Thomas Jefferson’s ‘Bible’
How thick is your Bible?!
By Helen Jesze, 29th March 2019
“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe,”
1 Thessalonians 2:13 KJV
The American President Thomas Jefferson was not happy with the Bible, so he cut and razored out his favourite parts, which were mostly about the life of Jesus Christ. These he stuck into another book and named it his ‘Bible’. The rest he discarded, including the miracles of Jesus and anything about the supernatural power of God.
When I read this it made me think of the little girl who was happily going to church with her Bible under her arm. At the church door she shook hands with the preacher. “Good morning, Betty,” the minister said, “but look here, why is your Bible so thin?! All the pages are torn out!” “Oh yes, Sir, every time you said something wasn’t for Today and only for Bible Times, I tore those pages out. I’m expecting to get rid of the covers today!”
Millions of Christians throughout history have razored or torn pages out of their Bible. You and I may have done that too, not physically, but mentally and spiritually. How many times have we ignored, disbelieved, pulled to pieces the eternal truths of the Word of God, preferring just certain parts – “cherry-picking”.
Today, let’s determine to take the whole of the Word of God, and expect His Holy Spirit to illuminate its meaning, that we might grow in stature and in the knowledge of God.
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