groundwork of vulgar ignorance, of things impossible, of superstitions, fanaticisms and fabrications"but sheds a light on the inquiring minds of the intellectual elite of his day. He basically cut and pasted and shared his work with John Adams and others who shared his views.
A copy of this slim volume was given to every member of the US Senate upon their being sworn in since 1904 as a tradition. As a Deist, Thomas Jefferson rejected the story of the virgin birth and the dogma of the Trinity. Anticlerical and a strong advocate of separation of church and state, he embodies the spirit of freedom of thought and the individual which is the foundation of America...and in stark contrast to the fantasy of the founding fathers creation of a "Christian nation" drawing its institutions and laws from the Bible as evangelicals claim.
A copy of this slim volume was given to every member of the US Senate upon their being sworn in since 1904 as a tradition. As a Deist, Thomas Jefferson rejected the story of the virgin birth and the dogma of the Trinity. Anticlerical and a strong advocate of separation of church and state, he embodies the spirit of freedom of thought and the individual which is the foundation of America...and in stark contrast to the fantasy of the founding fathers creation of a "Christian nation" drawing its institutions and laws from the Bible as evangelicals claim.
December 1, 2010
Jefferson's attempt to present Jesus's story, as collected from the four Gospels, in chronological order, omitting all of its supernatural aspects, gives the story a shape that one doesn't necessarily perceive in selecting verses for study out of context. The reader can see an inevitable trajectory towards crucifixion as Jesus gains a following while challenging the authority of some important people.
Jefferson did not believe in the virgin birth, the miracles, the resurrection, etc., but he wished show that Jesus had presented a sound system of ethics. But, reading many of Jesus's words for the first time, in spite of spending the first 17-or-so years of my life as a practicing Christian, I detected some troubling notes that were not emphasized in my own liberal congregation. The fire and brimstone Jesus is every bit as present here as the gentle, loving one. And once or twice, his words contained a touch of paranoia and mistrust of outsiders that characterizes the messianic cults we see today.
Jefferson did not believe in the virgin birth, the miracles, the resurrection, etc., but he wished show that Jesus had presented a sound system of ethics. But, reading many of Jesus's words for the first time, in spite of spending the first 17-or-so years of my life as a practicing Christian, I detected some troubling notes that were not emphasized in my own liberal congregation. The fire and brimstone Jesus is every bit as present here as the gentle, loving one. And once or twice, his words contained a touch of paranoia and mistrust of outsiders that characterizes the messianic cults we see today.
November 1, 2012
I liked this book. I went into the book with an open mind. I am an Atheist who has read the bible and wondered what Thomas Jefferson had to say about it. If you have heard of the famous Jefferson - Adams letters where they lightly debate religion then you may know that Thomas wasn't really a fan of the church. That does not mean he is not religious. On the contrary, this book is a basic asemblance of how Thomas Jefferson interpreted the bible. It gives good incite into his views on religion and pretty much describes his personality and how he would govern his young country. It is obvious from the very begining that Thomas did not like organized religion but felt there was some truth in the scripture. The book was very repetative as I believe he had revisions of earlier interpretations and would try to revisit some of his earlier writtings of certain scriptures. Not to say there were contradiction in the scriptures themselves, but I think he was contradicting his previous interpretation. Very good book if you are into the founding fathers and their religious views.
March 7, 2017
The premise of this book is entertaining--Jefferson took all the stuff about Jesus from the New Testament and left out all the magic. I'm not really sure what the point is supposed to be. It can't really be a moral guide--there's nothing of morality in the biographical details, and the parables are all over the place. Bizarre things like if you're throwing a party and nobody in town will come, you're completely justified in destroying the whole town. Or if two people are having a guest over for dinner, the one who does all the work in cleaning the house and preparing the food is the bad one--the one who just waits around and then schmoozes is the good one. Or that it's better to lie and say you'll do something you have no intention of doing than it is to say you can't do it, and then later go ahead and do the thing.
It does explain a lot about Christian "morality," I suppose.
And the preface & introduction are instructive of Thomas Jefferson's views.
It does explain a lot about Christian "morality," I suppose.
And the preface & introduction are instructive of Thomas Jefferson's views.
January 2, 2009
Thomas Jefferson is among the greatest minds from the Founding Generation of Americans. Despite his contributions to the American framework, Jefferson believed that religious beliefs were and should remain an immensely personal topic, and as such he spends very little time discussing this issue even among his most trusted contemporaries, including Benjamin Rush, who may have inspired Jefferson to complete this work following Rush's death.
