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Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John Vol. 3

Name: Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John Vol. 3
Author: J.C. Ryle

J.C. Ryle 1873

Ryle's third volume concludes his John commentary with detailed exposition and practical observations.

New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1873

From the text

The opening of the work as printed, in the spelling of this edition.

^7^^^ /v^* /\>'' ^ J3SZ5bb "v.n EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS. ST. JOH:Nr. VOL. Ill, Rev. J. 0. RYIE'S EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS ON THE GOSPELS. MATTHEW $1.50 MARK 1.50 LUKE. 2 vols 3. JOHN. 3 vols 4.5© " Rev. J. C. Ryle is among the writers of tlie present age "whose works will have a permanent value. He takes time to mature his thoughts, and spares no toil necessary to the collec- tion of the most valuable materials. His ' Expository Thoughts ' are the result of years of patient and diligent research, conducted in connection with severe parochial duties and extensive pulpit labors." — Pittsburgh Gliristian Advocate. " The author is a ripe scholar, and presents here the fruits of much careful research and critical study. "—Christian Era. " Mr. Ryle writes in a thoroughly evangelical and deeply rev- erent spirit. We warmly commend his exegesis as wholesome for the Christian world." — Congregationalist.

istian Era. " Mr. Ryle writes in a thoroughly evangelical and deeply rev- erent spirit. We warmly commend his exegesis as wholesome for the Christian world." — Congregationalist. " The * Expository Thoughts ' are excellent and useful aids to Bible study and devotion, and many souls will be comforted, blessed and instructed by so clear, practical and evangelical a work." — N. T. Observer, Expository Thoughts ON THE GOSPELS. FOR FAMILY AND PBIVATF UjSF, BY THE REV. J. C. RYLE, M.A., VICAR OF 8TRADBKOKE, HONORARY CANON OF NORWICH, AND RURAL DKAN OP HORNE, SUFFOLK. ST. JOHN. Vol. m. NEW YORK: EGBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS, 530 Broadway. 1878. PREFACE. The volume now in the reader's hands completes a work which I began sixteen years ago, entitled " Expos- itory Thoughts on the Gospels." By the good hand of God that work is now finished. For this I desire to be deeply thankful.

ich I began sixteen years ago, entitled " Expos- itory Thoughts on the Gospels." By the good hand of God that work is now finished. For this I desire to be deeply thankful. " Better is the end of a thing than the beginning of it." (Eccles. vii. 8.) In concluding that portion of the work which is de- voted to St. John's Gospel, I think it right to make a few prefatory remarks about the " Kotes. " They occu- py so large a part of my three volumes on St. John, that my readers may not unreasonably expect me to give some account of them. Filling up, as they do, at least two-thirds of the woTk, and necessarily increasing its cost, they require some defence and explanation. Ques- tions such as these will naturally arise in some minds, — " What are these notes ? What is their object ? What is their doctrinal tone ? What helps have been used in preparing them?" — These questions I propose to an- swer.

inds, — " What are these notes ? What is their object ? What is their doctrinal tone ? What helps have been used in preparing them?" — These questions I propose to an- swer. (1) My object in writing these notes on St. John's Gospel is soon stated. I have tried to explain, in simple language, everything in the text which needs explana- tion, and to bring all available light to bear on every verse in the book. In trying to attain this object, I have given not only my own thoughts and opinions, but also the results of a patient study of about seventy Commentators, both ancient and modern, of almost every Church and school in Christendom. I have en- yj ±*KEJ^'ACE.

deavored to handle every subject raised by the text, however high and deep, and to meet the requirements of every class of readers, whether educated or uneducat- ed. I have evaded no hard passage, and turned away from no difficulty. I am very sensible that I have often failed to hit the mark, and I have not been ashamed in many places to confess my ignorance. Competent crit- ics will probably detect in the work not a few errors and mistakes. I lay no claim to infallibility. But I can honestly say that I have never handled the Word partially or deceitfully, and have done my best to show *' the thing as it is." (Job xxvi. 3.) Some controvert- ed points I have ventured to discuss in annotations of more than ordinary length, and of these a list will be found appended to this concluding volume. On the whole I cannot help hoping, that, in spite of many defi- ciencies, the notes will be found a help to thoughtful readers of St.

und appended to this concluding volume. On the whole I cannot help hoping, that, in spite of many defi- ciencies, the notes will be found a help to thoughtful readers of St. John's Gospel. (2) The doctrinal tone of the notes, I must frankly avow, is thoroughly and unmistakably evangelical. Af- ter patiently studying St. John's Gospel for twelve years, with much thought, much labor, much examina- tion of the writings of others, and, I hope I may add, with some earnest prayers, my theological opinions are what they were when I began to write. In these twelve years I trust I have learned many things : but I can truly say that I have seen no reason to alter my views of doctrine. My conviction is firm and decided, that the theology of that religious school in the Church of England, which, rightly or wrongly, is called Evangeli- cal, is thoroughly Scriptural, and a theology of which no Christian man need be ashamed.

ligious school in the Church of England, which, rightly or wrongly, is called Evangeli- cal, is thoroughly Scriptural, and a theology of which no Christian man need be ashamed. I freely confess that, with increasing years and ex- perience, I have learned to think more kindly and char- itably than I once did, of theologians who belong to PREFACE. yjj other schools than my own. I am more and more con- vinced every year I live, that there are many Christians whose hearts are right in the sight of God, while their heads are very wrong. I am more and more convinced, that the differences between schools of religious thought are frequently more nominal than real, more verbal than actual, and that many of them would melt away and disappear, if men would only define the terms and words they use with logical accuracy.