John (Expository Thoughts on the Gospels)

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Summary: J.C. Ryle in General
Review: Having very carefully reviewed J.C. Ryle's commentary on St. Matthew's Gospel...and I do mean carefully, I have found him to be matchless for simplicity and depth of insight. I have begun St. John's Gospel and am unsurprised by this classical, pan-Protestant exposition of the Gospels. Here and there is an evangelical Anglican note or two. He appears to be arguing against the ritualist and Oxfordian movement in the Church of England at points, but in no way does this mar or obtrude into the exposition. Their are Puritan elements in the exposition as Ryle explores the soul and its responses to the claims of a sovereign Redeemer. He is an old-school, evangelical, Calvinistic Anglican. I would travel far and wide to hear him, were he alive today. Fortunately, we have his expositions of the Gospels. I look forward to giving the same careful analysis to John's Gospel (already begun) that I did with his exposition of Matthew's Gospel. What a beacon of clarity and poignancy not often heard in American pulpits.

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Summary: Every preacher should own this set
Review: The Bishop JC Ryle probably wrote these expository thoughts over a 100 years ago. But his comments on the text are timeless and very practical. He has a wonderful gift of being able to glean the messages and the points in each scripture. And he is a master at applying the scriptures to comtemporary life.

Having said that, like all other expositions of holy writ, you need to use Ryle's work judiciously. Every once in a while, he brings out points in a passage that may not be salient for the needs of your sermon. And he sometimes divides passages into smaller sections when you may choose to preach the larger section. But these are minor points. I can think of a number of times when my brain was fried and Ryle provoked my thinking and gave me some seminal expository thoughts. And that's exactly what the preacher needs.

Rating:
Summary: A Simple & brief Commentary
Review: To Understand the Christian Faith we must understand the Gospel. Why did Jesus die and for Whom. J.C.Ryle provides an excellent commentary which is brief and very easy to read whether by yourself or in the company of others. In his commentary on John he gives his notes for almost all the words in the Gospel