The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, commonly referred to as the Jefferson Bible, was a book constructed by Thomas Jefferson in the later years of his life by cutting and pasting with a razor and glue numerous sections from the New Testament as extractions of the doctrine of Jesus. Jefferson's condensed composition is especially notable for its exclusion of all miracles by Jesus and most mentions of the supernatural, including sections of the four gospels that contain the Resurrection and most other miracles, and ...
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The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, commonly referred to as the Jefferson Bible, was a book constructed by Thomas Jefferson in the later years of his life by cutting and pasting with a razor and glue numerous sections from the New Testament as extractions of the doctrine of Jesus. Jefferson's condensed composition is especially notable for its exclusion of all miracles by Jesus and most mentions of the supernatural, including sections of the four gospels that contain the Resurrection and most other miracles, and passages that portray Jesus as divine. Jefferson wrote that "Jesus did not mean to impose himself on mankind as the son of God." He called the writers of the New Testament "ignorant, unlettered men" who produced "superstitions, fanaticisms, and fabrications." He called the Apostle Paul the "first corrupter of the doctrines of Jesus." He dismissed the concept of the Trinity as "mere Abracadabra of the mountebanks calling themselves the priests of Jesus." He believed that the clergy used religion as a "mere contrivance to filch wealth and power to themselves" and that "in every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty." And he wrote in a letter to John Adams that "the day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter." Jefferson never referred to his work as a Bible, and the full title of this 1804 version was, The Philosophy of Jesus of Nazareth, being Extracted from the Account of His Life and Doctrines Given by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John; Being an Abridgement of the New Testament for the Use of the Indians, Unembarrased with Matters of Fact or Faith beyond the Level of their Comprehensions. Jefferson frequently expressed discontent with this earlier version. The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth represents the fulfillment of his desire to produce a more carefully assembled edition.
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I found the book to be very thoughtful reading, and it took comparing the Jefferson Bible alongside a standard Bible to see which things he eliminated because he considered them unscientific or unbelievable. The content which remained was still convincing, but without exaggeration, in my mind.
Jacklyn S
Jul 26, 2012
Interesting Bible
Had heard of the Jefferson Bible and found it interesting to see how Jefferson selected the passages and sections HE felt were important. As one of our founding fathers, it gives us an insight as to the man and his mindset.
Robert Kavanaugh
May 9, 2012
Helpful
Any student of Jefferson must read this book. It helps define him.
rogern
Dec 1, 2011
Jefferson Bible
A very interesting view of one of our founding Fathers
religious beliefs. A well thought through document with a very unusual insight to his times.
