ChosenRebel's Blog

I’m embarrassed to say that I am reading John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress in the original for the very first time. I have read portions; I have versions; I have read reviews; I have read summaries, and I have heard testimonies of its value and power. But I have never read it to completion in the original. Today, I am just little bit beyond 40% through. Some initial observations:

1. Bunyan, the writer, and then as a result, THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS, is saturated with Scripture. It pours out in every sentence. I want to be like that.
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2. The threads and themes of biblical truth that Bunyan picks up and explores through the fantastical rubric of a dream is truly magnificent and frankly, mind boggling when you consider that he is writing from prison.
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3. The King James Bible has some truly majestic phrasing. We owe a lot of thanks to the men who worked and labored over that translation in 1611. Yes it is out of date in many places and better and more accurate manuscripts have been found but it is still a great work to consult from time to time no matter what translation you are currently using.
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4. Bunyan and THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS is worthy reading multiple times.
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5. It would be a good idea to read it through one year, and the next, do a year long Bible study through the verses quoted in it. I think I will keep a separate journal just for that purpose.
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6. The story of the Pilgrim’s Progress is my story; it’s your story; it’s the story of every saint, known and unknown, in every time, from every country and culture, and every one of those stories is a glory to Christ, and through all of those stories, the light of His word shines forth.

“His candle shineth upon my head,
and by his light I walk through darkness.”

Job 29:3