All Loves Excelling: The Saints' Knowledge of Christ's Love

by John Bunyan

All Loves Excelling is John Bunyan's sermon on Ephesians 3:17-18, 'That ye ... may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.' It was first titled 'The Saints' Knowledge of Christ s Love' and is worthy of being ranked alongside Sibbes and deals with a much neglected subject area.

FROM THE FOREWORD : This is a new edition of John Bunyan's treatise on Ephesians 3:17b-19 which he himself prepared for the press. It is taken from the second volume of Bunyan's works (George Offor edition) which was re-published by Banner of Truth in 1991. The text remains largely unaltered but slight adjustments have been made in order to accommodate the arrangement of the material into chapters. Even these divisions, however, correspond to Bunyan s own layout of his material. A detailed breakdown of the structure of Bunyan's meditation on the greatness of the love of Christ is found at the end of this book by way of an appendix.

The subject matter of this work which was first preached, is greatly needed today. On the one hand, experiences of the Spirit are being claimed from which the glory of the redeemer and the wonder of his love are quite absent, while on the other, an almost total attention to the understanding and practising of scripture truth is having the effect of marginalising the experiential element in true, spiritual knowledge.

Bunyan's description of Christ s love to believers and how they ought to know it, cuts in both the above-mentioned directions. From some 440 Bible references he shows how knowing Christ s love is the message of Scripture and also the essence of heaven, partly possessed and expressed on earth. Those who know it are rich beyond measure and they are the people who 'sweeten the churches and bring glory to God and to religion'.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christianity, Religion, Classics, Audiobook, Christian Living

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1692

About the author

John Bunyan, a Christian writer and preacher, was born at Harrowden (one mile south-east of Bedford), in the Parish of Elstow, England. He wrote The Pilgrim's Progress, arguably the most famous published Christian allegory. In the Church of England he is remembered with a Lesser Festival on 30 August.

Reviews

[Alexander Hettinga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope many other fellow readers of Dane Ortlund’s “Gentle and Lowly” are finding themselves here seeking more from the Puritans he quotes so heavily. There are several titles like this in the Audible+ library, and I also got the ebook for $1 to underline and save some incredible quotes.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole book is about two verses in Ephesians: "That ye ... may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge" (3:17-18, Bunyan's translation). His meditation on "breadth, length, depth, height" was lovely. The second half of the book, a deep dive into "the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge," is an absolute feast for the soul. God chose these very words of Scripture and preserved them through the ages so that we could be encouraged and strengthened, and I certainly have been.

[Dee Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audible.com 3 hours 36 min. Narrated by Bob Souer (A)

This book is amazing. First, that it was written by man from an extremely poor home, only having two years of school as a child, and then later taught to read by his wife from a Bible she brought with her into their marriage. That such an ill-equipped humble man could produce such a profound piece that used hundreds of apt scriptures throughout blew my mind. There were no available condordances to link the words, so familiarity had to come with years of continual reading and rereading and studying probably while Bunyan was imprisoned. Such dedication! Second, that the message of the scope of God's love--its breadth, its length, its depth and its height are as relevant over 600 years later. Perhaps even more so today when even those who claim a token allegiance to God only know of His love as vague emotional feeling.
This 3 and a half hour sermon to Bunyan's Puritan congregation is a intense study of Ephesians 3: 17-20."That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height:and to know the love of Christ, which passed knowledge, that ye may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." How great is God's love? It so great that it is the exact answer to man's inability to cover his sin through the great love gift of Christ's substitutional death on the cross. God's love is so great that once comprehended personally it gives the believer the strength and encouragement to meet and beat the problems of daily life. I've been a Christ follower for over 50 years, but I was caught totally unprepared for the power of this message. This is the first sermon by John Bunyan that I've read. It is one that I will read again and again and learn more each time of the great vastness of God's love for me.
This was probably written sometime between 1672 and 1688 and published after Bunyan's death.

[Kofi Opoku · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful.

[Long Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a lot of theology packed into 125 pages of this book, and it’s not an easy read given how dense it is and Bunyan’s writing style that is somewhat unfamiliar to modern readers. It does make for a good devotional book and, if one reads it slowly, one can ponder upon the magnitude of God’s love and how it is infinitely superior to humanly loves.

