The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth
by THOMAS JEFFERSON
I slavishly appreciated the Thomas Jefferson I learned of in history books —-until I read Gore Vidal’s Burr. Two dollar bills were never the same after that. The characterization of Jefferson in that book was jarring and yet, sounded quite plausible. To a younger audience, Jefferson is an easy foil. Watch Hamilton or consider political essays that will address the fundamental hypocrisy of someone writing the Declaration of Independence while only freeing a handful of slaves in his will. George Washington managed to free all his slaves in his will—and he was a a wealthy owner of a plantation—a soldier—and not the author of, “All men are created equal.”
It is interesting to note that a young Thomas Jefferson wrote many anti-slavery tracts and in fact blamed the Kings of England for introducing slavery to the Americas. He characterized it as a “hideous blot.” In old age, he twisted and turned on the issue mostly thinking slavery a bad thing but better than setting a people free who did not have the skills to survive the American environment. In the age of Enlightenment, he judged blacks as a step back in the biology of humanity. While having a reputation as something of a scientist, he never applied that discipline to his consideration of that very question—he went along with popular opinion because, likely, it suited his needs as well as expectations that were broadly shared.
I am aware that Jefferson’s personal economic problems in his middle and advanced years were significant. He died in debt. Indeed, it is quite possible that freeing his slaves might have led to economic ruin. It is possible that many landowners in the South saw it that way—even if they felt discomfort with slavery as an institution. How many of us compromise or would compromise a moral principle in the face of economic hardship? I am reminded of one of my favorite Biblical passages: “Let he who has not sinned, throw the first stone.” Followed by, “Go, sin no more.”
But respecting his professed beliefs about slavery and equality, he did sin……and his world, the majority of it in any case, accommodated him in doing so. The fact that he had children with Sally Hemings was obscured by him because of the scandal it brought to his social and political aspirations. I assume any confusion or spiritual conflict regarding his feelings or perceptions of right and wrong —not to mention the woman herself and her children —were significant—as they should be for anyone having children outside of marriage and with someone where the power relationship was so overwhelmingly unbalanced. And still, he moved on seemingly intact—as was his reputation for centuries.
He reflected on religious freedom as a milestone of his accomplishments when his end was approaching. Jefferson is said to have gotten more religious personally in his declining years. That is a familiar story, isn’t it? One hedges one’s bets reflecting on one’s sins as the end approaches? His peers for the most part were affiliated with specific churches whose doctrines would have been at odds with his specific behavior. The argument that very religious people have about what happens to people not constrained by Faith in God and his laws applies to Jefferson.
Of interest, the development of the Jefferson Bible reflects his interests if not so much his beliefs. His was an inquisitive mind. He was something of a Deist and was attracted to Unitarianism. When tasked with explaining himself, he suggested he was a Christian in a denomination of one. Neither Unitarianism or Deism were mainstream religious beliefs in a country that considered itself devoted to traditional branches of Christianity. Unitarians do not believe in the Trinity nor do they believe that Jesus was the Son of God or that he was resurrected. This echos Jefferson’s belief which included the notion ( along with Washington and Franklin) that “God” was an incomprehensible force that formed the universe and is the source of the physical laws governing the universe but without any specific interventions with humanity.
Jefferson was raised as an Anglican, what we in the US now call Episcopalians. This was a state-sponsored religion in the colony of Virginia; taxes paid to the government were diverted to this church. He was in conflict with Patric Henry of Virginia in that after the revolution, as the status of church and state were debated, Henry would have the government share tax revenue with specific Christian churches, but Jefferson was adamant that there should be no such relationship with any church. Jefferson’s epitaph reflects the importance of this to him:
"Author of the Declaration of Independence [and] of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom & Father of the University of Virginia.”
He took a hit for his success having church and state separated in Virginia. The effort took seven years and he was attacked on many fronts. His “atheism” as well as his relationship with Sally Hemings, and positions on national allegiances (should we side with the French or the English when they are at war?)were all used in the fight by religious figures who were bound to lose status and funds with the law that eventually passed. The very concept (no state support of the churches) was revolutionary to many and a typical concern was raised by Reverend Linn: “…it would destroy religion, introduce immorality and loosen the bonds of society.”
His Bible would surface only after his death. The story of that Bible if public during his lifetime would have only given more support to his enemies of Faith. Firstly, he had the nerve to revise and make his own Bible. The hubris! Perceived as an atheist by many, to edit and make a new Bible? What was his motivation? By what authority would he suggest revisions and why would anyone take them seriously? He used a razor blade to cut out the passages from the (King James) Bible he thought worthy; the religious of Americans in 1804 would have had ISIS-like thoughts about someone applying a razor blade to the Holy Book—it was the very definition of defilement. So he kept it secret, relating the contents only through letters to friends and family.
A relative who inherited the book eventually made it public and the Smithsonian would obtain a copy. It was published and in 1904, Congress commissioned the publishing and distribution of the Bible (9,000 copies, total) to incoming legislators. This practice with time, fell out of favor…….
For those of you who know your Bible, the table of Contents:
Chapter 1
Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem where Jesus is born
Jesus is circumcised and named and they return to Nazareth
At 12 years old, Jesus goes with his parents to Jerusalem and returns
John baptizes in Jordan
Jesus is baptized at 30 years of age
He drives the traders out of the temple
He baptizes, but returns to Galilee on the death of John
He teaches in the Synagogue
He explains the Sabbath
Call of the disciples
Chapter 2
The Sermon on the Mount
Chapter 3
The Sermon on the Mount
Chapter 4
Exhorts
A woman anointed him
Precepts
Parable of the rich man
Precepts
Chapter 5
Parable of the fig tree
Precepts
Parable of the sower
Precepts
Parable of the Tares
Precepts
Chapter 6
Parable of new wine in old bottles
A prophet hath no honor in his own country
Mission, instruction, and return of the apostles
Precepts
Chapter 7
Parable of the wicked servant
Mission of the seventy
The feast of the tabernacles
Chapter 8
The woman taken in adultery
To be born blind is no proof of sin
The good shepherd
Love God and they neighbor; parable of the Samaritan
Form of prayer
Chapter 9
The Sabbath
The bidden to a feast
Precepts
Parables of the lost sheep and the Prodigal son
Chapter 10
Parable of the unjust steward
Parable of Lazarus
Precepts: to be always ready
Parables of the widow and the judge, the Pharisee and the Publican
Precepts
Chapter 11
Parable of the laborers in the vineyard
Zaccheus and the parable of the talents
Chapter 12
Goes to Jerusalem and Bethany
The traders cast out from the temple
Parable of the two sons
Parable of the vineyard and the husbandman
Parable of the king and wedding
Tribute. Marriage. Resurrection.
The two commandments
Chapter 13
Precepts. Pride. Hypocrisy. Swearing
The widow’s mite
Jerusalem and the day of judgment
The faithful and wise servant
Chapter 14
Parable of the ten virgins
The parable of the talents
The day of judgment
Chapter 15
A woman anointed him
Judas undertakes to point out Jesus
Precepts to his disciples. Washes their feet. Trouble of mind, and prayer
Chapter 16
Judas conducts the officers to Jesus
He is arrested and carried before Caiaphas the High Priest and is condemned
He is then carried to Pilate
Who sends him to Herod
Chapter 17
Pilate receives him back, scourges and delivers him to execution.
His crucifixion, death, and burial
The burial
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