The Pilgrim’s Progress.
Author: John Bunyan
Published: Estimated 1678
Genre: Allegory
The Pilgrim’s Progress is an excellent work of Christian literature that describes and depicts the believer’s life and struggles from the Bible employing an allegory (a story that teaches an essential truth or moral about life). Bunyan takes us on a journey with the main character, Christian, from the City of Destruction (representing earth) to the Celestial City (representing heaven). Along the way, he meets characters such as Pliable, Obstinate, and Hopeful, who, as their names suggest, embody particular qualities that may help or hinder Christians in their journey to heaven. This great work has been described as a story that puts skin on theology. “The story of Pilgrim's Progress has been smuggled to the underground church during communism, banned for a time in China, and has sold more copies than any book other than the Bible” (Revelation Media).
Pilgrim’s Progress: The Beginning of the Story by Kevin Bauder (article) - could a Christian experience assurance of salvation? This is the main problem addressed at the beginning of the book. For Bunyan, assurance of salvation was readily available to all believers. It rested upon the objective ground of the cross of Christ and could be sustained by reading God’s promises personally.
An Encouragement To Read (or Reread) The Pilgrim’s Progress by The C.S. Lewis Institute (article + audio) - our lack of grip on the searching, humbling, informative truths about spiritual life that the Puritans understood so well surely means that the time is ripe for us to dust off Pilgrim’s Progress and start rereading it.
Pilgrim’s Progress: A Literary Masterpiece by Kevin Bauder (article) - this book combines moral allegory and dream literature in a narrative, applying these devices to an Evangelical, Protestant, and uniquely Puritan vision of the life of faith.
Pilgrim’s Progress: Context and Concerns by Kevin Bauder (article) - theologically, this book describes conversion followed by progress in the life of faith.
Why Evangelicals Don’t Read Pilgrim’s Progress (And Why They Should) by John R. Muether (article)
The Pilgrim’s Progress by Tabletalk Magazine (various articles and authors) - for Christian, there is the constant tension between the call of the Celestial City and his love for friends and family who have not "seen their danger as he saw his." And he, like all pilgrims, must recognize that leaving the path is unthinkable from the standpoint of his calling and catastrophic for those whom he desperately yearns to join him. The only way to commend the path to others is to stay on it. This post-Christian culture would have us believe that the only way to bear witness to Christ effectively is to "contextualize" in a way that essentially leaves the path. We must walk like, talk like, dress like, live like, and love like the world to win the world. However, the opposite is true. It is, in fact, the straight and narrow path to the Celestial City that conforms us to the image of Christ. The path is where we learn the very truth to which we bear witness. And we desire others to join us on the path, not distract us from it.
Pastor Jim Gables Teaching Series (audio) - pastor Gables walks you through detailed teaching of The Pilgrim’s Progress.
A Guide to John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress by Ken Puls (website) - probably the best guide on the internet, including readings from the book and commentaries.
A Roadmap to Pilgrim's Progress (website) - a series of devotional studies from pastor Mike Riccardi.
The Pilgrim’s Progress (ebook) - a free ebook download; however, it’s in the original old language, which is hard to read. We suggest the version written in modern English.
The Slough of Despond is more than a mere pond; it is a vast gulf dividing the City of Destruction from the Way to Life. We must face the shame and evil of our sin against God on our way to the Cross. Only then can we thoroughly adore our Savior and understand the great price He paid for our salvation. Despite millions of instructions given by the King's laborers (pastors and teachers) under the direction of His Majesties Surveyors (the prophets and apostles who have written down for us God's revealed plan in the Scriptures), the Slough cannot be mended - sin remains and continues to be filthy and dirty. The best a man can do is but "filthy rags" in God's sight (Isaiah 64:6). Our efforts can never make us right before God. He alone can lift us and save us. (Puls Guide to Pilgrim’s Progress).
In this seminar, Drs. Sinclair Ferguson and Derek Thomas discuss the value of this book for our Christian journey today. This seminar is from Upholding Christian Ethics, the Ligonier 2022 National Conference.
Revelation Media brings the story to a new generation using state-of-the-art CGI animation.
Meet the main characters on the journey of The Pilgrims Progress:
We suggest Spotify for your listening needs. They have free and premium plans! Learn more.
Are you struggling just to keep your head above water? You're not alone. 300 years ago, John Bunyan wrote a story about someone just like you.
Hopeful: he's the friend you want when you're slogging through the river of death.
Apollyon: he's the kind of guy that will destroy your life without thinking twice.
Giant Despair: he's the kind of guy that kicks you when you're down.
Mr. Great Heart: he's the type of guy that'll storm the gates of Hell to ensure that you, your children, and your children's children will be okay in the end.
Christian: he's the kind of guy we can all relate to.
Talkative: he's the kind of guy that hides behind his words.
Interpreter: he's the friend you want when you're lacking direction.
The Complete Pilgrim’s Progress Pack by Answers in Genesis
This curriculum pack, based on John Bunyan’s classic allegory, will challenge you and your children and help build a love for the truth and authority of the Bible. It is great for homeschooling, family devotions, Sunday schools, and personal or small group studies! It includes downloadable student resources.
Often disguised as something that would help him, evil accompanies Christian on his journey to the Celestial City. Walking with him, you’ll identify today’s many religious pitfalls. These are presented by men such as Pliable, who turns back at the Slough of Despond, and Ignorance, who believes he’s a faithful follower of Christ when he only trusts himself. Each character in this allegory is intentionally and profoundly accurate in depicting what we see all around us and, unfortunately, what we too often see in ourselves. But while Christian is injured and nearly killed, he eventually prevails. Learn more about John Bunyan.
Charles Spurgeon was a preacher known as the "Prince of Preachers." He authored many works, including sermons, commentaries, books on prayers and devotionals, and a newsletter (The Sword and the Trowel). His favorite book was The Pilgrim’s Progress, having read it more than 100 times. Mainly drawn from short addresses at the Metropolitan Tabernacle Prayer Meetings, these chapters comment on and practically apply excerpts from The Pilgrim’s Progress. Spurgeon urges his readers to share and learn from the experiences of the main character, Christian, as he journeys to the Celestial City.
This fresh retelling of Bunyan’s masterwork features kid-friendly language in verse form, chronicling Christian’s quest for forgiveness, freedom, and an everlasting kingdom. Coupled with colorful illustrations that bring this epic journey to life, this classic Christian allegory will inspire and captivate young readers ages eight and up. More than just a fantastical adventure, this book will help children gain more excellent knowledge of essential Christian concepts in words they can understand, making it a perfect choice for family reading or a trustworthy alternative to screen time. Bring this bestseller home and spark your child’s faith and imagination!
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