[Laurel Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be read again and again.

[John Weis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bunyan delivers an excellent treatise on the love of God and Christ, expounding Ephesians 3:17b-19, showing the benefit and wisdom of the believer's apprehending the experiential knowledge of that love through meditation, prayer, and contemplation. He demonstrates the nature and excellence of that love as being rooted in God's eternality, begun in the Son's incarnation, accomplished in the Son's purchase and death, and by virtue of His redemption of men instead of angels. Finally, Bunyan provides simple instructions as to how a believer might begin to grow in his experience by setting aside other loves, devoting one's heart to Christ.

Bunyan describes Jacob's Ladder as a type of Christ, in both His Incarnation and His Work:

"This ladder is Jesus Christ, the son of man, as is clear by the evangelist John (John 1:51). And in that it is said to stand upon the earth, that is to show that he took hold of man who is of the earth, and therein laid a foundation for his salvation: in that it is said the top reached up to heaven, that is to shew that the divine nature was joined to the human, and by that means he was every way made a Saviour complete. Now concerning this ladder, 'tis said, Heaven was open where it stood, to show that by him there is entrance into life: 'tis said also concerning this ladder, that the Lord stood there, at the top, above it: saying, 'I am the Lord God of Abraham,' (Gen. 28:13), to shew his hearty and willing reception of those that ascend the height of his sanctuary this way. All which Christ further explains by saying, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me' (John 14:6 ). Look to thyself then, that thou do truly and after the right manner embrace this ladder, so will he draw thee up thither after him (John 12:32 ). All the rungs of this ladder are sound and fitly placed, not one of them is set further than that by faith thou mayest ascend step by step unto, even until thou shalt come to the highest in thereof, from whence, or by which thou mayest step in at the celestial gate where thy soul desireth to dwell."

Bunyan shows that those who truly seek to experience His love do so through the means that He has prescribed, and that at a full exhaustion of those means (to speak in human terms), God has been pleased to bestow a greater knowledge on them even in this life:

"There is love beyond what he knows already may have. Now if what this man knows already of this love is indeed sweet unto him; then it puts him upon hearty desires that his soul may yet know more. And because there is no bound set to man, how much he may know in this life thereof; therefore his desires, notwithstanding what he has attained, are yet kept alive, and in the pursuit after the knowledge of more of the love of Christ. And God in old time has taken it so well at the hands of some of his, that their desires have been so great, that when, as I may say, they have known as much on earth as is possible for them to know; (that is by ordinary means) he has come down to them in visions and revelations; or else taken them up to him for an hour or two into paradise, that they might know, and then let them down again."

[Ryan Hawkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book, but then had a hard time continuing to read and finish it. It was a little confusing to read, and it kind of rambled on. That being said, everything he said was wonderfully true—I don’t think I disagreed with anything. It is more that it wasn’t interestingly written or anything really stimulating.

That being said, at the beginning of the book he takes a chapter each on describing the breadth, length, depth, and height of the love of Christ. And I loved his meditations on these! Concerning the breadth, he said God’s love spread over all things. Concerning the length, he described how God’s love has an infinite reach—no one is too far to be reached from his length which reaches. Concerning the depth, he said that his love is deeper than anything, underneath all. So no matter how deep one could sink in despair or sin, God’s love is always underneath and deeper. And lastly, concerning the height of God’s love, he said it was above and over all things. I thought all of these meditations were fascinating and helpful in how I view God’s love.

Also, I will say that at the end of the book the publisher (I think, or maybe Bunyan himself) provides a Analysis of the Treatise in which all the major points and outline of the treatise are laid out in 5 pages. This was extremely helpful, except I didn’t see it until after I finished the whole book! If I kept referencing this as I went, I might have enjoyed the book more as I would have understood more clearly where I was in Bunyan’s arguments.


But once again, besides the first four chapters, I didn’t love the book. Hence, a 3 star rating.