The Jeffersonian Bible is an intimate look into the mind of Thomas Jefferson on perhaps his most intimately guarded beliefs; spirituality. Jefferson attempts to recreate the life of Jesus from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, while focusing on Jesus as a man and teacher. In doing so Jefferson, I believe succeeds in creating a vivid and clear image of the key teachings of Jesus and how to live a more harmonious and fulfilling life.
The Jeffersonian Bible is an intimate look into the mind of Thomas Jefferson on perhaps his most intimately guarded beliefs; spirituality. Jefferson attempts to recreate the life of Jesus from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, while focusing on Jesus as a man and teacher. In doing so Jefferson, I believe succeeds in creating a vivid and clear image of the key teachings of Jesus and how to live a more harmonious and fulfilling life.
June 25, 2008
As Thomas Jefferson is arguably the most important figure in American History. I had to pick this one up. While nothing but a re-telling of the New Testement, and even though it is written with a strange mixture of Old Enlish and Contemperary American. It allows for a fresh look at the New Testement with out all of the religious stuff thrown in.
March 23, 2025
The balls this guy had to cut out / paste his own version of the Bible, could you imagine if a modern politician did this? That said I’ve often had the time idea (make a Bible that is nothing but the “red text” of Jesus.
December 26, 2023
This, the second version of the Jefferson Bible that I read, is the Smithsonian Edition which is an exact color facsimile reproduction of the original, with the text appearing in the same four-language side-by-side columnar format. (Greek, Latin, French & English).
This edition also featured two essays - one on the history of the Jefferson bible and another on the book restoration, which makes this version something special.
My interest in Thomas Jefferson's life has been reinvigorated in recent months after I started a new position at the University of Virginia. I mentioned that this is my second reading of the Jefferson Bible. I first read it about twenty years ago when I first learned of it and realized that Mr. Jefferson and I shared a similar deist view on who was Christ.
Unlike Mr. Jefferson, I do proclaim myself a Christian, but while I take comfort in the worship and traditions of the Episcopal and Catholic Churches, my personal theology questions and finds it hard to proclaim the divinity of Christ, but I truly do believe that Jesus was sent by God and Jesus was a man who knew God and his life and teachings points the way to knowing God and how to live our life according to God's plan for us.
Thus, the miracle stories have always been a little hard for me to swallow and were never particularly useful for my spiritual development. Before I had heard of Mr. Jefferson's cut-and-paste project in creating The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, I thought a collection of Jesus' teachings sans "the magic tricks' would be a great resource for me. Imagine my excitement when I learned that Mr. Jefferson, one of my heroes of revolutionary America, had the same idea and completed the project.
This hard-bound Smithsonian edition is a fine book for my desktop Jefferson collection.
This edition also featured two essays - one on the history of the Jefferson bible and another on the book restoration, which makes this version something special.
My interest in Thomas Jefferson's life has been reinvigorated in recent months after I started a new position at the University of Virginia. I mentioned that this is my second reading of the Jefferson Bible. I first read it about twenty years ago when I first learned of it and realized that Mr. Jefferson and I shared a similar deist view on who was Christ.
Unlike Mr. Jefferson, I do proclaim myself a Christian, but while I take comfort in the worship and traditions of the Episcopal and Catholic Churches, my personal theology questions and finds it hard to proclaim the divinity of Christ, but I truly do believe that Jesus was sent by God and Jesus was a man who knew God and his life and teachings points the way to knowing God and how to live our life according to God's plan for us.
Thus, the miracle stories have always been a little hard for me to swallow and were never particularly useful for my spiritual development. Before I had heard of Mr. Jefferson's cut-and-paste project in creating The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, I thought a collection of Jesus' teachings sans "the magic tricks' would be a great resource for me. Imagine my excitement when I learned that Mr. Jefferson, one of my heroes of revolutionary America, had the same idea and completed the project.
This hard-bound Smithsonian edition is a fine book for my desktop Jefferson collection.
July 11, 2024
Three stars just for the quality of the writing, the effort, and the insane investment Jefferson put into this. The guy was literally out there writing the Declaration of Independence and being President and he decided he needed to rewrite the Bible on the side.
The letter from Jefferson to Dr. Benjamin Rush really clears up any confusion on this writing. Not that Jefferson wasn’t obviously confused on true Scripture, but it makes it clear why he wrote what he did.
Basically: Jesus was a good guy. Excellent chap. His life “….correct and innocent.” Jefferson retells Jesus’ parables and wise sayings, but completely removes daily narrative and miracles. The writing of His life story “…fell on unlettered and ignorant men; who wrote, too, from memory, and not till long after the transactions had passed.” He pretty much just leaves in the things Jesus said, except when He claims to be God.
