If the best way to understand the Christian faith is to read the Gospels, then the next most important books to read must be those which aid in the understanding of those Gospels. This is the aim of Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels . ‘The Gospel of St. John, rightly interpreted, is the best and simplest answer to those who profess to admire a vague and indistinct Christianity.’ There were many such in J. C. Ryle’s day, as in our own, and these final three volumes of his Expository Thoughts on the Gospels series provide a detailed commentary upon, and ‘right interpretation’ of the fourth Gospel. Originally published between published between 1869 and 1873, these volumes differ from those previously published in the series, in that they contain ‘full explanatory notes on every verse of the portions expounded, forming, in fact, a complete Commentary’.
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A copy in the collection, so you can check your own against it.
13:16-20. Christians should not be ashamed to imitate Christ,—uselessness of knowledge without practice,—Christ’s perfect knowledge of all his people,—the dignity of discipleship
13:21-30. The troubles which Christ endured,—the power and malignity of the devil,—the hardness of a backslider
13:31-38. The crucifixion glorifying to the Father and the Son,—the importance of brotherly love,—the self-ignorance there may be in a true believer
14:1-3. Remedy for heart-trouble,—an account of heaven, —ground for expecting good things
14:4-11. Believers better thought of by Christ than by themselves,—glorious names given to Christ, —only one way to God,—close union of Father and Son
14:12-17. Works that Christians may do,—things that prayer may obtain,—promise of the Comforter
14:18-20. Christ’s second coming,—Christ’s life the life of his people,—perfect knowledge not attainable till second advent of Christ
14:21-26. Keeping Christ’s commandments the best test of love,—special comforts of those who love Christ,—Holy Ghost’s teaching and reminding work
14:27-31. Christ’s last legacy to his people,—Christ’s perfect sinlessness
15:1-6. Close union of Christ and believers,—false Christians,—fruit only safe evidence of life,—God increases holiness by providential chastisement
15:7-11. Promises to prayer,—fruitfulness the best evidence,—obedience the secret of sensible comfort
15:12-16. Brotherly love,—relation between Christ and believers,—election
15:17-21. What Christians must expect from the world, —reasons for patience
15:22-27. Misuse of privileges,—the Holy Ghost,—office of the apostles
16:1-7. A remarkable prophecy,—warning against taking offence at trouble,—reasons why Christ went away
16:8-15. Holy Ghost’s work for the Jews,—Holy Ghost’s work for the world
16:16-24. Christ’s absence a sorrow to believers,—Christ’s second coming a joy to believers,—duty of prayer in Christ’s absence
16:25-33. Importance of knowing the Father,—Christ’s kindness to those who have weak grace, —believers ignorant of their own hearts,— Christ the true source of peace
17:1-8. Christ’s office and dignity,—Christ’s gracious account of his people
17:9-16. Christ’s special work for believers—believers not taken out of the world, but kept
17:17-26. Christ’s prayer for his people’s sanctification, —Christ’s prayer for his people’s unity, —Christ’s prayer for his people’s glorification
18:1-11. Hardness of a backslider’s heart,—voluntariness of Christ’s sufferings,—Christ’s care for his people’s safety,—Christ’s submission to his Father’s will
18:12-27. Desperate wickedness of unconverted men, —Christ’s condescension,—weakness of some real Christians
18:28-40. False scrupulosity of hypocrites,—nature of Christ’s kingdom,—Christ’s mission,—Pilate’s question
19:1-16. Portrait of Christ,—portrait of the Jews,—portrait of Pilate
19:17-27. Christ bearing his cross,—Christ crucified as a King,—Christ’s care for his mother
19:28-37. Scripture fulfilled in every part of the crucifixion, —It is finished,—reality of Christ’s death
19:38-42. Some Christians little known,—some end better than they begin
20:1-10. Those love Christ most who have got most from him,—different temperaments of believers, —much ignorance remaining in believers
20:11-18. Love receives most privileges,—fear and sorrow often needless,—earthly thoughts even in true believers
20:19-23. Christ’s kind greeting,—evidence of resurrection, —commission of the apostles
20:24-31. Danger of not attending assemblies of Christians, —Christ’s kindness to dull believers,—Thomas’ glorious confession
21:1-14. Poverty of first disciples,—difference in characters of disciples,—abundant evidence of Christ’s resurrection
21:15-17. Christ’s question to Peter,—Peter’s answer to Christ,—Christ’s command to Peter
21:18-25. The future of Christians foreknown to Christ, —a believer’s death glorifies God,—our own duty should be our first thought,—number and greatness of Christ’s works
