Podcast
On Being with Krista Tippett
Thomas Jefferson created his own version of the Bible by cutting out parts he didn't like, removing miracles and much of the Christmas and Easter stories. It's described as a passionate, not anti-religious, work.
He literally sat there with four versions of the Bible, Greek, Latin, French and English, went through with a knife or scissors and cut out the parts that he liked most and paced it into a fifth volum...
— Episode: Philip Hamburger and Steven Waldman — Th...
Episode: Philip Hamburger and Steven Waldman — The Long Exp...
Thomas Jefferson created his own version of the Bible by cutting out parts he didn't like, removing miracles and much of the Christmas and Easter stories. It's described as a passionate, not anti-religious, work.
He literally sat there with four versions of the Bible, Greek, Latin, French and English, went through with a knife or scissors and cut out the parts that he liked most and paced it into a fifth volume.
He cut out miracles. He cut out most of what we did the Christmas story. He cut out most of the Easter story, resurrection is gone in Jefferson's Bible.
But it is not a anti-religious book. It's Jefferson's passion for Jesus and his need to rescue and ressuscitate Jesus is really palpable.
Episode: Philip Hamburger and Steven Waldman — The Long Exp...
This book, created by Thomas Jefferson, is a compilation of passages from the Bible that he selected, omitting miracles and other elements he found objectionable. It reveals Jefferson's personal interpretation of Jesus' teachings and his passionate attempt to rescue Jesus' message from what he saw as corruption.
And he literally sat there with four versions of the Bible, Greek, Latin, French and English went through with a knife or scissors and cut out the parts that he liked most and paced it into a fifth volume.
He created his own Bible and you know he cut out miracles. He cut out most of what we did the Christmas story. He cut out most of the Easter story, resurrection is gone in Jefferson's Bible.
The rock is placed in front of the tomb and it never moves. He Jesus never rises.
But it is not a anti religious book. It's Jefferson's passion for Jesus and his need to rescue and ressuscitate Jesus is really palpable.