Thomas Jefferson, the third American president, started to work on his own edition of the Bible in 1804. Jefferson had studied about religions and of religious figures for a long time. He once wrote, “Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern, which have come under my observation, none appear to me so pure as that of Jesus.” Jefferson was fascinated about Jesus, but didn’t believe Jesus was the Son of God.
Jefferson’s view of Jesus had brought him to the point to where he began his editions of the Bible. His first edition was called The Philosophy of Jesus of Nazareth and is was a forty-six page extract. It held the teachings of Jesus in a form that the it was organized by topic.
Jefferson continued on a project that took fifteen years to complete. The project basically rewrote the Bible. Jefferson started the project to rewrite the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). He wanted to write what he thought Jesus said and did. The main reason Jefferson rewrote the Bible was probably because he didn’t believe in the miracles of Jesus.
This story about Thomas Jefferson is a great example of a man who doesn’t believe in the Bible in full. Jefferson read the gospels, disagreed with what he didn’t believe, and rewrote the gospels in his way.
II Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” These verses are like John 3:16. John 3:16 talks about the purpose of Jesus coming on earth and II Timothy 3:16-17 talks about the purpose of the Bible. It’s kind of funny that both references have 3:16 in it!
Anyway, those two verses tell us that the Bible was created by God and is used to teach us, to tell us what we have done wrong, to correct us, and to train us to do what is right. That means that even if you disagree, my friend, the Bible is still right. Rejecting the Bible is like rejecting God, Himself.
Jefferson read the Bible and said that the Bible was not right and then he tried to change it. If every human changed the Bible to what they think it should say, then we would never have a connection with God. The Bible is like a key to Jesus and then to God. The Bible is the tool to a holy and righteous life. Just because you say that you don’t believe that Jesus walked on water doesn’t mean you go and change that. Believe the Bible because it is true and right. Keep the Bible how it’s written. Believe the Bible how it’s written. Apply the Bible how it’s written. Keep, believe, and apply is the Bible in full in your life.
© 2010-PRESENT. All right reserved