Christianity - Commentary

The Book of Psalms is commonly known as the Psalms or the Psalter, and is divided into five sections, each closing with a doxology. The title is derived from the Greek translation, ?????? (psalmoi) meaning “instrumental music” and, by extension, “the words accompanying the music”. Most if not all are thought be composed by King David. The Psalms have always been an integral part of the prayers of the Christian church and especially among monks, who would generally chant all psalms in a week-long cycle. There have been many commentaries on the Psalms, but none perhaps more famous and widely used than St. Augustine’s. This first volume covers the first section of Psalms (1 – 36). – Summary by ancientchristian

These sermons on the Psalms of the Holy Prophet and King David are as poetic as the Psalms themselves. They are well-suited for inspirational and devotional listening. – Summary by The Reader

The fourteen years which have “passed over” me since I first began writing on the Gospels, I humbly hope have not been thrown away. They have been to me years of many trials, and I may add of much work, much reading, much reflection, and not a little prayer. At the end of these fourteen years, I feel more than ever convinced that what are called “Evangelical” views of Christian truth are thoroughly Scriptural views, and will bear the test of any fair investigation. The longer I live the more firmly I am persuaded that no system of divinity is so entirely in harmony with the Bible, as the system which rightly or wrongly is called “Evangelical.” I now send forth this volume with an earnest prayer that God may bless it and make it useful. Ignorance of Scripture, I feel more than ever, is the curse of these latter days. Men read many books, and yet neglect “the one Book.” If I can help to make the Bible more plain and interesting to any man’s soul, I shall be abundantly content. (From the Preface) Books in this series: Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. Matthew Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. Mark Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. Luke, Vol. 1 Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. Luke, Vol. 2 Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. John, Vol. 1 Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. John, Vol. 2 Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. John, Vol. 3

The volume now in the reader’s hands completes a work which I began sixteen years ago, entitled “Expository Thoughts on the Gospels.” By the good hand of God that work is now finished. For this I desire to be deeply thankful. “Better the end of a thing than the beginning of it.” (Eccles. vii. 8.) I have now only to commend to my gracious God and Father this feeble attempt to explain a most glorious portion of His revealed Scripture. I do it with humble thankfulness, but with a sense of utter weakness before the power of His word, and of inability to sound the depth even of its simplest sentence. May he spare the hand which has been put forward to touch the ark! May He, for Christ’s sake, forgive all rashness, all perverseness, all uncharitableness, which may be found in this book! And may He sanctify it to the use of His Church: its truth, if any for teaching; its manifold defects for warning.” (From the Preface) Books in this series: Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. Matthew Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. Mark Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. Luke, Vol. 1 Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. Luke, Vol. 2 Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. John, Vol. 1 Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. John, Vol. 2 Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. John, Vol. 3

?Expository Thoughts? divides the Gospels into sections of about twelve verses each, from which J. C. Ryle selects two or three prominent points to dwell on and bring to the reader?s attention. In Ryle?s day, there were many detailed commentaries and expositions on scripture. In writing these ?Expository Thoughts?, Ryle aimed to offer a resource to the laity for use in family prayers, as an aid to those who visit the sick and desire a proper book to read on such occasions, and for private devotions for those whose callings and engagements make it impossible for them to read large commentaries. This is the first of two volumes on St. Luke. As with the previous volumes on the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark, Rev. Ryle offered this book ?with an earnest prayer, that it may tend to the promotion of pure and undefiled religion, help to extend the knowledge of Christ, and be a humble instrument in aid of the glorious work of converting and edifying immortal souls.? (Introduction by MaryAnn) Books in this series: Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. Matthew Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. Mark Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. Luke, Vol. 1 Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. Luke, Vol. 2 Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. John, Vol. 1 Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. John, Vol. 2 Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. John, Vol. 3

?Expository Thoughts? divides the Gospels into sections of about twelve verses each, from which J. C. Ryle selects two or three prominent points to dwell on and bring to the reader?s attention. In Ryle?s day, there were many detailed commentaries and expositions on scripture. In writing these ?Expository Thoughts?, Ryle aimed to offer a resource to the laity for use in family prayers, as an aid to those who visit the sick and desire a proper book to read on such occasions, and for private devotions for those whose callings and engagements make it impossible for them to read large commentaries. Rev. Ryle offered this first volume on the Gospel of St. Matthew ?with an earnest prayer, that it may tend to the promotion of pure and undefiled religion, help to extend the knowledge of Christ, and be a humble instrument in aid of the glorious work of converting and edifying immortal souls.? (Introduction by MaryAnn) Books in this series: Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. Matthew Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. Mark Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. Luke, Vol. 1 Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. Luke, Vol. 2 Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. John, Vol. 1 Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. John, Vol. 2 Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St. John, Vol. 3

The title gives an accurate description of the book! It is full of old and forgotten words and phrases, Amusing at times, but addressing the problems mentioned in the chapter titles in detail. The troubles of his times are the same as today’s, and Rev. Talmage does a marvelous job going through each one individually. Summary by fiddlesticks

The Explanation of the Apocalypse by Ven. Beda is the earliest of the many works of our own writers on that Book, and, as such, may well deserve to appear in a form accessible to English readers. The chief characteristics of Beda’s method of exposition may be thus stated. The several visions are considered not to be successive, but contemporaneous, with occasional recapitulations and to represent the condition of the Church in all ages, under different aspects. The thousand years, in the twentieth chapter, are interpreted of the present period of the Church’s existence, in accordance with the opinion of St Augustine, in the second part of his De Civitate Dei. The ‘attention is closely directed to the text, and to corresponding passages of Holy Scripture, that the meaning of the symbolic language may be elicited. The previous exposition of Tichonius is mainly, but not exclusively followed. Beda appears, for example, to have adopted several opinions from St. Gregory the Great, and Frimasius, as well as St. Augustine. The date of the “Explanation” is circa. A.D. 710 ? 716. It is described by Beda as an “Exposition” but it is called an “Explanation” in the printed editions of his works. (Preface)