J.C. Ryle: A Biographical Essay

To our own detriment, we often forget the past. We fail to study the failures and success of those who have lived before us. The men and women who have countless lessons to teach us simply become shadows of memories we once knew. Sadly, even as Christians, we forget the "cloud of witnesses" that have testified throughout history to the greatness of Christ. Unfortunately, J.C. Ryle has become one of the forgotten. Although many still recognize him for his book, Holiness, they do not recognize the tremendous impact he had on the Church in the 19th century. Because of his stand for the truth of God's Word and personal holiness, J.C. Ryle still makes an impact on the Church today.

His Life

John Charles Ryle was born on May 10, 1816 to John and Susanna Ryle at Macclesfield. John Charles lived a happy childhood as his family was well-off at the time. He received private schooling up until his time at Eton College in 1828. Later on, he attended Oxford from 1834 to 1838. In the winter of 1837, after a series of circumstances including a chest infection, Ryle was converted after hearing a sermon on Ephesians 2:8: "for by grace are ye saved through; and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God."

J.C. Ryle planned on continuing his father's work both in Parliament and as a banker until 1841, when the older Ryle's bank crashed. The family was left with very little money. Since politics and banking certainly never turned out to be profitable, J.C. Ryle turned towards ministry in the Church of England. He was ordained as a vicar on December 21, 1841. Throughout his life, Ryle moved between several ministries. For his final ministry, at the recommendation of Prime Minister Disraeli, Ryle was appointed the first bishop of Liverpool in 1880 by Queen Victoria. There he would remain for twenty years until his death on June 14,1900.

His Influence

Throughout his lifetime, J.C. Ryle battled against the growing threat of Enlightenment rationalism as well as Anglo-Catholicism within the Church of England. Growing numbers of church leaders believed that they had to deny biblical evangelical truths for the sake of "unity". Still, Ryle took a stand against a church that increasingly rejected the authority of Scripture and the need for distinct Christian living.

Much like Charles Spurgeon, Ryle spoke to a darkening world through the methods of writing and preaching. As the Bishop of Liverpool, appointed by Queen Victoria, Ryle had just as much influence in England as the Baptist preacher, if not more. While Spurgeon argued against errors as one outside the Anglican Church, Ryle fought as one within its ranks. With his influence, Ryle warned the Church against growing nominalism--the tendency to live Christianity with impersonal callousness and pragmatism. Contrast to a growing number of his contemporaries, Ryle also denied baptismal regeneration and affirmed the inerrancy of Scripture.

It is with the context of 19th century enlightenment and ritualism that we must read Ryle's works today. One of his most famous work, Holiness, was written to stand against the increasing nominalism of his day. It was also a defense of the Puritan way of living. According to Ryle, the Puritans understood what the Scriptures demand in personal Christian living. They knew that a relationship with the Creator demanded a life of holiness. Ryle perpetuated the teachings of the Puritans and the Reformers through his preaching and his writing. His most notable works consist of Holiness, Practical Religion, and Expository Thoughts.

For Today

Although many people are unfamiliar with him, J.C. Ryle's life and works testify to how God can use one man to influence a nation for His kingdom. Although the Church of England has moved away from much of Ryle's teaching, his words still ring true for the rest of evangelicalism. His admonition against ritualism warns the fundamentalists (and any others) who mistake traditionalism for biblical separation. Mindless traditions only push a soul towards vain repetition and eventual apostasy. Furthermore, Ryle reminds us in the 21st century that true Christianity is not a set of impersonal rules to follow. Rather, Christianity is a personal relationship which is founded on the teaching of Scripture alone.

Recommended Reading

Murray, Iain H. J.C. Ryle: Prepared to Stand Alone. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2016.

ISBN: 1848716796