The Jefferson Bible

By: Thomas Jefferson

Narrated by: Mel Foster

In the early 19th century, Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, conceived the idea of extracting a gospel purified of what he saw as extraneous philosophical, mythological, and theological elements. To do so, he took verses from the four canonical gospels and arranged them into a single narrative, focusing on the actual words of Jesus. This work was never published during Jefferson's lifetime but was inherited by his grandson and printed for the first time in the early 20th century. The original bound manuscript, popularly referred to as The Jefferson Bible, is held by the United States National Museum in Washington.

Public Domain (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

"[A] fascinating document, telling us a great deal about a great 18th-century mind and its world." (Charles S. Adams, Religious Studies Review)

Not a fan

This wasn't for me personally, but I can't say it was bad because of that. Maybe it's for you.

Everyone should hear this book

An incredible account of Jesus' life unadulterated by the commentary of others. Salvation straight from the holy horses mouth transcribed by the man America trusts the most. A phenomenal work of spiritual philosophy to be read by all seekers.

If people only knew

If only more people knew about this, and the true beliefs of our founding fathers! Great read!

A bit flat.

The reader seems to hurry through the material without inspiration or any sense of history or character. Perhaps Mr. Foster was thinking that Mr. Jefferson would have preferred it this way. It makes it all a bit dry. He reads like a fellow who is paid by the word. Great to fall asleep to - (even while driving!)

wonderful teachings

The presentation was very good.
The teaching most important and wonderful. Definitely, this is one book that needs the notes to see were all the passages came from.
Audio book has definitely made a decision to get a hard copy to study.

Thomas Jefferson is NOT a Christian

Long story short, Jefferson ends his version of the Bible of Jesus never resurrecting but being sealed off in His tomb.
He pretty much views Jesus as a universal moral teacher. Jefferson sounds like a Universalist where I would assume he believes all paths lead to God.
He thinks any teaching of Jesus being God in the flesh is a distortion.
Unfortunately for Jefferson, he seems clueless of the Pauline Creed penned around 52AD which gives no time for distortions of Jesus life.

Omission put to good use

Taking the magical bits out of the gospels does quite a bit to make the philosophy proposed by Christ sound grounded in reality.

I liked it. Just the man's story.

Any additional comments?

What I liked about this book, was that Jefferson kept to telling what Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John said about Jesus. A kind of "sticking to just the fact" type of book. No mystification of the man, just what events took place in his life his as per these four disciples, and what Jesus actually was said to have said. As Jefferson put it, a look at Christianity based on Jesus's teachings, not the pile of other stuff the new testament in full of that came from folks who lived far after Jesus's death.

Great story

Any additional comments?

Helps change your mind about Jefferson's religous beliefs. A man who asks questions of his creator, trying to define his beliefs.

Great story by a great man.

The story was concise and well done. Just what I expected. Will recommend to all.