The Jefferson Bible: The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth

The Founding Father's most personal and provocative work. Thomas Jefferson was a man of relentless curiosity and deeply held conviction. He revered the moral teachings of Jesus as among the greatest ever offered to mankind — but he was equally skeptical of the institutional religion that had grown up around them. So he did what Jefferson always did: he went straight to the source. Using a razor and paste, Jefferson literally cut and rearranged passages from the four Gospels — in English, French, Latin, and Greek — to create his own account of the life and philosophy of Jesus, free from what he saw as the distortions of organized religion. The result was a remarkable document he called The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, known today as the Jefferson Bible. In Jefferson's own words, what remained after his editing was “the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man.” Whether you're a student of American history, a person of faith, or simply someone who wants to understand how one of America's greatest minds approached the question of God and morality, the Jefferson Bible is an essential and endlessly fascinating read. Thomas Jefferson's personal compilation of the life and teachings of Jesus A landmark document of American intellectual and religious history Hardcover edition Published by Applewood Books ISBN: 9781557091840