What did Thomas Jefferson think of Jesus?
Asked by: Mathew Weber | Last update: March 2, 2026Score: 5/5 (10 votes)
Thomas Jefferson viewed Jesus as the greatest moral teacher in history, deeply admiring his ethical teachings on philanthropy, kindness, and reason, but rejected his divinity, resurrection, and miracles, seeing them as corruptions added by followers. He called himself a "Christian" in the sense of adhering to these pure morals, creating his own version of the Gospels (the "Jefferson Bible") by cutting out supernatural elements to reveal Jesus's "sublime" philosophy.
What did Thomas Jefferson say about Jesus?
Jefferson wrote that "The doctrines which flowed from the lips of Jesus Himself are within the comprehension of a child". He explained these doctrines were such as were "professed & acted on by the unlettered apostles, the Apostolic fathers, and the Christians of the 1st century".
What parts of the Bible did Thomas Jefferson cut out?
Jefferson cut passages from six different Bibles, in English, French, Latin and Greek. He left behind any elements that he could not support through reason or that he believed were later embellishments, including the Resurrection. The politician in Jefferson well understood the scandal that such a project could cause.
Did Thomas Jefferson believe in the resurrection of Jesus?
Like other Founding Fathers, Jefferson was considered a Deist, subscribing to the liberal religious strand of Deism that values reason over revelation and rejects traditional Christian doctrines, including the Virgin Birth, original sin and the resurrection of Jesus.
What was Jefferson's belief in God?
In summary, then, Jefferson was a deist because he believed in one God, in divine providence, in the divine moral law, and in rewards and punishments after death; but did not believe in supernatural revelation.
Letters: What Did Jefferson Really Think of Christianity?
What did Thomas think of Jesus?
Thomas said he wouldn't believe Jesus had risen from the dead until he saw Him for himself. “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” He wanted the evidence. He wanted to experience Jesus firsthand.
What did Thomas Jefferson believe about the Bible?
A child of Enlightenment rationalism and revolutionary thinking, Jefferson rejected miracles and the idea of Christ as the son of God. He saw Jesus as a powerful, persuasive moral teacher, author of “the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man.”
What did Benjamin Franklin say about Jesus?
Benjamin Franklin admired Jesus' moral teachings, calling His system the "best the world ever saw," but had doubts about His divinity, viewing him as a great moral teacher rather than God, though he didn't dwell on the question, focusing instead on living virtuous lives by imitating Jesus and Socrates. He believed revealed religion had corrupted Jesus' original message and sought a rational, virtuous life grounded in doing good, a path accessible to people of all faiths.
Did Thomas Jefferson cut pages out of the Bible?
It was crafted in the fall and winter months of 1819 and 1820 when the 77-year-old Jefferson used a razor to cut passages from six copies of the New Testament—two in Greek and Latin, two in French and two in English—and rearranged and pasted together the selected verses, shorn of any sign of the miraculous or ...
What religion is Trump?
Donald Trump identifies as a Christian, specifically a Presbyterian who later described himself as nondenominational, having been raised in his mother's Presbyterian faith and influenced by positive thinking. He's associated with Protestantism, attends church sporadically, and maintains strong ties with Evangelical Christians, who form a significant part of his political base.
Why is Matthew 23/14 missing?
Matthew 23:14 is missing from many modern Bibles because it doesn't appear in the earliest and most reliable Greek manuscripts, suggesting it was a later scribal addition, though it's present in later Byzantine texts and thus in older translations like the KJV, with the same teaching found in Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47. Textual critics, using older Alexandrian manuscripts (like P45, P46, Aleph, B, C, L), omit it to get closer to the original text, while others include it with brackets or footnotes, acknowledging its presence in some traditions but not the earliest ones.
Where in the Bible does it say Jesus was unrecognizable?
The Bible describes Jesus as unrecognizable due to severe physical disfigurement from his passion in Isaiah 52:14, saying his appearance was "so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness". This Old Testament prophecy highlights the profound suffering and brutality of his scourging, making him seem less than human, a description reflected in the New Testament accounts of his battered state.
How many slaves did Thomas Jefferson own when he died?
How many people did Thomas Jefferson own? Thomas Jefferson enslaved over 600 human beings throughout the course of his life. 400 people were enslaved at Monticello; the other 200 people were held in bondage on Jefferson's other properties. At any given time, around 130 people were enslaved at Monticello.
Do deists believe in Jesus?
