Expository Thoughts on the Gospels
Born on May 10, 1816 in northwest England, John Charles Ryle was born into the family of a wealthy banker. For all intents and purposes, Ryle aspired to be a great academic and athlete. Ryle was not a religious man until being rebuked by a friend in 1837 for his use of swearing. In God’s providence, Ryle found a great treasure in the sinfulness of man and the substitutionary atonement of Christ. However, tragedy struck. Over night, his family’s wealth evaporated, leaving Ryle as utterly destitute. He then employed his spiritual riches for a spiritual vocation, serving the Church in England in various country parishes before becoming the first Bishop of Liverpool in 1880.
For some historical context, Ryle pastored as a contemporary of Charles Spurgeon. Whereas Spurgeon was known for his flowery speech and long-winded sentences, Ryle labored for simplicity. Preaching mostly in country parishes, Ryle strove for a style that used small words and simple sentence structures. Ryle communicated the simplicity of the gospel in a plain, simple style. This style shines in his Expository Thoughts on the Gospel.
To quote Ryle: “In style and composing I frankly avow that I have studied, as far as possible, to be plain and pointed, and to choose what an old divine calls ‘picked and packed’ words. I have tried to place myself in the position of one who is reading aloud to others, and must arrest their attention, if he can. I have said in writing each Exposition ‘I am addressing a mixed company, and I have but a short time’ - Keeping this in view, I have constantly left unsaid many things that might have been said, and have endeavored to dwell chiefly on the things needful to salvation.”
When Ryle speaks of “reading aloud,” he has in mind family worship. These “expositions” are short enough to be enjoyed by a family without being too taxing. Moreover, his turns of phrase are memorable. For example, he says of the thief on the cross: “One penitent thief was converted in his last hours, that no man might despair; But I warn you, only one was converted, that no man might presume.” And as a tidbit, did you notice how the sentence is dominated by one syllable words? Again, Ryle labors to communicate the simple truths of the gospel simply.
In a world dominated by words, I have appreciated his brevity more than words can express. More than his brevity, his breadth astonishes me day after day. Ryle displays a great concern for the state of the soul, always asking probing questions. Ryle also shows a great amount of tenderness to the poor (a position in life he knows well) and to those struggling in their faith. He takes every opportunity to praise the smallest sign of faith in the Christian. After reading through these Expositions, Ryle has become part of my spiritual DNA. I wholeheartedly intend to read through these on a regular basis.
In six volumes and over 50 “expositions” per volume, Ryle addresses bite-sized portions of the four gospels to the heart in a way that aims for retention and application. If you struggle with finishing the Bible each year, these six volumes would be a great place to sit and soak in the love of Christ.
To my great joy, a new version of Ryle’s Expository Thoughts has been published in a beautiful format and modernized English. You can purchase them here. If you would like to peruse a volume, feel free to stop by my office!
