copyright law, the University of Minnesota Bindery produced this facsimile on permanent-durable paper to replace the irreparably deteriorated original volume owned by the University of Minnesota Library. 1996

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PREFACE.

In 1803, while "overwhelmed with other business," Mr. Jefferson cut from the evangelists such passages as he believed would best present the ethical teaching of Jesus, and “arranged them, on the pages of a blank book, in a certain order of time or subject." He called it "The Philosophy of Jesus of Nazareth, extracted from the account of his life and doctrines, as given by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John; being an abridgment of the New Testament for the use of the Indians, unembarrassed with matters of fact or faith beyond the level of their comprehension." In a letter to his friend, Mr. Charles Thompson, after describing this work, he said: "If I had time I would add to my little book the Greek, Latin and French texts in columns, side by side." Some time afterwards he carried out the design thus expressed, giving the texts in the four languages, "in a handsome morocco-bound volume, labeled. on the back 'Morals of Jesus.'" This is the volume called "The Jefferson Bible," which is now owned by the Government, and the publication of which has been recently ordered by Congress. While this volume was still in the possession of Mr. Jefferson's oldest grandson, Colonel Thomas Jefferson Randolph, an accurate copy of its table of contents was made, and from that copy the English text is reproduced in the following pages. As a fit introduction to it, a letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush, and a comparison of the doctrines of Jesus with those of others, are published, giving, perhaps, the fullest expression of his religious views ever made by Mr. Jefferson himself.

Mian. BR

DEC 15.30

903777

A TABLE

Of the texts from the Evangelists employed in this narrative, and of the order of their arrangement.

Luke ii. 1-7: Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem, where Jesus is born. 21, 39: He is circumcised and named, and they return to Nazareth.

40, 42-48, 51, 52: At 12 years of age he accompanies his parents to Jerusalem and returns.

L. iii. 1, 2; Mk. 1. 4; Mt. ill. 4, 5, 6; John baptizes in Jordan.
Mt. iii. 13: Jesus is baptized. L. iii. 23: At 30 years of age.

J. ii. 12-16: Drives the traders out of the temple.

Jill. 22; Mt. iv. 12; Mk. vi. 17-28: He baptizes, but retires into Galilee

on the death of John.

Mk. i. 21, 22: He teaches in the Synagogue.

Mt. xii. 1-5, 9-12; Mk. ii. 27; Mt. xii. 14, 15: Explains the Sabbath

L. vi. 12-17: Call of his disciples.

Mt. v. 1-12; L. vi. 24, 25, 26; Mt. v. 13-47; L. vi. 34, 35, 36; Mt. vi. 1-34; vil. 1, 2; L. vi. 38; Mt. vii. 3-20; xii. 35, 36, 37; vil. 24-29; The sermon on the mount.

Mt. viii. 1; Mk. vi. 6; Mt. xi. 28, 29, 30: Exhorts.

L. vii. 36-46: A woman anointeth him.

Mk. iii. 31-35; L. xii. 1-7, 13-15: Precepts.

L. xii. 16-21: Parable of the rich man. 22-48, 54-59; L. xili. 1-5: Precepts.

L. xiii. 6-9: Parable of the fig tree.

L. xl. 37-46, 52, 53, 54: Precepts.

Mt. xiii. 1-9; Mk. iv. 10; Mt. xiii. 18-23: Parable of the sower.

Mk. iv. 21, 22, 23: Precepts. Mt. xlil. 24-30, 36-52: Parable of the tares.

Mk. iv. 26-34; L. ix. 57-62; L. v. 27-29; Mk. ii. 15-17: Precepts.

L. v. 36-39: Parable of new wine in old bottles.

Mt. xiii. 53-57: A prophet hath no honor in his own country.

Mt. ix. 36; Mk. vi. 7; Mt. x. 5, 6, 9-18, 23, 26-31; Mk. vi. 12, 30: Mission
instructions, return of apostles.

J. vii. 1; Mk. vii 1-5, 14-24; Mt. xviii. 1-4, 7-9, 12-17, 21-35: Precepts.
Mt. xviii. 23-35: Parable of the wicked servant.

L. x. 1-8, 10-12: Mission of the seventy.

J. vil. 2-16, 19-26, 32, 43-53: The feast of the tabernacles.

J. viii. 1-11: The woman taken in adultery.

J. ix. 1, 2, 3: To be born blind no proof of sin.

J. x. 1-5, 11-14, 16: The good shepherd.

L. x. 25-37: Love God and thy neighbor; parable of the Samaritan.

L. xi. 1-13: Form of prayer.

L. xiv. 1-6: The Sabbath.

7-24: The bidden to a feast.

28-32: Precepts.

L. xv. 1-32: Parables of the lost sheep and prodigal son.

L. xvi. 1-15: Parable of the unjust steward.

18-31: Parable of Lazarus.

L.xvii.1-4, 7-10, 20, 26-36: Precepts to be always ready.

L. xviii. 1-14: Parables of the widow and judge, the pharisee and publican.

L. x. 38-42; Mt. xix. 1-26: Precepts.

Mt. xx. 1-16: Parable of the laborers in the vineyard.

L. xix. 1-28: Zaccheus, and the parable of the talents.

Mt. xxi. 1-3, 6-8, 10; J. xii. 19-24; Mt. xxi. 17: Goes to Jerusalem and
Bethany.

Mk. xi. 12, 15-19: The traders cast out from the temple.

Mk. xi. 27; Mt. xxi. 27-31: Parable of the two sons.