Thomas Jefferson's "We Little Book" Purified by Fire

By Harry Swanson

People, get ready!

Thomas Jefferson lived a very successful, accomplished life and was one of the most intelligent of the Founding Fathers. He is probably most remembered as the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson served as the governor of Virginia, congressman, the first secretary of state under George Washington, vice president under John Adams, and president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was also a diplomat, lawyer, architect and could speak several languages.

As president, he signed the congressional Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves and was a big advocate for religious freedom. Thomas Jefferson thought highly of the Bible and made frequent use of its references and passages. He was a Bible enthusiast and often gave Bibles as gifts to family members.

Jefferson's greatest gift may not have been his work on the Declaration of Independence but one that he called his "wee little book."

He took on a project to collect the best and most concise moral teachings known. After a lengthy search, he found them in Jesus's teaching as recorded in the Gospels, which Jefferson believed were the most sublime and benevolent code of morals ever offered to man.

Finally, after several years of planning, in 1820 and at age seventy-seven, he finished construction of his book by cutting excerpts from the Gospels of the New Testament and arranging them in chronological and topical order covering the story of Jesus's life, parables, and moral teaching. The work did include miracles and the supernatural such as heaven, hell, angels, devil, eternal life, and more. Jefferson's purpose was to clarify Jesus's major teachings into one short collection for his own nightly study.

If there's anything the world needs today, it's the fulfillment of the Great Commission--to go and tell all the world about the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, including his life, teachings, sufferings, crucifixion, and resurrection.

Jefferson's work was a priceless nightly study then and a priceless nightly study now.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9798886856804

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Thomas Jefferson's We Little Book Purified by Fire

Harry Swanson

ISBN 979-8-88685-679-8 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88751-205-1 (hardcover)

ISBN 979-8-88685-680-4 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Harry Swanson

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE using the NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ® NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan and Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.

The New International Version is a trademark registered in the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. The NIV, Biblica, International Bible Society, and the Biblica logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica Inc. Used with permission.

The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Preface

Editor's Notes

Introduction

Brief Introduction to Thomas Jefferson's Wee Little Book, Jefferson's Revised 1820 Nightly Study in Today's English and with Teaching Aids

Joseph and Mary Go to Bethlehem Where Jesus Is Born

John, Baptisms in Jordan

Drives the Traders Out of the Temple

He Teaches in the Synagogues

Explains the Sabbath

The Sermon on the Mount

Salt of the Earth, Law and Commands

Loan with a Giving Heart

Doing Good and How to Act/Pray Correctly

Judging Others

Giving

Judgmental Hypocrite

Be Careful What You Say

The Wise and Foolish Builders

Exhorts

A Woman Anointing Him

Precept 1

Parable of the Rich Man

Do Not Worry

Precept 2

Parable of the Fig Trees

Precept 3

Parable of the Sower

Precept 4

Parable of the Tares

Precept 5

Precept 6

A Prophet Has No Honor in His Own Country

Mission, Instruction, Return an Apostle

Precept 7

Precept 8

Precept 9

Parable of the Wicked Servant

Mission of the LXX

The Feast of the Tabernacles

The Woman Taken in Adultery

To Be Born Blind Is No Proof of Sin

Love God and Thy Neighbor, Parable of the Samaritan

Form of Prayer

The Sabbath

The Bidden to a Feast

Precept 10

Parables of the Lost Sheep and Prodigal Son

Prodigal Son

Parable of the Unjust Steward

Precept 11

Parable of Lazarus

Precepts to Be Always Ready

Parables of the Widow and Judge, the Pharisee and Publican

Precept 12

Precept 13

Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard

Zacchaeus, the Tax Collector

The Parable of the Talents

Goes to Jerusalem and Bethany

Death Predicted

Traders Cast Out, Parables Two Sons / Vineyard

Parable of the King and Wedding

Tribute, Marriage, Resurrection

The Two Commandments

Greatest Commandments

Precepts, Hypocrisy, Swearing

The Widow's Offering

Jerusalem's Judgment and Faithful Servant

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Parable of the Talents

The Day of Judgment

Day of Judgment

A Woman Anointed Him

Judas Undertakes to Point Out Jesus

Precepts to Disciples, Washing of Feet

Precepts to His Disciples, Washes Their Feet, Trouble of Mind and Prayer

Judas Conducts the Officers to Jesus

Jesus Seized, Peter's Denial

He Is Arrested and Carried before Caiaphas the High Priest and Is Condemned

Is Then Carried to Pilate

Who Sends Him to Herod

Receives Him Back, Scourges, and Delivers Him to Execution

Barabbas over Jesus, Execution

His Crucifixion, Death, and Burial

His Burial

Conclusion

Amazing Grace

Scriptures

Notes: Matthew Henry's Commentary; Volume V, Matthew to John

Notes

Referred Works

About the Author

Preface

Jesus is clearly the author of Thomas Jefferson's wee little book. Jefferson studied the Scriptures and came up with eighty-one separate select passages covering the life and morals of Jesus according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

