The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth (The Jefferson Bible)

The Jefferson Bible is not a traditional Bible but rather a compilation of selected passages from the New Testament that focus solely on the ethical and moral teachings of Jesus Christ. Jeffersons intention was to extract what he considered the true teachings of Jesus distinct from theological or supernatural elements. He believed that by removing miraculous events divine claims and theological doctrines he could reveal the essence of Jesuss ethical philosophy which he saw as a valuable guide for moral living. Here are some key features and points about the Jefferson Bible: Content Selection: Jefferson meticulously cut and pasted passages from the King James Version of the New Testament selecting portions that emphasized Jesuss teachings on moral principles compassion and virtuous living. He excluded sections he deemed supernatural miraculous or theological. Arrangement: Jefferson arranged the selected passages in a chronological order to present a coherent narrative of Jesuss life and teachings. He aimed to portray Jesus as a teacher of ethical principles rather than a divine figure. Omissions: As a result of his editing Jefferson omitted stories of miracles the Virgin Birth the Resurrection and other supernatural events. He focused exclusively on Jesuss teachings related to moral conduct and virtue.