The Jefferson Bible

This volume presents a curated selection of the Gospels, edited by Thomas Jefferson to create a coherent narrative of Jesus's life and teachings. By excising passages he deemed miraculous, supernatural, or contradictory, Jefferson constructed a text that emphasizes the moral and philosophical core of Christianity over its theological mysteries. The result is a streamlined account that portrays Jesus primarily as a wise teacher and ethical philosopher rather than a divine figure performing miracles.

The writing retains the archaic, declarative style of the King James Bible, but the selection process imposes a distinct Enlightenment rationalism on the source material. It serves as a primary document of early American deism, illustrating how Jefferson sought to reconcile religious virtue with empirical reason. The text is concise and direct, focusing on parables, ethical injunctions, and historical events, making it a significant artifact in the history of religious thought and American intellectual history.

Description adapted from Open Library bibliographic data ↗.