John Volume 2: Expository Thoughts On The Gospels

Expository Thoughts on the Gospels #4

by J.C. Ryle

It is no light matter to publish an exposition of any book in the Bible. It is a peculiarly serious undertaking to attempt a Commentary on the Gospel of St. John. But I think every intelligent student of Scripture will bear me out when I say, that St. John’s Gospel is pre-eminently full of things “hard to be understood.” It abounds in “deep things of God,” and “sayings of the King,” which we feel instinctively we have no line to fully fathom, no mind to fully comprehend, no words to fully explain.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Nonfiction, Reference, Biblical Studies

405 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1869

About the author

(John Charles Ryle) Ryle started his ministry as curate at the Chapel of Ease in Exbury, Hampshire, moving on to become rector of St Thomas's, Winchester in 1843 and then rector of Helmingham, Suffolk the following year. While at Helmingham he married and was widowed twice. He began publishing popular tracts, and Matthew, Mark and Luke of his series of Expository Thoughts on the Gospels were published in successive years (1856-1858). His final parish was Stradbroke, also in Suffolk, where he moved in 1861, and it was as vicar of All Saints that he became known nationally for his straightforward preaching and firm defence of evangelical principles. He wrote several well-known and still-in-print books, often addressing issues of contemporary relevance for the Church from a biblical standpoint. He completed his Expository Thoughts on the Gospels while at Stradbroke, with his work on the Gospel of John (1869). His third marriage, to Henrietta Amelia Clowes in 1861, lasted until her death in 1889.

Reviews

[Sean McGowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Leopold Odah · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of J. C. Ryle's works. This is better than a commentary. It's practical, written for daily life

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Same review as for Volume 1, “Wonderful! Can be read as a devotional and/or reference the more in-depth notes for further study.”

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

A problem with some books on theology is that they mix positive (this is what exists) and normative (this is what should exist) ideas - this problem was more common in earlier books - like, say, oh ONE FROM THE 19TH CENTURY - but one can still find it abundantly. Ryle was probably twice as intelligent as I'll ever be, so take my opinions with a grain of salt - this feels old-timey, in a way the world has thankfully moved beyond. Contemporary theology books tend to put the sayings of Jesus in the time and tide of context - and the reader is more informed for this happening. This just doesn't happen in Ryle's book, probably likely because the idea of Jesus was supposed to have a timeless feel. Which may be true, but a 21st century reader is 2 centuries removed from Ryle and 2 millennia removed from the life of Christ.

Ryle's take on John has a cognitively objectivist slant to it - this made sense for his time of writing, but not so much today, where it is very possible to have two opposite but strangely both correct interpretations of a parable. Jesus *could* have come out and said what he meant. He, by and large, did not. I can't help but believe Ryle's conclusion was that educated people needed to give the correct interpretation for believers; I think while there's wisdom in this, there's also room for interpretation *by design*.

A classic example: Ryle speaks of John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth and the life", etc. (I forgot in which volume he does this) about how this is clearly saying that salvation must come through belief in Christ. Jesus could have been talking just about, you know, death and dying. An obvious flaw in Ryle's line of reasoning is that it's hard to conceive of a just God dooming a Mongolian herder born in 50 BCE to never be able to achieve salvation because of an accident of birth.

Ryle takes a stance on the historicity of the Gospels in a way that feels anachronistic. His claim that Jesus performed miracles, and this is certain because no one in the Gospels argues against Jesus performing miracles, feels like circular reasoning to me.

Ryle spends a lot of time explaining the need for suffering. I don't know - feels hollow. The problem of pain and the injustice of pain has been one that has plagued all religions since the very beginning, and while I think Ryle believed he found the answer it didn't help me much. Sometimes suffering yields a better human being. Sometimes - as in a child with cancer, a PTSD sufferer who medicates through drugs and alcohol, or someone with brain damage - it doesn't, at all.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I continue my devotions by going through Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels I am now nearing the end with one more volume left. So far my favorites were Matthew-Luke. I still enjoy the main part of the writing and really like Ryle's thoughts and applying the Bible to his doctrine. What bogs me down is the length of the notes. While they are interesting it is still a chore to read through them and I just have this need to read thoroughly through the whole book notes and all. If I ever go through this book again I will always skip the notes and just enjoy the main exposition. The books on John made a big switch in this series in this way. Now on to Volume 3...

[Ian Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Notes and Depth for those interested. Basic readings, though, exactly in character and perspicuity what one experiences in preceding studies. See comments on "Expository Thoughts on Matthew's Gospel" for more.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again a great commentary. This section covers the turning points in Jesus’ ministry. In the final chapters, Ryle draws out the clear change in Jesus’ ministry: his path to the cross and the future judgment for unbelievers.

[Alex Robinson]

Heart stirring. Stirred my heart's affection for Christ as I studied to prepare to teach through John each week.