83. Ryle on the Christian Life: Growing in Grace. Andrew Atherstone. 2025. 208 pages. [Source: Review copy, 4 stars, christian biography, theology, christian nonfiction]
First sentence: The Bible was the foundational text for Ryle's Christian life and public ministry.
This one is part of Crossway's THEOLOGIANS ON THE CHRISTIAN LIFE series.
It blends biography and theology, though heavier on theology. It is a topical approach instead of strictly chronological.
J.C. Ryle was a Victorian pastor--a writer. He was a writer of tracts. Many if not most of his tracts were later rearranged and reused in [compilation] books. These books are still read. Readers might think of him as writing books more than tracts. But many books had their origins in his tracts. [Holiness is one of J.C. Ryle's greatest books.]
The chapters include:
Scripture's Supremacy
Sin and Salvation
Conversion
Sovereign Grace
Heart Religion
Fruits of Faith
Fighting for Holiness
Means of Grace
Preaching
Sorrow and Affliction
Facing Eternity.
The book, as I mentioned, is arranged topically. Plenty of biographical facts are shared as well--placing him within the context of HIS life, his times, his society, his works. Each chapter is topical. AND each chapter features Ryle in his own words mainly. I think that's wonderful. I'd rather read what Ryle has to say on a subject than to read a summary of what Ryle thought on a subject. I think this one would be a great introduction to J.C. Ryle!
Quotes:
- Prove all things by the Word of God--all ministers, all teaching, all preaching, all doctrines, all sermons, all writings, all opinions, all practices--prove all by the Word of God. Measure all by the measure of the Bible. Compare all with the standard of the Bible. Weigh all in the balances of the Bible. Examine all by the light of the Bible. Test all in the crucible of the Bible. That which can abide the fire of the Bible, receive, hold, believe, and obey. That which cannot abide the fire of the Bible, reject, refuse, repudiate, and cast away. ~ J.C. Ryle
- Follow us so far as we follow Christ, but not a hair's breadth farther. Believe whatever we can show you out of the Bible, but do not believe a single word more. ~ J.C. Ryle
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