America 250 Semiquincentennial Bible Celebration

This episode of Celebrate the Bible explores the perspectives of several Founding Fathers (and Mothers) on Christianity and the Bible. It features insights from Thomas Jefferson, Abigail Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington, highlighting their beliefs about God, Jesus Christ, and the importance of public religion in America. Influential quotes emphasize their commitment to Christian values.

LISTEN NOW (8 minutes):

PODCAST TRANSCRIPT:

Today on Celebrate the Bible, we’ll take a look at what a few of our Founding Fathers (and Mothers) had to say about the Bible and Christianity.

Let’s Begin:

Several years ago, I put a traveling exhibit together titled Christ, Creation, and the Declaration of Independence. For my associated presentations that went along with the exhibit items, I accessed the United States national archives and, the Library of Congress.

I wanted to find out — in their own words, not my words — what our Founding Fathers had to say about Jesus Christ, and whether they believed that God Created the universe.

With this episode, I would like to share with you what I found … in a greatly abbreviated form, of course.

Thomas Jefferson

By the time Jefferson sold his personal library to the recently-destroyed Library of Congress, it listed – under the category of Religion – 190 entries of Bibles in English, French, Greek, Latin and other languages.

His personal family Bible was not included in the collection sold to the LOC. It went to a separate collection of personal items donated to the University of Virginia.

Here is a quote from Jefferson, this is taken from written correspondence to Benjamin Rush, and dated April 23, 1803:

“I am a Christian in the only sense in which he wished any one to be: sincerely attached to his doctrines, in preference to all others.”

In a letter to John Adams on April 11, 1823 he remarked on the Creator:

“I hold that without appeal to revelation, that when we take a view of the universe, in its parts, general or particular, it is impossible for the human mind not to perceive and feel a conviction of design, consummate skill, and indefinite power in every atom of its composition … a fabricator of all things. A necessity of a Superintending Power to maintain the universe. And an eternal preexistence of a Creator, rather than in that of a self-existent universe.”

Abigail Adams

This is an extract from a letter sent to John Quincy Adams from Abigail dated May 5, 1816, as noted in the National Archives:

“The creator, preserver and Govenor of the World, the first commandment forbids the worship of but one God. The Scriptures fully testify, and that a conformity to his precepts and example, as far as human nature is capable of it, will be rewarded by future happiness in the world to come, is my firm belief.

From these and many other passages of Scripture, I am led to believe, in the unity of the Supreme Being, and that Jesus Christ was divinely inspired, and specially delegated to communicate the will of God to man; and that after having fulfilled His mission on Earth, He ascended into heaven, from whence we are assured He shall come to Judge the world in Righteousness, all power being given Him, by the Father.”

Benjamin Franklin

Here we have a few selections taken from: Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania, dated October 1749. Franklin Papers, National Archives.

Franklin states: “History will also afford frequent opportunities of showing the necessity of a public religion, from its usefulness to the public; the advantage of a religious character among private persons; the mischief of superstition, &c. and the excellency of the Christian Religion, above all others, ancient or modern.”

And the following: Franklin Papers / National Archives / Defense of Mr. Hemphill’s Observations.

“Now the surest way to find out the end and design of the Christian Revelation, or what view the Author of it had in coming into the world, is, to consult the revelation itself. And He himself (the great and glorious Author) tells us, He came to call sinners to repentance;  that is, not only to a hearty concern for sin, but to an actual amendment and reformation of what was amiss in their conduct. And Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of mankind, elsewhere gives us a full and comprehensive view of the whole of our religion, and of the main end and design of the christian scheme, when he says, thou shalt love the Lord God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor, as thyself, and he plainly tells us, that these are the most necessary and essential parts of God’s Law, when he adds, on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

That the ultimate end and design of Christ’s death, of our redemption by his blood, &c. was to lead us to the practice of all Holiness, Piety and Virtue, and by these means to deliver us from future pain and punishment, and lead us to the happiness of heaven, may, (besides what has been already suggested) be prov’d from innumerable passages of Holy Scriptures. Our Savior himself, as was before observ’d, tells us, that he came to call sinners to repentance.”

Cite as: “A Defense of Mr. Hemphill’s Observations, [30 October 1735],” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-02-02-0011. [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2, January 1, 1735, through December 31, 1744, ed. Leonard W. Labaree. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1961, pp. 90–126.]

George Washington

I will close with an excerpt from George Washington and his Sunday Prayer:

“Let me live according to those holy rules which thou hast this day prescribed in thy Holy Word; make me to know what is acceptable in thy Holy Word; make me to know what is acceptable in thy sight, and therein to delight. Open the eyes of my understanding, and help me thoroughly to examine myself concerning my knowledge, faith and repentance. Increase my faith, and direct me to the true object Jesus Christ: the way, the truth and the life, bless O Lord, all the people of this land, from the highest to the lowest, particularly those whom thou has appointed to rule over us in church & state.”

So, until we meet again, and for Celebrate the Bible 250, this is Francis Douglas.

If you would like me to give a presentation at your church, school, gallery, or organization, my contact information is below.

The topic I cover is the History of the Christian Holy Bible in America.

Your group will not only learn about it. They will also see, on display, pages from the most significant Bibles in American history.

I will be available for Southern New Jersey, Southeastern Pennsylvania, and Northern Delaware.

CONTACT (for presentation inquiries only please):

Available for Southern New Jersey, Southeastern Pennsylvania, and Northern Delaware.