[Catherine Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lovely little book concentrates on just two verses, Ephesians 3:18-19 (although I'll add 17 for context):
"so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the *breadth* and *length* and *height* and *depth*, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. "

I was most impacted by understanding the intention of those four key words: the breadth of Christ's love means a covering or remedy, "when we see our sin spread like leprosy", the breadth is the spreading of his grace that spreads further... "Blessed is he whose sin is covered" (Psalm 32:1)

This brings me to a reason I really enjoyed this book- Bunyan has all these great verse references from Psalms, Job and Ezekiel especially, relating to Ephesians!

And the Length- "What a reach there is in the mercy of God, how *far* it can extend itself." John says, " i pray thee hear me, O the length of the saving arm of God! As yet thou art within the reach thereof; do not thou go about to measure arms with God..."

This is another reason I loved this book- the old English, poetic form of writing!! I just love it!

"Here is in this word Length matter of encouragement for us thus to pray; for if the length of mercy is *so great* and if also this length is for the benefit of those that may be gone far from God, then improve this advantage at the throne of grace for such, that they may come to God again."

[Abigail Hartman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most people are familiar with Bunyan through his allegory "Pilgrim's Progress," but in "All Loves Excelling" he strikes a more pastoral note. It is an exposition of Eph. 3:17-20, and an exhortation to "know the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge." The author's older English and sentence structure can make the reading difficult, but it is well worth the effort to mine some of the gems in so rich a passage. Bunyan brings other verses to bear upon Paul's prayer, and while he sometimes seems to take them out of their context, he always manages to bring across a biblical point. Highly recommended, even for those who fear it might be over their heads; the Banner of Truth edition is separated into bite-sized chunks and Bunyan, though he soars high with Paul's own thoughts, is ever practical as well.

[Clay Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

#24 of 60+ in the partially updated Puritan Paperbacks series by Banner of Truth. [disclaimer: Banner of Truth has only partially reprinted this series and continues to dally years later despite multiple loyal customers pleading with them to complete what they have started.] Now, on to the review…

We all know Bunyan from the greatest allegorical writing in history, Pilgrims Progress. It is a masterpiece that has stood the test of time. There is a reason you know Pilgrim’s Progress. There is also a reason you’ve probably never heard of this short volume, All Loves Excelling. It is not at all on the same level. That being said, it is not without merit and the discerning reader is left with many points to ponder.

Bunyan’s effort is to exposit Ephesians 3:18-19 and his thesis is that “knowing Christ’s love is the message of Scripture.” (viii) He structures the book in four parts. First, he aims to describe the inexpressibility of Christ’s love. Second, he focuses on the necessity of prayer in obtaining a knowledge of His love. In part three, he shows what knowledge of Christ’s love we are capable of obtaining in this world. Finally, he closes with points of application.

Instead of walking through Bunyan’s argument, it may be more helpful for me to highlight a few useful points. One of the things that stood out to me was a short quote regarding the magnitude of the love of Christ in the believer’s life: “there is nothing that is more helpful, succouring, or comfortable to a Christian while in a state of trial.” (7) I believe this is accurate provided that one slows down long enough to meditate and fully grasp just how much our Saviour loves us. This quote would have been well placed in what I found to be the most useful section of the book which includes a list of potential benefits of knowing the love of Christ. This list is found in part two, chapter two. Within this list is another highlight that sparked my interest. Bunyan mentions, as a benefit, “a greater longing for heaven.” (51) This entire section is valuable but especially when he asks “where is the man that groans earnestly to be gone to God” and when he says “Christians should show the world how they believe; not by words on paper, not by gay and flourishing notions: but by those desires they have to be gone.” (51) It seems that many believers in American churches have replaced this true desire to be done with this life with nothing more than a platitude about their so called longing to be with the Lord. But, when you look at their life, it doesn’t seem that they long to be with the Lord. They will do everything in their power to prolong their time here. They worship their families to the point that the idea of leaving them to be with the Lord is unfathomable and tragic in their minds. Is it really? Did not the apostle Paul say “to die is gain?” It is. This life is broken. Aside from bringing more people to the knowledge of the love of Christ, why would we want to stick around when the alternative for a believer is to be with the Lord? That’s insanity. The only way that makes sense is if you love the world and the things of it more than you love Christ. Interestingly, Bunyan makes another quote at the end of his book that is absolutely relevant. He gives as a way of improving your knowledge of the love of Christ to “set it in opposition to the love of all other things.” (138) What he’s saying here is that when you contrast the love of Christ with any other type of love whether it be a person’s love for you or your love for anything else, the love of Christ should be so far beyond that anything else looks pathetic. Is that true in your life? Have you set the love of Christ in comparison with everything else in your life? Perhaps you should. This short book by Bunyan, while not his best work, will help you do that and help you see the vast benefits of having a knowledge of the love of Christ in your life. Just don’t expect another Pilgrim’s Progress.

