Transcript Document

The Pilgrim’s Progress
Author: John Bunyan
• 1628: John Bunyan is born near Bedford, England.
• 1648: Bunyan undergoes a deep religious crisis where he
battled with doubts for many years.
• He probably struggled with OCD (religious “Scrupulosity”)
• He emerged with a zeal for God and evangelism.
• He joined the Non-Conformist sect which opposed the
Church of England.
• 1660: Bunyan is arrested for preaching and his opposition
towards the Church of England.
• 1666: He wrote his autobiography Grace Abounding to the
Chief of Sinners.
• 1667-1672: Bunyan wrote the first part of The Pilgrim’s
Progress.
• 1678: The Pilgrim’s Progress is published.
• 1688: Bunyan dies.
The Pilgrim’s Progress: Form
– The book has been translated into over one-hundred
languages and remains one of the most influential
books ever written.
– The book is an Allegory. An Allegory is a story
where literal characters and events represent abstract
truths or aspects of the human condition.
• In the book, the names of characters and places
reveal the ideas they represent.
• Examples: Christian, Charity, Hypocrisy, Faithful,
etc.
– Ultimately, the book is an allegory of the Christian life
or journey to God with timeless themes.
Author’s Apology
• Apology: a written defense or explanation
• Bunyan began one book and ended up writing an
allegory. (“like sparks…of fire do fly.”)
• It began as a personal exercise, but he published it to
bless those who would be blessed by it.
• “If that thou…pick the bone.”
– Some love truth, but others only want to argue.
• Arguments for Allegory…
1. God does not forbid it.
2. Truth is not limited to one genre or “craft.”
3. Scripture itself often uses metaphors and allegories.
(Ex. Galatians 4:21-31)
Pages 1 - 55
• Narrative Device: The author is recounting the story as a dream.
• Christian forsakes his family and comforts to head towards the
Wicket Gate.
– Good Will brings Christian through the gate because he asks and is repentant.
– Alludes to Luke 13:24: “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell
you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”
• Slough [Swamp] of Despond [Despair]: “ for still as the sinner is
awakened…reason of the badness of this ground.”
– Represents fears, doubts, and Bunyan’s own crisis of faith.
– This paralyzing fear and doubt can be overcome by…
• (1) God’s gracious promises and provisions through Christ (“the steps”)
• (2) The “Help” of other Christians
• Worldly-Wiseman
– Subtly claims that Scripture is the cause of Christian’s burden, not his sinfulness
– Advises Christian to go to Sinai (“the Law”) and submit to Morality, Civility, and
Legality.
– Evangelist alludes back to Paul’s words in Galatians 3:10: “For all who rely on
works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed be everyone who
does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.’”
Pages 56 - 66
Valley of the Shadow of Death
•Two men” are the faithless ancestors of the spies in Numbers 13:26-33.
•Christian journeys onward with faith in God’s promises, saying, “Though I
walk…thou art with me.” (Psalms 23:4)
– Christian is encouraged because…
1. Other believers are in the same situation.
2. God’s presence does not depend on Christian’s ability to perceive it.
3. He hopes to have fellowship soon.
•CS Lewis from the end of The Four Loves: “If we cannot practice the presence
of God, it is something to practice the absence of God, to become increasingly
aware of our unawareness till we feel like men who should stand beside a great
cataract and hear no noise…to know that one is dreaming is to no longer be fully
asleep. But for news of the fully waking world you must go to my betters.”
Pagan & Pope represent false hopes…
•Paganism has died and the Pope is in decline (150 years after the Protestant
Reformation).
– Catholic Counter Reformation reaffirmed the position that salvation is “by
grace through faith and works of that faith.”
Pages 60 - 62
Christian overtakes Faithful and Falls
•Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit
before a fall.”
•Galatians 6:1-5
•Humility and teamwork should mark our steps instead of pride or
competition!
Faithful recounts his escape from Wanton
•Wanton: “sxually loose or unrestrained”
– Alludes to Proverbs 7:21-27
•Faithful cuts his temptation off at its source: he closes his eyes.
– If at all possible, identify your weaknesses and remove yourselves
from situations where you will fall!
– Matthew 5:29: “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and
throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members
than that your whole body be thrown into hell.”
– 1 Corinthians 6:9-11: “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of
God? Do not be deceived: neither the sxually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adlterers, nor men who practice
homosxuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of
God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of
the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
Pages 67 - 69
Talkative
•
•
•
•
vs… Faithful Christians
Eloquent but empty speech
Keeps any company
– “Talks the same on the alebench”
Unreasonable in his dealings with
others
He values knowledge of Gospel
mysteries (Gnosticism)
– 1 Cor. 13:1-3 (PP. 70-71)
– Unprepared to answer
questions about “experience.”
– “Shame to all professors”
•
•
Faith produces works, love, and
power, not just knowledge and
talk.
– 1 Cor. 4:20 (P. 70)
– James 1:22-27 (P. 71)
– 1 Cor. 13:1-3 (PP. 70-71)
Faithful: “But I am…if he
perisheth.”
– He speaks the truth in love for
the benefit of another
(Talkative) and for a clear
conscience.
Pages 78 - 86
Vanity Fair
•
•
•
vs… Faithful Christians
Vanity: “fixation with appearances
or worthless matters”
Ecclesiastes 11:8: “All that cometh
is vanity…”
Beelzebub, Apollyon, and Legion
set up the fair to sell all sorts of
vanity all year long. (List: P. 79)
– It is designed to distract
pilgrims from Celestial City.
– It is unavoidable.
• Christ resisted it in His earthly
temptation.
• John 17:13-18
• 1 Cor. 5:9-11
•
The Celestial City is beyond it.
•
•
•
P. 80: Hubbub over the Pilgrims
1. Different Clothing
2. Different Speech
3. They reject vanity for their own
country—the Heavenly
Jerusalem. (Heb. 11:13-16)
Lord Hategood accuses them of
disturbing the peace. (IRONY)
Christian escapes the madness of
Faithful’s execution, is joined by
Hopeful (Hebrews 11:1-2), and
heads toward the Celestial City.
Vanity Fair
~ Contents
• 2010 BestDressed & Official
“Preppy”
Handbook
(Fashion)
• Fashion Icon’s
Estate
(Materialism)
• Christopher
Hitchens
(Atheism)
• Lady Gaga
(Celebrities)