The Jefferson Bible

Thomas Jefferson's remarkable private compilation of the moral teachings of Jesus offers a unique window into the religious thought of one of America's founding fathers.

In what later became known as The Jefferson Bible, Thomas Jefferson carefully assembled passages from the four Gospels that he believed preserved the authentic ethical teachings of Jesus. Working with a razor and paste, Jefferson literally cut verses from printed copies of the New Testament in several languages and arranged them into a continuous narrative that emphasized Christ's moral philosophy while omitting supernatural elements.

The resulting work, titled The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, reflects Jefferson's belief that the core message of Christianity lay in its ethical teachings rather than in doctrinal mysteries or miracles. His compilation presents Jesus as a profound moral teacher whose words on charity, humility, justice, and compassion form a timeless guide to human conduct.

Prepared late in Jefferson's life for his own personal reflection, the work was not published publicly until decades after his death. Today, The Jefferson Bible remains an important historical document illuminating the religious views of one of the principal architects of the American republic and offering readers a distinctive presentation of the teachings of Jesus.