[Vianny D'Souza · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's no doubt that John Bunyan was an extraordinary writer. His book Pilgrim's Progress as we know, is a testimony of how skilled, creative and brilliant this 'unlearned' man actually was. This book here, is actually an exposition of the Ephesians 3 passage "that they may know the height, depths, width and know the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge ". Bunyan in his extraordinary manner, goes into a lot of detail and explains the implications of this passage in our Christian lives. It's too profound a book to be read only once in our lifetime. I'll surely revisit this gem!

[Chandler Langmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best exposition and application of Ephesians 3:18-19 that I have yet known!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent little treatise on God’s over-awing love in Christ for his people. This was the basis on a short sermon series.

[Bobby Daugherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically a sermon in the form of a book.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few quotes ~

"God has a long arm, and he can reach a great way further than we can conceive he can (Neh 1:9): When we think his mercy is clean gone, and that ourselves are free among the dead, and of the number that he remembereth no more, then he can reach us, and cause that again we stand before him."

"O the length of the saving arm of God! As yet thou art within the reach thereof; do not thou go about to measure arms with God, as some good men are apt to do: I mean, do not thou conclude, that because thou canst not reach God by thy short stump, therefore he cannot reach thee with his long arm. Look again, "Hast thou an arm like God" (Job 40:9), an arm like his for length and strength? It becomes thee, when thou canst not perceive that God is within the reach of thy arm, then to believe that thou art within the reach of his; for it is long, and none knows how long."

"Although the deeps, or depths of calamity into which the godly may fall, may be as deep as Hell, and methinks they should be no deeper: yet this is the comfort, and for the comfort of them of the godly that are thus a sinking: The mercy of God for them lies deeper "It is deeper than hell, what canst thou know?" (Job 11:8)."

"Look to thyself then, that thou do truly and after the right manner embrace this Ladder, so will He draw thee up thither after Him (John 12:32). All the rounds of this Ladder are sound and fitly placed, not one of them is set further than that by faith thou mayest ascend step by step unto, even until thou shalt come to the highest step thereof, from whence, or by which thou mayest step in at the celestial gate where thy soul desireth to dwell."

"The nature of sin is to get into our good, to mix itself with our good, to lie lurking many times under the formality and shew of good; and that so close, so cunningly, and invisibly, that the party concerned, embraces it for virtue, and knows not otherwise to do; and yet from this he is saved by the love of Christ; and therefore, as was hinted but now, if a man doth not know the nature of his wound, how should he know the nature and excellency of the balsam that hath cured him of his wound."

"There is a Christian that knows Christ in all those degrees of his love that are knowable, but he knoweth Christ nothing in his love that passeth knowledge. There is another Christian, and he knows Christ, as the first, but withal, he also knows him as to his love that passeth knowledge. Pray now tell me, which of these two are likeliest to live most like a Christian, that is, like a spiritual prince, and like him that possesseth all things? which has most advantage to live in godly largeness of heart, and is most at liberty in his mind? which of these two have the greatest advantage to believe, and the greatest engagements laid upon him to love the Lord Jesus? which of these have also most in readiness to resist the wiles of the devil, and to subdue the power and prevalency of corruptions?"

"By this knowledge, or knowing of the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, there is begot in Christians a greater desire to press forwards to that which is before them (Phil 3:12-21). What is the reason of all that sloth, carnal contentedness, and listlessness of spirit in Christians, more than the ignorance of this. For he that thinks he knows what can be known, is beyond all reason that should induce him to seek yet after more."

[Darrel Schiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic Bunyan! I read the three volume works edition. It's title is "The Saint's Knowledge of Christ's Love". Like most of Bunyan's writings this book is a series of sermons. The exposition of this volume is based on Ephesians 3:18-19. I love what the publisher from the 1848 edition says about this one.

