Expository Thoughts on John, vol. 2
Overview
“If I can help to make the Bible more plain and interesting to any man’s souls, than I shall be abundantly content.” So writes J.C. Ryle in the Preface of the second volume in his captivating commentary on the Gospel of John. This volume continues with Ryle’s insightful observations, covering John 7–12.
Top Highlights
“There is no slavery like this. Sin is indeed the hardest of all task-masters. Misery and disappointment by the way, despair and hell in the end,—these are the only wages that sin pays to its servants. To deliver men from this bondage, is the grand object of the Gospel. To awaken people to a sense of their degradation, to show them their chains, to make them arise and struggle to be free,—this is the great end for which Christ sent forth His ministers. Happy is he who has opened his eyes and found out his danger. To know that we are being led captive, is the very first step toward deliverance.” (Pages 102–103)
“We should observe in this passage the desperate hardness and unbelief of human nature.” (Page 1)
“what a solemn lesson Christ gives us about the use of opportunities” (Page 135)
“They have a double application. They teach, for one thing, that all who come to Christ by faith shall find in Him abundant satisfaction. They teach, for another thing, that believers shall not only have enough for the wants of their own souls, but shall also become fountains of blessings to others.” (Page 41)
“We learn first in this passage, that honest obedience to God’s will is one way to obtain clear spiritual knowledge.” (Page 13)
- Title: Expository Thoughts on John, vol. 2
- Author: J.C. Ryle
- Publisher: Robert Carter & Brothers
- Publication Date: 1879
- Pages: 390
J. C. Ryle (1816–1900) was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, where he was a Craven scholar. He was ordained in 1841 and became a leader of the evangelical party in the Church of England. In 1880, Ryle became the first bishop of Liverpool and also served as the dean of Salisbury. Ryle remained the bishop of Liverpool for 20 years.
Ryle was noted for his doctrinal essays and polemical writings. His bestselling titles include Expository Thoughts on Mark and Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots which can both be found in the J. C. Ryle Collection (18 vols.). He also contributed three volumes in the Crossway Classic Commentary Collection (13 vols.).