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

by Thomas Jefferson
The Jefferson Bible: The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth  
published 2006 by Applewood Books
binding Hardcover
isbn 1557091846   (isbn13: 9781557091840)
pages 103
description Thomas Jefferson believed that the pure-principled teachings of Jesus should have been separated from the dogma and abuse of organized religion of the...more
date added
12-09-06



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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 102)



Wendy
Wendy rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
01/09/08

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 an...more
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gepr
gepr rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
03/26/08

Read in March, 2008
Interesting versions of bible excerpts related solely to Jesus' life and his parables. There were a couple parables that, having never understood them before, seemed to have a clearer meaning. Whether that's because Jefferson's telling is biased or not, I have no idea (and don't really care). Another interesting inference is that Jesus' was not above being a bit of a hypocrite. At some points, he bitches at people for waste or excesses and then at other points, when his followers bitch at pe...more
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Casey
Casey rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
06/09/08


The best summation (from wikipedia): "The Jefferson Bible, or The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth as it is formally titled, was Thomas Jefferson's effort to extract the 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."

See Jesus as a man. Definitely worth reading.
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Jake
10/16/07

Read in October, 2007
Definitely a puzzling project for Jefferson to undertake. I really didn't like how he jumps from chapter to chapter. It's not like the Bible is exactly easy to read in the first place, but Jefferson's approach to the translation of the New Testament is even more beguiling.
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Wesley
Wesley rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
06/25/08

Has a copy to sell/swap
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.
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Jarratt
Jarratt rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
06/23/07

bookshelves: philosophy, religion
Read in June, 2007
recommends it for: You. And your mother, too.
Essentially the story of Jesus and his teachings sans virgin birth, miracles or resurrection. Though those things have important meaning to a lot of people, for me they can often distract from what I view as the most important thing Jesus gave the world: a better way to live one's life.
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Alane
09/29/07

bookshelves: religion-and-spirit
Read in September, 2007
recommends it for: my entire congregation
I first read this almost twenty years ago. I pick it up every couple ofyears and read it again. What remains shocking to me is not that Jefferson did the redaction, but that modern people feel like they can't. Preaching on this in a week.
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Andy
Andy rated it: 1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars
07/24/07

Read in February, 2007
I don't understand the purpose of removing the miracles from the Gospels. Wouldn't it be better to either accept them as they are or reject them completely?
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Joe
Joe marked it as to-read
11/05/07

bookshelves: to-read
Jefferson, a Deist, re-wrote the New Testament, taking out everything he felt corrupted the teachings of Jesus. I'm curious to see what was left!
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Andrew
Andrew rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
06/15/08

like it or not, you have to admit - it sure makes the whole death-obsession thing a little easier to ignore!
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Paige
Paige rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
12/09/06

bookshelves: religion
TJ really whittles down the bible to the essentials...the spoken word of Jesus.
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Chelsea
Chelsea rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
02/05/08

bookshelves: everyone-should-read---
Read in February, 2008
recommended to Chelsea by: Vincent Eric Scullin
recommends it for: Any literate organism.
I voted Jefferson today.
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Jeff
Jeff is currently reading it
01/18/08

bookshelves: currently-reading
Amazingly thin...
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Bill
Bill marked it as to-read
10/06/07

bookshelves: to-read
 

Charlesp
Charlesp marked it as to-read (review of isbn 0807077143)
06/21/08

bookshelves: to-read
 

Anthony
Anthony marked it as to-read (review of isbn 0807077143)
04/09/07

bookshelves: to-read
 

Sam
11/05/07

 

Joseph
Joseph rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
05/16/08

bookshelves: philosophy
 

Paul
Paul rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
09/06/07

 

Danielle
Danielle marked it as to-read
04/24/08

bookshelves: to-read
 


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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 3.88 (68 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 3.94 (47 ratings)
number of reviews: 13






other editions

The Jefferson Bible (Hardcover)
The Jefferson Bible, The Life and Morals of Jesus (Paperback)
The Jefferson Bible: The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth (Hardcover)