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 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’.
Photographs
A copy in the collection, so you can check your own against it.
1:1-5. Christ eternal,—a distinct person,—very God. —the creator of all things,—the source of all light and life
1:6-13. The minister’s office,—Christ the light of the world,—the wickedness of man,—the privileges of believers
1:14. The reality of Christ’s incarnation
1:15-18. The fulness of Christ,—the superiority of Christ to Moses,—Christ the revealer of the Father
1:19-28. John the Baptist’s humility,—the blindness of the unconverted Jews
1:29-34. Christ the Lamb of God,—Christ the taker away of sin,—Christ he that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost
1:35-42. The good done by testifying of Christ,—the good believers may do to others
1:43-51. Souls led by various ways,—Christ in the Old Testament Scriptures,—Philip’s advice to Nathanael,—high character of Nathanael
2:1-11. Matrimony an honourable estate,—the lawfulness of mirth and rejoicing,—Christ’s almighty power
2:12-25. Irreverent use of holy places rebuked,—words of Christ long remembered,—Christ’s perfect knowledge of man’s heart
3:1-8. The beginnings of some Christians very feeble, —the necessity of the new birth,—the Spirit’s operation like the wind
3:9-21. Spiritual ignorance,—God’s love the source of salvation,—Christ’s death the means of providing salvation,—faith the instrument which makes salvation ours
3:22-36. Jealousy and party spirit,—true humility,—Christ’s dignity set forth,—salvation a present thing
4:1-6. Baptism, and its true position,—our Lord’s human nature
4:7-26. Christ’s tact and condescension,—Christ’s readiness to give,—the excellence of Christ’s gifts,—the necessity of conviction of sin,—the uselessness of formal religion,—Christ’s kindness to great sinners
4:27-30. Christ’s dealings marvellous,—grace an absorbing principle,—true converts zealous to do good
4:31-42. Christ’s zeal to do good,—encouragement to those who labour for Christ,—men led to Christ in various ways
4:43-54. The rich have afflictions,—the young may be sick and die,—affliction a blessing,—Christ’s word as good as his presence
5:1-15. The misery caused by sin,—the compassion of Christ,—the lessons that recovery should teach
5:16-23. Some works lawful on the sabbath,—the dignity and majesty of Christ
5:24-29. Hearing Christ the way to salvation,—the privileges of true believers,—Christ’s power to give life, —the final resurrection of all the dead
5:30-39. The honour Christ puts on his servants,—the honour Christ puts on miracles,—the honour
Christ puts on the Scriptures. 211
5:40-47. The reason why many are lost,—one principal cause of unbelief,—Christ’s testimony to Moses
6:1-14. Christ’s almighty power,—the office of ministers, —the sufficiency of the gospel for all mankind
6:15-21. Christ’s humility,—the trials of Christ’s disciples, —Christ’s power over the waters
6:28-34. The ignorance of natural man,—the honour Christ puts on faith,—the high privileges of Christ’s hearers over those of the Jews in the wilderness
6:35-40. Christ the bread of life,—none cast out,—the Father’s will about all who come to Christ
6:41-51. Christ’s lowly condition an offence to some,—man’s natural impotence,—salvation a present thing
6:52-59. The true meaning of eating Christ’s body and drinking Christ’s blood
6:60-65. Some of Christ’s sayings hard,—danger of putting carnal meanings on spiritual words,—Christ’s perfect knowledge of hearts
6:66-71. Backsliding an old sin,—Peter’s noble declaration, —the little benefit some get from religious privileges
