W. H. Griffith Thomas Quotes on Christ, Prayer, the Bible and Ministry

Prayer Bible Study Christian Life Holy Spirit

W. H. Griffith Thomas (1861–1924) taught preachers at Oxford and Toronto and taught ordinary Christians at Bible conferences across North America. He liked to sum up a truth in one balanced sentence, and his books are full of lines worth copying into the front of a Bible.

Every quotation below is copied exactly from his books in TheWay Library, with the book and chapter it comes from, so you can read each one in its setting. Griffith Thomas quoted other writers often. We've left those lines out and kept only his own words. For his life story, see who was W. H. Griffith Thomas. For a guide to the books, see W. H. Griffith Thomas books.

On Jesus Christ

Everything Griffith Thomas wrote came back to the person of Christ. His book on Colossians is called Christ Pre-eminent, and that title sums him up.

This is the fundamental and vital problem of today and of all other days, the essential Deity of Jesus Christ.
Christ Pre-eminent, The Divine Son

It is the peculiar characteristic of the religion of Christ that we cannot take the message and put aside the Speaker of the message.
Christ Pre-eminent, The Christian Ministry

If He speaks of the kingdom, He is the King; if He declares the terms of entrance, it is faith in Him.
Christ Pre-eminent, The Christian Ministry

He came not only to show, but to save; not only to teach, but to redeem.
Grace and Power, Knowledge

On faith and grace

He worked hard to keep grace first and our part second. These lines show how he put it.

Facts are, of course, necessary, but it is possible to believe in facts about God without believing in God Himself.
The Christian Life and How to Live It, What We Believe

The Christian is not merely a pardoned criminal, but a righteous man.
Grace and Power, Justification

Our sufficiency is not of self, but of grace, and our service is the outflow of the grace of God in the heart.
Grace and Power, Grace

The Christian life from first to last is the Christ-life and a life of faith.
Grace and Power, Sanctification

God's gifts are always in profusion; as in nature so in grace, there is abundant and overflowing provision.
The Christian Life and How to Live It, What We Believe

The setting-up of self against God and instead of God — this is the essence of all sin.
The Christian Life and How to Live It, What Is Christianity?

On holiness and character

For Griffith Thomas, holiness meant belonging to God, and it always rested on the righteousness God gives in Christ.

Holiness must be based on righteousness, and righteousness is only possible to those who have accepted the Lord Jesus as God's righteousness through faith.
The Prayers of St. Paul

Wherever the words "holiness," "sanctification," and their associated and cognate expressions are found, the root idea is always that of separation rather than of purification.
The Prayers of St. Paul

Conduct is the expression of character, character is the result of goodness, and goodness is the outcome of continual contact with God.
The Christian Life and How to Live It, I Serve

The will of God known and done is the secret of all true living.
The Prayers of St. Paul

Progress is always in relation to the will of God.
Grace and Power, Faithfulness

On the Bible

He believed a Christian who meets God in the Bible every day will keep growing. He said so in many ways.

The Word in the heart is the secret of everything.
Life Abiding and Abounding, More Than My Necessary Food

The Bible must be our daily food if we are to be strong and vigorous.
Life Abiding and Abounding, More Than My Necessary Food

Though we may not remember this or that sermon, yet if the sermon is based on the Word of God, it will have done its work in cleansing and purifying heart and soul.
Life Abiding and Abounding, More Than My Necessary Food

In prayer the soul speaks to God; in the Bible God speaks to the soul and this is another of the meeting places with God.
The Christian Life and How to Live It, Walking with God

On prayer

The Word and prayer always went together in his teaching. His study of Paul's prayers is one of his most useful books.

He was a man of action because he was first and foremost a man of prayer.
The Prayers of St. Paul

The Word and prayer always go together, and no prayer is of use that is not based on, warranted by, and saturated with the Word of God.
Grace and Power, Prayer

The Word of God is the fuel of prayer and will prompt, inspire, and encourage us to petition and intercession.
Christ Pre-eminent, Secrets of Living

This is the essence of prayer — intercession on behalf of others.
The Prayers of St. Paul

The measure of the Apostle's desire is not our own poverty, but God's wealth; we are to look away from ourselves to the infinite riches of the Divine glory.
The Prayers of St. Paul

If we would have power in service we must pray.
Life Abiding and Abounding, The Christian's Vital Breath

There is no joy like the joy of living in the presence of God, the joy of asking Him for what we need, the joy of receiving His blessed answers to our prayers.
Life Abiding and Abounding, The Christian's Vital Breath

On the Holy Spirit and the mind

In his Princeton lectures he wrote as a scholar. He never pitted the Spirit against careful thinking.

The presence of the Holy Ghost in the soul is the secret of all power.
Ministerial Life and Work, The Ministry in the Pastoral Epistles

Reason is not the origin but the organ of truth.
The Holy Spirit of God, The Holy Spirit and Intellectualism

The Holy Spirit does not confer canonicity, but attests it.
The Holy Spirit of God, The Spirit of Truth

On ministry and service

He trained ministers for most of his life. These lines come from his lectures to students and his talks on serving Christ.

Christ never calls without equipping, never commissions without providing, never authorizes without empowering.
The Work of the Ministry, The Ministry of the Twelve

In all Christian work there are three elements absolutely indispensable: the Spirit of God as the power, the Word of God as the message, and the man of God as the instrument.
Ministerial Life and Work, The Ministry in the Pastoral Epistles

As water never rises above its level, so what we do never rises above what we are.
Life Abiding and Abounding, More Than My Necessary Food

Character is the true source of service, and duties can only be efficiently performed by one whose life is true.
Ministerial Life and Work, The Call and Its Responsibilities

Not merely must we love ideas but men, not only truth but lives, not only congregations but individuals.
The Work of the Ministry, A Competent Ministry

Jesus Christ, though angry, never ridiculed the views and life of those who were opposed to Him.
Ministerial Life and Work, Some Aspects of the Ministry

At home and in giving

He also wrote plainly about everyday things, from raising children to the offering plate.

All who are associated with children know how easy it is to discourage them, and how powerful in their training and development is the element of encouragement.
Christ Pre-eminent, The Christian Home

The Lord Jesus Christ does not look upon what we give, but upon what we have left after we have given.
Grace and Power, Obedience

Never must we tremble for the ark of God, though we may well tremble for everything else.
The Christian Life and How to Live It, I Serve

Where to read more

These lines come from all eight of his books in the library. To read one first, try Life Abiding and Abounding, his short book on the Word and prayer. If you want to learn to pray for others from Scripture, read The Prayers of St. Paul. All his books are listed on the W. H. Griffith Thomas author page.