New to the inspiring life and profound works of JC Ryle? Start here!

The great thing about JC Ryle is that he is a fabulous read even today. His style is short, pithy sentences - direct, personal and warm-hearted. He is grounded in Scripture yet awash with everyday illustrations. He is very much aware of the world around, yet always has his eye on eternity.

Ryle's surviving works can be split into four different kinds: expository thoughts on the Gospels, sermons, controversial issues and historical works. All of them are still available today, published by Banner of Truth. Many second-hand bookshops have older versions and websites can provide copies too.

Ryle's writing style is grounded in Scripture yet awash with everyday illustrations

The four categories mentioned above are all worth reading but do obviously read in different ways and are written with different goals in mind. They may suit readers at different times or circumstances in their lives. In brief, they can be described so...

Expository Thoughts on the Gospels

Ryle's most popular works in his lifetime (and probably still so today) are his expository thoughts on the four Gospels. These are ideal quiet time reading. A short passage of Scripture is printed, followed by around 3-5 pages of devotional, applicable comment. There are then a few more technical comments or quotes from other writers, usually printed in smaller type.

Depending on the publisher there are a number of volumes covering the four Gospels. Pick a favourite to use as a devotional aid. They would also make excellent gifts for new Christians to help them read through a Gospel.

Sermons

One of my joys in life is to hunt in second-hand bookshops for Ryle's sermons. They were published as pamphlets, normally of 16 or 32 pages. Many sermons were subsequently put together and published as books, especially after he was appointed Bishop of Liverpool in 1880.

The most well-known of these is 'Holiness'. Although this is a 'book', in reality it is a collection of sermons originally published over a 20-year period. This has the advantage of being easy to read and can be read in stand-alone chapters. As sermons, every chapter has applications.

Controversial Issues

Ryle's proper books (as it were) deal with controversial Christian doctrines. The three most published are 'Old Paths', 'Knots Untied' and 'Practical Religion'. The first two of these tackle areas which some today might either be tired of, or think are resolved without further need of debate.

But the reality is that many Christians of today have not thought these issues through - and again, Ryle is such a clear exponent of what would today be termed the conservative evangelical position, that both these books would be good reading for new Christians or even to clarify the thinking of more established believers.

He tackles (for example) baptism, regeneration, confession, inspiration, the Cross, faith and repentance. The third book deals (as it says on the tin) with practicalities of Christian living: Bible reading, prayer, sickness, being part of the church, taking communion.

Historical Works

Ryle was a firm believer in God's hand throughout history. He taught that every Christian should be knowledgeable of Church history. Obviously that meant the Reformation in particular, but Ryle was also a fan of the 18^th Century, seeing it as a time of revival in England. His grandfather hosted Wesley at least once.

Ryle was a firm believer in God's hand throughout history

Ryle's most popular work was 'Christian leaders of the Eighteenth Century', closely followed by 'Five English Reformers'. Again, both books (which are still in print) would be good places to begin to be acquainted with Church history. This is because Ryle's writing is so gripping and well-applied. And what was relevant then, in the 19^th Century, is still applicable now in the 21^st - if not more so.

Ryle is a prophet for today. Pick him up and read.

A large selection of JC Ryle's books and pamphlets are available to purchase from Banner of Truth publications – click here for more details.