In 1804 Thomas Jefferson decided to study the gospels to see if he could distill the essence of Jesus' teachings into a concise book that could be quickly read and easily understood. The Jefferson Bible is the result, offering valuable insights into the teachings of Jesus Christ and into the mind and beliefs of Thomas Jefferson. Like the Jefferson Bible, The Complete Sayings of Jesus Christ is an attempt to edit the four gospels into a consistent account, in this case focusing on the words of Jesus Christ.