Primary sourceBook1892
The Gospel in Brief
Leo Tolstoy · 1892
Tolstoy's 1892 synthesis of the four Gospels into one narrative focused on Jesus's teachings rather than miracles.
Tolstoy's personal condensation of the Gospels, central to understanding his unorthodox religious thought.
About this source
What it is
A work by Leo Tolstoy published in 1892, combining the four Gospels into a single account of Jesus's life. It leaves out supernatural elements like miracles and claims of divinity, focusing instead on Jesus's ethical teachings.
Why it matters
The book reveals Tolstoy's own radical reinterpretation of Christianity, which put him in sharp conflict with the Russian Orthodox Church and eventually led to his excommunication in 1901. It also had a notable later influence, as philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein carried the book during the First World War and called it a work that had kept him alive.
Look closer
- Why might Tolstoy have chosen to remove the miracles from his version of the Gospels?
- What does this work tell you about Tolstoy's relationship with the official Church of his time?
- Why might a work like this attract both devoted followers and fierce critics?
This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Leo Tolstoy on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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