Customer Reviews

John (Expository Thoughts on the Gospels)

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Having very carefully reviewed J.C. Ryle's commentary on St. Matthew's Gospel...and I do mean carefully, I have found him to be matchless for simplicity and depth of insight. I have begun St. John's Gospel and am unsurprised by this classical, pan-Protestant exposition of the Gospels. Here and there is an evangelical Anglican note or two. He appears to be arguing against the ritualist and Oxfordian movement in the Church of England at points, but in no way does this mar or obtrude into the exposition. Their are Puritan elements in the exposition as Ryle explores the soul and its responses to the claims of a sovereign Redeemer. He is an old-school, evangelical, Calvinistic Anglican. I would travel far and wide to hear him, were he alive today. Fortunately, we have his expositions of the Gospels. I look forward to giving the same careful analysis to John's Gospel (already begun) that I did with his exposition of Matthew's Gospel. What a beacon of clarity and poignancy not often heard in American pulpits.

The Bishop JC Ryle probably wrote these expository thoughts over a 100 years ago. But his comments on the text are timeless and very practical. He has a wonderful gift of being able to glean the messages and the points in each scripture. And he is a master at applying the scriptures to comtemporary life.

Having said that, like all other expositions of holy writ, you need to use Ryle's work judiciously. Every once in a while, he brings out points in a passage that may not be salient for the needs of your sermon. And he sometimes divides passages into smaller sections when you may choose to preach the larger section. But these are minor points. I can think of a number of times when my brain was fried and Ryle provoked my thinking and gave me some seminal expository thoughts. And that's exactly what the preacher needs.

Having very carefully reviewed J.C. Ryle's commentary on St. Matthew's Gospel...and I do mean carefully, I have found him to be matchless for simplicity and depth of insight. I have begun St. John's Gospel and am unsurprised by this classical, pan-Protestant exposition of the Gospels. Here and there is an evangelical Anglican note or two. He appears to be arguing against the ritualist and Oxfordian movement in the Church of England at points, but in no way does this mar or obtrude into the exposition. Their are Puritan elements in the exposition as Ryle explores the soul and its responses to the claims of a sovereign Redeemer. He is an old-school, evangelical, Calvinistic Anglican. I would travel far and wide to hear him, were he alive today. Fortunately, we have his expositions of the Gospels. I look forward to giving the same careful analysis to John's Gospel (already begun) that I did with his exposition of Matthew's Gospel. What a beacon of clarity and poignancy not often heard in American pulpits.

To Understand the Christian Faith we must understand the Gospel. Why did Jesus die and for Whom. J.C.Ryle provides an excellent commentary which is brief and very easy to read whether by yourself or in the company of others. In his commentary on John he gives his notes for almost all the words in the Gospel

I wish I had a mentor like Bishop Ryle, to tutor me in theology and ethics. Here is the preciousness of a God-centered, people-loving preacher, whose preaching is full with the exaltation of the God-Man, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the call for "men everywhere to repent" and believe and savor Him. Isn't this what the gospel, the Old and the New Testament all about? In the text, Ryle takes a chunk of passage consisting of several verses, then draws a few lessons out of it that contains both theology; the doctrines of Jesus Christ, the Trinity, Election and perseverance of the saints, for example, AND the applications how we could use the lesson from God's Word to better commune and worship God, conduct our life and treat each other everyday without any jargons, yet stunningly captivating. Next, he expounds the passage verse by verse, not only through his own interpretation, but he also compares what others think; mostly from such heavyweights as Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Beza, Melanchton, Chysosthom and some English-speaking preachers and theologians. He sometimes scrutinizes meticulously to the point that I think in some cases he overanalyzes. With all these said, without discounting the role of the Holy Spirit in granting the wisdom and discernment to understand the Scriptures which I consider crucial and must-have, I love what Ryle does here. This is why God gives teachers to the church. I reject the idea that all one needs is the Bible without having to learn from what others teach about biblical theology as arrogant, particularly if those "others" are the servants of God who have been proven solid in doctrinal faithfulness and ministry. If B.B Warfield spent his quiet time and prayed with Matthew Henry's commentary open, though I wouldn't do the same, but I would still study Ryle. It is worth your time and energy.

When it comes to New Testament study in a practical sense approach, you cannot beat Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels. It is easy reading, yet with sufficient depth and thought to be encouraging and enlighting. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to get new insights in the Gospels.

More gems from Mr. Ryle... His humble and learned approach is very helpful. He gives you a very practical and functioning perspective of the gospels. You can tell he was a man that walked with the Lord. It is not a cold doctrinal statement that leaves you with nothing but a bunch of head knowledge. He splits meat from the bone. Get it while you can!!!

I was very happy with the conditioon of the books and they were just what I was looking for . I couldn't have been more happy