Interestingly, Jefferson does miss a few claims. Such as “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” And he even includes when Jesus says “I Am” and knocks over the group come to arrest Him. Sadly, Jesus doesn’t rise from the dead in this edition of God’s Word.
Thomas Jefferson, you poor, misguided fella. How sad that he studied and dedicated so much time to the Scriptures and missed the joy of the truth! Though, he apparently took great pride in this book as he wrote: “a more beautiful or precious morsel of ethics I have never seen. It is a document in proof that I am a REAL CHRISTIAN…” President Jefferson apparently missed Matthew 7:16 and Ephesians 2:8,9.
I’ll give him one thing, the man uses beautiful language to write. No wonder the Committee of Five asked him to pen the document telling the world why the Thirteen Colonies were no longer subject to the king.
Cons of the book: he uses the word “inculcate” way too many times.
The letter from Jefferson to Dr. Benjamin Rush really clears up any confusion on this writing. Not that Jefferson wasn’t obviously confused on true Scripture, but it makes it clear why he wrote what he did.
Basically: Jesus was a good guy. Excellent chap. His life “….correct and innocent.” Jefferson retells Jesus’ parables and wise sayings, but completely removes daily narrative and miracles. The writing of His life story “…fell on unlettered and ignorant men; who wrote, too, from memory, and not till long after the transactions had passed.” He pretty much just leaves in the things Jesus said, except when He claims to be God.
Interestingly, Jefferson does miss a few claims. Such as “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” And he even includes when Jesus says “I Am” and knocks over the group come to arrest Him. Sadly, Jesus doesn’t rise from the dead in this edition of God’s Word.
Thomas Jefferson, you poor, misguided fella. How sad that he studied and dedicated so much time to the Scriptures and missed the joy of the truth! Though, he apparently took great pride in this book as he wrote: “a more beautiful or precious morsel of ethics I have never seen. It is a document in proof that I am a REAL CHRISTIAN…” President Jefferson apparently missed Matthew 7:16 and Ephesians 2:8,9.
I’ll give him one thing, the man uses beautiful language to write. No wonder the Committee of Five asked him to pen the document telling the world why the Thirteen Colonies were no longer subject to the king.
Cons of the book: he uses the word “inculcate” way too many times.
December 12, 2024
"I have performed this operation for my own use, by cutting verse by verse out of the printed book, and by arranging the matter which is evidently his, and which is as distinguishable as diamonds in a dunghill." - Thomas Jefferson
Well, as far as Bibles go, I actually finished this one. And there's not much in here that i disagree with. Jesus was an alright guy with good morals and values, good ideas about society... just not great at picking out his entourage. But, hey, reading about how he was flipping over money lenders' tables and loudly and truthfully calling out lawyers and leaders for being the hypocrites they are, I'm a happy guy. I've been on the lookout for this version for a while, and for good reason. I did not have to read through all his followers' fan-fiction, I don't want commentary on my first reading.
Well, as far as Bibles go, I actually finished this one. And there's not much in here that i disagree with. Jesus was an alright guy with good morals and values, good ideas about society... just not great at picking out his entourage. But, hey, reading about how he was flipping over money lenders' tables and loudly and truthfully calling out lawyers and leaders for being the hypocrites they are, I'm a happy guy. I've been on the lookout for this version for a while, and for good reason. I did not have to read through all his followers' fan-fiction, I don't want commentary on my first reading.
February 6, 2017
Two reasons why I rated this with only 1 star. 1) Jesus's claims of deity have been taken out. 2) The story ends with Jesus in a tomb rather than any mention of the central point of Christianity (which Thomas Jefferson claims in the opening statements), the resurrection.
Thomas Jefferson is doing what many have done unsuccessfully for centuries before and after. He picks and chooses the most convenient passages, so as to influence his own life but not make any transformative commitments. Without answering my two objections, the "morals" in the title are bankrupt drivel.
Thomas Jefferson is doing what many have done unsuccessfully for centuries before and after. He picks and chooses the most convenient passages, so as to influence his own life but not make any transformative commitments. Without answering my two objections, the "morals" in the title are bankrupt drivel.
May 9, 2024
There’s something very special about one of the greatest men in history pulling passages from the greatest book in history and compiling them into a manuscript. “The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth” is a deep insight into the mindset of Thomas Jefferson and shows evidence of the moral and holy compass that helped guide him. A great read that will stand the test of time.
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