Yes, deists generally acknowledge Jesus as a historical figure and moral teacher, but they reject his divinity, miracles, and role as Savior, viewing him as a wise man whose ethical teachings align with natural law rather than supernatural revelation. While historical deists like the American Founders admired Jesus's morality, they denied doctrines like the Trinity and the Bible's divine inspiration, seeing God as a "clockmaker" who set the universe in motion without interference.
What did Thomas Jefferson say about Jews?
Thomas Jefferson championed Jewish religious freedom, ensuring Jews had equal civil rights and were protected from persecution, famously stating "our civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions" in the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom", "https://www.monticello.org/research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/jews-and-judaism/". While he admired their resilience, he held critical views of certain aspects of Jewish religious texts, viewing Moses's character harshly and finding Jewish moral philosophy underdeveloped in some areas, but advocated for education to elevate their standing, ensuring they could be "equal objects of respect and favor".
Why did Thomas start doubting Jesus?
Thomas doubted the resurrection, but he did not sin as he did so. His doubt arose because of his limited knowledge and his inability to make sense of what he heard. He had sincere questions that prevented him from affirming that Christ was alive, and he wanted more information to answer these questions.
Why is Matthew 17:21 missing from some bibles?
Matthew 17:21 is missing from some Bibles because it doesn't appear in the earliest and most reliable ancient manuscripts, with scholars believing it was a later scribal addition, likely copied from Mark 9:29 to harmonize the Gospel accounts; modern translations omit it or place it in footnotes based on this textual evidence, while older versions like the KJV included it due to relying on later manuscripts that contained the inserted text.
What are the 22 books missing from the Bible?
The Lost Books of the Bible
- The Book of Mary.
- The book of Enoch.
- The Protevangelion.
- The Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ.
- The Infancy Gospel of Thomas.
- The Book of Jesus Christ.
- The Gospel of Nicodemus (Acts of Pilate)
- The Apostles' Creed (throughout history)
Why is Acts 8-37 missing?
Acts 8:37 was omitted from many modern Bible translations because it isn't found in the oldest and most reliable Greek manuscripts, suggesting it was a later addition or "gloss" by scribes, even though it's present in the Textus Receptus (used for the KJV) and some later manuscripts, making it a point of debate between textual traditions. Translators of versions like the NIV and ESV include it in footnotes or omit it, citing evidence from Alexandrian Text family manuscripts (like Vaticanus and Sinaiticus) that lack the verse, while preserving the core message that belief is essential for baptism.
What did Albert Einstein say about Christianity?
Albert Einstein viewed traditional Christianity and organized religion as "childish superstitions" and "primitive legends," rejecting the concept of a personal God who rewards and punishes, but expressed deep awe for the universe's rational structure, aligning with a cosmic religious feeling often linked to Spinoza's God, a non-personal divine harmony. He described himself as an agnostic and was uncomfortable with being labeled an atheist, preferring to focus on ethical principles and the mystery of existence rather than dogma.
Which founding fathers believed in Jesus?
Founders who fall into the category of Christian Deists include Washington (whose dedication to Christianity was clear in his own mind), John Adams, and, with some qualifications, Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was more influenced by the reason-centred Enlightenment than either Adams or Washington.
What did Mark Twain say about Christianity?
Among Twain's many controversial stances on religion, he did not believe in the existence of heaven and hell, the immortality of the soul nor the divinity of Jesus Christ. He was highly skeptical of the Bible's contents, and although he professed belief in God, he frequently questioned God's motives.
Why is Matthew 18 verse 11 missing?
Matthew 18:11 ("For the Son of man has come to save what was lost") is missing in many modern Bibles because it isn't found in the earliest, most reliable Greek manuscripts; it was likely a later scribal addition, possibly harmonized from Luke 19:10, and included in the texts (like those used for the KJV) from which older translations were made. Modern translations, based on older manuscripts, place it in a footnote or omit it, showing textual scholarship aiming to reflect the original text.
What did Thomas say when he saw Jesus?
Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “You believe because you see me. Great blessings belong to the people who believe without seeing me!” Jesus did many other miraculous signs that his followers saw, which are not written in this book.
Did Thomas Jefferson believe in an afterlife?
There is a general scholarly consensus that Thomas Jefferson believed in an afterlife, given numerous references to the hereafter in his letters, messages, and addresses. For instance, in his The Religious Life of Thomas Jefferson, Charles B. Sanford, citing two of Jefferson's letters to Adams (9 Aug. 1816 and 8 Dec.