It's helpful to understand Jesus's nature as a person, although he was much, much more. Find below just a few attributes or character traits of Jesus that reveal something about him and why Thomas Jefferson chose the Gospels to complete his morals project.

Jesus's traits were/are but not limited to being compassionate, servant, loving, forgiving, committed, prayerful, gentle, patient, self-controlled, humble, joyful, peaceful, kind, faithful, fair, honest, dependable, responsible, true, confident, attentive, wise, diligent, obedient, best example, determined, disciplined, godly, gracious, loyal, perseverant, merciful, prudent, sincere, teacher, tolerant, understanding, virtuous, etc.

Jefferson's greatest gift may not prove to be his work on the Declaration of Independence but one that he called his wee little book.

He took on a project to collect the best and most concise moral teachings known. After a lengthy search, he found them in Jesus's teaching as recorded in the Gospels, which Jefferson believed were the most sublime and benevolent code of morals ever offered to man.¹

Purpose and benefit of the book

He (Jefferson) titled it, The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, and on numerous occasions he avowed that its sole purpose was to collect and present the major moral teachings of Jesus in one short, simple collection.² The lessons and moral teachings offered here within this book are from the spoken words of Jesus Christ, listed in time order/topic that will serve as a tremendous guide in your daily life while you reap the benefits of godly outcomes. Thomas Jefferson grouped these passages into eighty-one categories for his own personal nightly study. Jefferson's work was drawn from the King James Version. The NIV (New International Version) is used in this book for ease of reading. Also, the Matthew Henry Commentaries was drawn from to offer greater understanding to the reader.

This scriptural arrangement can be a great biblical start for new believers and a very convicting realization of the true walk of a mature Christian. If there's anything the world needs today, it's the fulfillment of the Great Commission—to go and tell all the world about the Lord Jesus Christ, including his life, teachings, sufferings, crucifixion, and resurrection. Jefferson's nightly study aids toward that end.

Note, there's no substitution to the reading of the full New Testament and complete Bible.

Editor's Notes

All of the scriptural passages offered are from the New International Version of the Bible, which is the most popular today and is found easier to read by many. While it is easier to read and understand in today's English, it is not believed to lose any of its meaning or interpretation.

Just below each scriptural passage grouping is found a sentence or so found under the word Helps to aid the reader on that topic that was drawn from the Matthew Henry's Commentary covering Matthew through John. It's intended to be very brief and to the point.

The Matthew Henry's Commentary was heavily depended on for additional explanations of the scriptures. The commentary was written in the King James Version. This occasionally caused the use of an older and more outdated word to be used. Also, the use of capital letters is different at times. Words such as mount of Olives, scribes, and gentiles were all in lowercase. I tried to make all necessary corrections.

Introduction

Thomas Jefferson, 1743–1826

Thomas Jefferson lived a fulfilled life being known for many professions and titles. He is probably most remembered as the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, working along with John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman. He served as the governor of Virginia, congressman, the first secretary of state under George Washington, vice president under John Adams, and president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He also served as an American Founding Father, diplomat, lawyer, architect and could speak several languages. The Jefferson family was one of the earlier Virginia settlers to arrive. Thomas Jefferson attended William and Mary College prior to enrolling in law school. Jefferson, being influenced by others such as Patrick Henry, became devoted to the cause of American freedom and liberty. Jefferson worked the pen to see this nation would be like none other and that it was to be built on Christian values. He dedicated his life to establishing a governmental framework for his country based on Christine biblical principles. Jefferson understood the need for God's wisdom and his role in developing a government that assured freedoms. While church and state are to be separate, they are still to be one.

