Dusting Off a Classic: J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts Gets a Modern Makeover
Review: J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels (Modernised Version; Evangelical Press/10publishing)
When I was a kid, there was this old, weighty boxset of books that sat on the shelves in our hallway at home, right next to the baby albums and Ordnance Survey maps, and near where the telephone used to sit, if you remember those? It wasn’t until I was returning from university one vacation that I realised these were copies of J.C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels and I finally dared to open them!
In the mean time I'd been introduced to Ryle —first, through his writing: the gripping Five English Reformers and his unflinching classic Holiness, but then after a friend gave me a copy of Eric Russell's biography of Ryle, Man of Granite with the Heart of a Child. Maybe it was because he also served as Bishop of Liverpool, just over the River Mersey from where I grew up, but I found myself increasingly drawn to Ryle as a writer and pastor.
In the years that have followed, I have often drawn upon Ryle's most comprehensive work, those seven volumes of Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, first published in the late 1850s. In many ways, Russell's title for that biography captures the author of this treasure so well: straight-forward convictions with an unmistakable pastoral heart.
Ryle for the 21st Century Reader
So when I heard that the folks at 10publishing/Evangelical Press had given Ryle’s Expository Thoughts a modern makeover, my curiosity was piqued. What exactly would a "modernised" version look like? Would it still carry that no-nonsense, down-to-earth wisdom that made Ryle so special, while also being readable for today's audience?
First off, the team behind this version has done a stellar job. With experienced Ryle editor, Mary Davis, working with Graham Hind, 10 publishing/Evangelical Press haven’t just brushed off the cobwebs and slapped on some new chapter headings. The language has been lightly modernised, and so the plain, accessible English that characterised Ryle is allowed to ring out - rather than being somewhat lost behind now archaic phrasing and vocabulary. It’s like hearing the same wise old voice, but this time without needing a mental thesaurus on hand!
For those unfamiliar with the original, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels is probably best described as a 'devotional commentary' on the Gospels—simple, clear, and aimed at giving readers a bite-sized, daily dose of reflection and teaching on the life and words of Jesus.
Ryle described in those original prefaces that he had in mind three groups of people: parents reading to their children; pastoral visitors reading to the sick and unlearned; and those who cared about the Scriptures but couldn't afford a large library and had little leisure time available to read. As such, Ryle works through the text of the gospels with his classic straightforwardness, offering timeless truths without getting bogged down in technicalities. Ryle wasn’t trying to write for the scholars—he was writing for the everyday Christian.
Why it Still Works Today
What makes this modernized version so valuable is that Ryle’s insights haven’t aged. His reflections are gospel-rich, warm, and relentlessly practical. And whilst he speaks as a Bible reader from another era, this is actually part of the attraction. As C.S. Lewis once put it, sometimes we need to let the "sea breeze of the centuries" blow through our contemporary forms of Christianity—and that’s exactly what Ryle offers here. His timeless reflections cut through the noise of our late-modern world, bringing us back to the core of gospel truth with clarity and conviction.
Whether he’s driving home the importance of faith in Christ or unpacking the need for personal holiness, Ryle constantly points back to the essentials of the Christian life in a way that’s still needed today. And I was particularly struck by how, even in this fresh language, Ryle’s pastoral heart shines through. As someone who apparently cared deeply for the people he pastored, his Expository Thoughts feel like a personal invitation to sit down, open the gospels, and let the living Lord Jesus shape your life.
So Who’s This For?
Well, pretty much everyone! If you’re a Bible reader (whether you’re just starting or have been at it for decades), you’ll find something to chew on here. Ryle's insights will illuminate and his sincere faith and love of Christ will inspire. The beauty of this modernised edition is that it strips away any unnecessary barriers of old-fashioned language, while keeping Ryle’s rich and sumptuous content intact! In doing so, it makes one of the church’s best devotional resources accessible to a new generation. Like Ryle's original aim, it's perfect for personal devotions, reading with others, using as a guide for teaching and preaching, or even just to dip into when you’ve got 10 minutes and a cup of tea.
So if you’ve never come across J.C. Ryle before, this is a great place to start. For ultimately, Ryle seeks to show us Jesus Christ. As he puts in his original preface:
"We want a more clear knowledge of Christ, as a living Person, a living Priest, a living Physician, a living Friend, a living Advocate at the right hand of God, and a living Saviour soon about to come again... If I can do anything to make Christ and the Bible more honourable in these latter days, I shall be truly thankful and content."
It's hard to argue with that. And hey, if nothing else, this cloth quarter-bound boxset with marble design will look great on your bookshelf. Who knows, maybe your kids will rediscover it one day, just like I did!
You can pick up a copy from the publisher here.
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Disclaimer: I received a free review copy of this work from the publisher, but I hope this is still an impartial review.