Pilgrim’s Progress by Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan John Bunyan

Which Portrays Your Life?Which Portrays Your Life?

John BunyanJohn Bunyan

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background John Bunyan-Born about Nov.15, 1628John Bunyan-Born about Nov.15, 1628 Mother dies when he is 15, 13 year old Mother dies when he is 15, 13 year old

sister dies a few weeks latersister dies a few weeks later A few months later when John is 16 he A few months later when John is 16 he

is drafted into Cromwell’s army (war is drafted into Cromwell’s army (war between parliament and the King between parliament and the King Charles I)Charles I)

Taught the trade of a tinker by his Taught the trade of a tinker by his father (a mender of pots, utensils,) father (a mender of pots, utensils,) this was not a highly regarded tradethis was not a highly regarded trade

He is not well educated, but learns to He is not well educated, but learns to read and write and has no theological read and write and has no theological educationeducation

He is married at about 20 to his first He is married at about 20 to his first wife (about which we know little, not wife (about which we know little, not even her name)even her name)

She brought little to the marriage She brought little to the marriage except for two books, one of which is except for two books, one of which is an allegory an allegory

He has four children, the first of whom He has four children, the first of whom (Mary) is blind(Mary) is blind

His first wife dies about 10 years later His first wife dies about 10 years later and John marries Elizabethand John marries Elizabeth

While married to his first wife, he spent While married to his first wife, he spent time reading the books she had brought time reading the books she had brought as well as the Bibleas well as the Bible

He also came upon and old beat-up He also came upon and old beat-up copy of Luther’s commentary on copy of Luther’s commentary on GalatiansGalatians

It is difficult to tell exactly when Bunyan It is difficult to tell exactly when Bunyan is convertedis converted

In 1653 Bunyan renounces the church In 1653 Bunyan renounces the church of England and joins the church of John of England and joins the church of John Gifford where he was re-baptized, and Gifford where he was re-baptized, and began to learn to preachbegan to learn to preach

In 1660 the Puritan regime collapsed In 1660 the Puritan regime collapsed and King Charles II returned from Exileand King Charles II returned from Exile

Bunyan was arrested for preaching Bunyan was arrested for preaching (because the Church of England was (because the Church of England was once again the state church) and jailedonce again the state church) and jailed

The Bedford Jail was like all English jails The Bedford Jail was like all English jails of the day, a stink hole, filthy, no of the day, a stink hole, filthy, no sanitation, little water or food, little sanitation, little water or food, little warmth in the winterwarmth in the winter

Bunyan was allowed visitors from time Bunyan was allowed visitors from time to timeto time

Bedford JailBedford Jail

Out of this JailOut of this Jail Bunyan is released in 1672Bunyan is released in 1672 He is imprisoned again in 1677He is imprisoned again in 1677 At some time during these At some time during these

imprisonments he wrote this little imprisonments he wrote this little bookbook

It is published in 1678 and Bunyan is It is published in 1678 and Bunyan is shocked at how successful it isshocked at how successful it is

By the time of his death, eight editions By the time of his death, eight editions had appeared as well as a French and had appeared as well as a French and Dutch editionDutch edition

The Book TodayThe Book Today

100 years ago it would have been 100 years ago it would have been considered the greatest novel ever considered the greatest novel ever writtenwritten

If a family owned two books, one was the If a family owned two books, one was the Bible, the other was Pilgrim’s ProgressBible, the other was Pilgrim’s Progress

The book has been translated into almost The book has been translated into almost every language on earthevery language on earth

It is this book (after the Scriptures) to It is this book (after the Scriptures) to which the Church turns in times of trialwhich the Church turns in times of trial

Important Teachings of the Important Teachings of the BookBook

The gospel is our only hope, the imputed  The gospel is our only hope, the imputed  righteousness of Jesus Christ received righteousness of Jesus Christ received through faith alone. through faith alone.

The progressive sanctification of the The progressive sanctification of the Christian, as he traverses a wilderness Christian, as he traverses a wilderness world, that results in gradual spiritual world, that results in gradual spiritual maturity. maturity.

The faithful community of the Church as The faithful community of the Church as the Christian pilgrim's earthly refuge. the Christian pilgrim's earthly refuge.

The wonderful stimulus of repeated The wonderful stimulus of repeated glimpses of the Celestial City with the hope glimpses of the Celestial City with the hope of getting there to be with Christ in glory.of getting there to be with Christ in glory.

Important Lessons From Important Lessons From Bunyan (from John Piper)Bunyan (from John Piper)

Bunyan’s suffering confirmed him in Bunyan’s suffering confirmed him in his calling as a writer, especially for his calling as a writer, especially for the afflicted churchthe afflicted church

Bunyan’s suffering deepened his love Bunyan’s suffering deepened his love for his peoplefor his people

Bunyan’s suffering opened his Bunyan’s suffering opened his understanding to the truth that the understanding to the truth that the Christian life is hard and that following Christian life is hard and that following Jesus means having difficulties. Jesus means having difficulties.

Lessons from SufferingLessons from Suffering

Bunyan’s sufferings strengthened his Bunyan’s sufferings strengthened his assurance that God is sovereign over all assurance that God is sovereign over all the afflictions of his people and will the afflictions of his people and will bring them safely home. bring them safely home.

Bunyan’s suffering deepened in him a Bunyan’s suffering deepened in him a confidence in the Bible as the word of confidence in the Bible as the word of God God

See See The Swan is Not SilentThe Swan is Not Silent or or http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Biographhttp://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Biographies/1480_To_Live_Upon_God_that_Is_Invisible/ies/1480_To_Live_Upon_God_that_Is_Invisible/

Bunyan’s DeathBunyan’s Death

John went to London to settle a John went to London to settle a dispute between a son and a father, dispute between a son and a father, as well as to preachas well as to preach

After reconciling the two men, he After reconciling the two men, he was unable to preach because of the was unable to preach because of the torrential raintorrential rain

He became soaked in the rain, fell He became soaked in the rain, fell sick with a fever and died at age 60sick with a fever and died at age 60

In his last In his last sermon Bunyan sermon Bunyan said:said:

““Live like the Live like the children of children of God, that you God, that you may look may look your Father your Father in the face in the face with the with the comfort of comfort of another day.”another day.”

Which Portrays Your Life?Which Portrays Your Life?