Jefferson, Slavery, and Debt

As president, he signed the congressional Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves. Jefferson typically held about two hundred slaves at his own home at Monticello, with six hundred over his lifetime. Jefferson inherited about 20 at age fourteen and another 135 through marriage to his wife, Martha.³ The state of Virginia had tough pro-slavery laws which dated back as far as 1691, long before Jefferson's birth. The state implemented significant economic hardships for most slave owners to overcome if they were considering emancipating their slaves. No negro or mulatto slave shall be set free—unless the emancipator pays for his transportation out of the country within six months.⁴ Over time, slave owners would also have to supply a livelihood, support, or transportation for the freed slave. At one point, Jefferson took on seven individual court cases to free slaves. Even though his own slaves were very profitable for him, he still experienced times of significant debt. Martha had inherited debt upon her father's death in 1773 that would be equal to over half a million today. Thomas Jefferson also lived the good life, all while redesigning and rebuilding Monticello. There's a time when Jefferson approached Congress on purchasing his significant book library in an attempt to satisfy some of his debt. Jefferson's economic hardship was further exacerbated by his practice, unlike other slave owners, of paying his slaves for the extra vegetables raised, meat obtained while hunting and fishing, and for extra tasks performed outside normal working hours.⁵ At one point, Thomas Jefferson had triple mortgage debt on his Monticello estate. He was also committed to the building of what would become the University of Virginia. While Jefferson understood slavery was wrong, he bound himself to it by his own ambitions and financial commitments. Today, we can see a clear life of contradiction. It's more difficult to grasp the mindset of his day. Jefferson is quoted as saying: Everyone comes into the world with a right to his person and using it at his own will. This is called personal liberty, and is given by the author of nature because it is necessary for his own sustenance.⁶ Slavery/indentured servitude still exists in the United States today. Now they work in the shadows and can be indirectly hidden in US imports from China, India, and Pakistan, to mention a few.

Declaration of Independence

Jefferson was extremely proud of this accomplishment, much of which was influenced by the Bible and had many consultations with John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman.

The Declaration says:

The Representatives of the United States of America…appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions…with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.⁷

Thomas Jefferson wanted this document to reveal who we were as a people. We are a free people; this is who we are.

Religion and Government

Thomas Jefferson held a true reverence for the Creator and the Bible. He also seemed to have a fear of God but an even greater fear of this newly created American government adopting one central religion. He fought hard to see that government would never get between the freedom of the individual and their Creator. Jefferson held a strong connection with his Creator and the moral teachings found in the Bible. He wanted both government and church to flourish independent of one another. The politicians must stick with government affairs, and the individual should have religious choice. In his mind, religion was expected to prepare people for political office as it did for him, as found in his wording of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson depended on the Holy Scriptures quite often throughout his life. He did, however, shy away from quoting the miracles of Jesus Christ, the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, Holy Spirit), resurrection of Jesus and the Divinity. However, being a diplomat/politician, he may have felt those truths be best left to the church. Elder William Brewster of the Mayflower who served as the spiritual leader at the Plymouth Colony generally stayed out of colonial affairs and left that for Governor William Bradford who held the same Christian values. There's no question that Jefferson strongly believed in a creator.

Freedom and the Bible

Jefferson wrote:

God who gives us liberty, and can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? Indeed, I trembled for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever.⁸

Jefferson was an advocate for religious freedom. In 1777, he drafted the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. "Thomas Jefferson made frequent positive use of Bible references and passages throughout his own writings⁹ and gave Bibles as gifts to family members.¹⁰ Also, he made generous contributions to and became a lifetime member of the Virginia Bible Society.¹¹ Additionally, in 1798, he helped finance the printing of the John Thompson Bible—a groundbreaking American edition of the Bible.¹² This was a large two-volume set. So… Jefferson owned many Bibles, studied them in original languages, belonged to a Bible society and contributed to it for distribution of Bibles, gave copies of the Bible as gifts and assisted in publishing and distributing a special edition of the Bible."¹³

Jefferson's First Scripture Work of 1804

Thomas Jefferson, a Bible enthusiast, took two King James editions of the Bible and a penknife to cut out various New Testament scriptures from the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. He then put them in a certain time and topical order. And lastly, he pasted the cutout scriptures onto blank sheets totaling forty-six pages. He wanted simple and fast access to a collection of the life, words, and moral teachings of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels.¹⁴ The 1804 project was intended for the Indians to match their level of comprehensions by covering Jesus's life and moral teachings directly from the Gospels.¹⁵ Jesus's major teachings were often short and to the point covering moral doctrines. Across an extended period of years, Jefferson repeatedly demonstrated his interest in promoting Christianity and Christian civilizations and morality among native peoples.¹⁶ "Jefferson arranged the works so that the