Among the written works which came out of the Protestant Reformation, probably the most surprising is the widely popular work The Pilgrim’s Progress, a work of fiction from an untrained preacher called John Bunyan. His book was not any sort of treatise of theology; instead, it was an allegory of the Christian life that captured the attention of a large audience. This text was one of a great many works of theology and fiction penned by Bunyan, and arguably his most popular.
Where Did John Bunyan Come From?
John Bunyan was born in 1628 to a tinker (someone who repaired small metal items, such as pots and pans) in Elstow, England. Unlike many of the preachers of his day, he did not attend much school, and never obtained any sort of seminary or college degree. While he joined the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War, he never saw any extensive combat and may have traded places with another soldier who was killed during a siege.
Bunyan would return to life and become a tinker for a time, but continuously struggled with his sin. He eventually encountered a nonconformist congregation, which did not follow the prescribed practices of the Church of England. He eventually became a preacher for the congregation.
What Difficulties did John Bunyan Undergo as a Pastor?
John Bunyan began preaching during the English Commonwealth period and was able to preach without governmental resistance. However, when the monarchy was re-established under Charles II in 1660, it became illegal for anyone to preach outside of the control of the Church of England under the Conventicle Act 1664. For defying the law and preaching, Bunyan would be arrested and held for twelve years in the Bedford prison. It was in prison that he began on his great work The Pilgrim’s Progress, as he had access to writing materials. He would be released in 1872 when the king issued a declaration of indulgence to him and his fellow nonconformists.
Bunyan’s first wife died in 1658, and he was left to care for four children, one of whom was blind. He would remarry shortly before his imprisonment, and his wife had to rely on what little he earned in prison and the charity of his congregation.
What Did John Bunyan Write?
John Bunyan wrote more than 40 tracts and books, both on theology and fiction. The most well-known is The Pilgrim’s Progress, which was first printed in 1678 and found immediate success, eventually becoming the best-selling book of all time outside the Bible until the twentieth century. The Pilgrim’s Progress is an allegorical tale of Christian, a burdened new believer who undergoes a journey from his home of the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. Bunyan also wrote several similar allegorical works, and a popular “spiritual autobiography” from 1666, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners.
Why Did The Pilgrim’s Progress Become so Popular?
The popularity of The Pilgrim’s Progress may be due to its relatability and accessibility. The journey of Christian and the people he encounters, such as Evangelist, Obstinate, Pliable, and Hypocrisy, mirrors the struggles in one way or another of Christians and their lives. The book is filled not only with readable language, but Bunyan writes with an instinctual usage of scripture that inundates every page and scene of the book. His Biblical knowledge and usage was so complete that the 19th century preacher Charles Spurgeon wrote of Bunyan:
“Prick him anywhere—his blood is Bibline, the very essence of the Bible flows from him. He cannot speak without quoting a text, for his very soul is full of the Word of God.”
What Happened to John Bunyan?
Bunyan continued to practice as both a preacher and writer following his imprisonment, but his life was not without difficulty. He even wound up in prison for another short period in 1676, most likely for refusing to attend the parish church. Bunyan died on August 31, 1688 following a fever after being caught in a storm. Today, he is the subject of Church of England Lesser Festival, held on the 30th August every year.
