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Expository Thoughts on the Gospels #4
John Vol. 2
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface.
We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface.
We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1869
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About the author
J.C. Ryle
819 books483 followers(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.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 29, 2023
Excellent!
July 20, 2025
One of J. C. Ryle's works. This is better than a commentary. It's practical, written for daily life
August 2, 2025
Same review as for Volume 1, “Wonderful! Can be read as a devotional and/or reference the more in-depth notes for further study.”
July 25, 2020
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.
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.
June 23, 2022
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...
January 7, 2020
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.
March 14, 2023
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.
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March 13, 2023Heart stirring. Stirred my heart's affection for Christ as I studied to prepare to teach through John each week.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews