September’s book of the month is John Bunyan’s classic Pilgrim’s Progress. I have heard (although never verified) that the Bible is the only book in history to be translated into more languages or sold more copies than Pilgrim’s Progress. English pastor John Newton, of Amazing Grace fame, read it so often that he memorized it. He spent over 2 years lecturing through it on Tuesday nights. The book as had a lasting impact on generations of Christians.

John Bunyan (1628-1688) was a tinkerer, meaning he fixed pots and pans and other household items made of metal for a living. He was also a flagrant sinner. Yet God had set him aside for an important work that continues to bear fruit today. Bunyan’s conversion was gradual, and the early days of his pilgrimage were marked by doubt. Yet God’s irresistible grace proved greater than these challenges. Eventually, Bunyan would become a famous Baptist preacher, author, and sufferer for Christ.

Bunyan lived during a time when English law required everyone to attend services in the Church of England at least once a month. Failure to do so could lead to arrest or even exile. It was also illegal to preach without a government license. Dissenting congregations, like the Baptists, Congregationalists, and Presbyterians were illegal. Bunyan would spend 9 years in prison for preaching without a license. Yet God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purposes (Ro. 8:28). Just like Joseph in the OT, God had a plan for Bunyan’s imprisonment, for it was here that he wrote his famous allegory.

Pilgrim’s Progress narrates Christian’s journey from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. It is an allegory of the Christian life, in which Bunyan demonstrates two great qualities. First, he demonstrated piercing insight into human nature. Characters like Pliable, Talkative, Faithful, Hopeful, Evangelist, Doubtful, and many more capture human qualities and weaknesses in a way that helps us understand ourselves and others.

Second, Bunyan had a masterful understanding of how hard faithfulness to Christ can be. Slough of Despond (despair), Vanity Fair, Doubters Castle, and Bypath Meadow all represent dangers we face as Christians. Through Christian’s victories and failures, we learn what it means to live as aliens and sojourners in the world.

Although I am not an enthusiast at the level as John Newton, I do think every Christian would benefit from reading Bunyan’s classic. I find myself returning to it every five years or so. Each time I read it, my appreciation for its insights grows. I also find myself referencing it more frequently in sermons than I used to. 

Because the book is past copywrite laws, there are many versions available. Not all of them are quality versions, so buying the cheapest version on Amazon may prove to be a disappointment. So read the reviews before you buy a copy. There are wonderful adaptations available for children. I have used Tyler Van Halteren’s Little Pilgrim’s Big Journey more than once for family devotions. There are also quality abridgements available that modernize the English. If you have never read a book from the 1600s before, I would recommend one of these, as 400-year-old English can be hard to follow. If you read it, you will join countless Christians helped along their own pilgrimage through Bunyan’s insightful allegory of the Christian life.