"This treatise is admirably adapted to warn the thoughtless—break the stony heart—convince the wavering—cherish the young inquirer—strengthen the saint in his pilgrimage, and arm him for the good fight of faith—and comfort the dejected, doubting, despairing Christian. It abounds with ardent sympathy for the broken—hearted, a cordial suited to every wounded conscience; while, at the same time, it thunders in awful judgment upon the impenitent and the hypocritical professor: wonders of grace to God belong, for all these blessings form but a small part of the unsearchable riches."

That a very good summary of the goal of Puritan preaching/writing. Enjoy.

John Bunyan, "Prefatory" In , in , vol. 2, The Saint’s Knowledge of Christ’s Love (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2006), 1.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took a full three months to wade through. I took it in small chunks - as it is very weighty - I found myself stopping to grapple with my views of God and circumstance. If God truly loves us, and He does...it changes everything. It changes the way we look at others, the way we trust and look to Him. The references to the Word is phenomenonal and much cause for reflection. Temporaly, it is sad, that Pastor Bunyan spent 12 years imprisioned, I can't help but think that his trials shaped his view of God and His Love for us. This book is amazing. It was recommended as I was traversing some tough times. It stopped me - often,with deep truth- returning my gaze to Christ.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful... Intelligent, masterfully reasoned, kind and gentle. This man, John Bunyan, is filled up with biblical knowledge, which he skillfully applies to convince the reader of God's love and power. Reading this book filled me with awe, and I found worship hymns running through my head as I read it. I wish someone would translate his works into modern English, because I found his words and sentence structure required extra attention to understand and feel their impact. I think if his writing were more accessible he could, through this writing, continue to disciple and inspire another generation of Christians.

[Mark A Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bunyan examines the text of Ephesians 3:18-19 in this brief book, designed to help Christians understand how Christ’s love surpasses the limits of human knowledge. Bunyan claims that a deeper meditation on this divine love will help believers face difficulty, resist temptation, and grow in gratitude toward God. Although helpful, Bunyan’s work is often difficult to read due to his use of older English (it was first published in 1692) and his overabundance of run-on sentences.

[Billy Sheppard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sermon lasting 3.5 hours in a painstaking survey of size as related to God's love throughout The Bible triggered by a Pauline list in Ephesians. I am transported to a different time and world view. Bunyan is warm and beautiful.

[Christopher Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Bunyan's exposition of Ephesians 3:17-19. He does a fantastic job bringing out all facets of God's love. So that we might see it when we soar with the eagles and when we are stuck in the miry pit.

[Katie Helms · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book, its written in a bit of an early english, but it is so awesome explain God's AWESOME Love for His people, us....

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read by John Bunyan! I love these older theologians and preachers of the Word!

[Andy Mckinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully poetic treatise on the love of God with some very practical applications. Well worth persevering with the old English.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bunyan writes/speaks like Augustine. This little work is a sermon on Ephesians 3:18-19.

[James Hogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful little book discussing Ephesians 3:18-19. It took me far too many weeks to read this small book, but I will partially blame the writing style, as it is somewhat of a challenge to read at times. Still, any book that so reverently and joyfully treats of the love of God as this one does is well worth reading. When you read this book, you can tell that it is written by someone that intimately knows the love of God and desires that all would know such. We all would do better if we pondered and meditated on the love of God more. We cannot fully comprehend it, but let us continue to seek to think on the beautiful and staggeringly glorious love of God! To be loved by God is a marvelous thing that makes my heart sing for joy!

[Todd Burgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whatever you may know of the love of God - this sweet Puritan classic will greatly expand all that you know of God’s love and think you know. So rich and deep - take your time with it and it will have a truly important impact on your soul.

[Eagle Powers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good thoughts on the love of Christ. Bad section on Jesus going to Hell, (which he didn't).

He seems to get carried away in his poetic imagination to illustrate points he wants to make rather than making points the Bible actually says.

[Peter Kiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good and rich, kind of dry but definitely an edifying read. I didn't realize that the book was essentially an exposition on the passage that says "knowing the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge."