Pilgrim's Progress

[BryanW92]

Who's read it? What do you think of the encounter with Hopeless?

 

[abacabb3]

I might read it soon, in a few months. I have been slowly doing a study with others on Augustine's Confessions and at the pace we are going, we will start Pilgrim's Progress this summer

 

[BryanW92]

Well, make sure your study group spends some time on Hopeless.

 

[JM]

I found this site helpful: Commentary on Pilgrims Progress

 

[twin1954]

It has been a while since I read it. I will refresh myself on Hopeless and get back to you.

 

[BryanW92]

I found this site helpful: Commentary on Pilgrims Progress

Thanks JM. It answered my question. Not the answer I wanted, but an answer that makes sense and holds true to Reformed theology.

 

[twin1954]

Who's read it? What do you think of the encounter with Hopeless?

First and foremost it is a warning to believers to watch and be vigilant of their souls. The man is obviously apostate but whether he is reprobate or not is unclear. I don't think that Bunyan intended to teach reprobation is the passage but vigilance. I do know that Bunyan believed in reprobation as he actually wrote on it. You can probably find it in a search of Bunyan's works.

I think we go too far if we try to read into Bunyan here anything other than a warning. Interpreter is teaching Christian lessons for his walk not schooling him in doctrine.

 

[twin1954]

here is a link to "Reprobation Asserted".
http://www.chapellibrary.org/files/7813/7642/2861/bun-reprobate.pdf

 

[BryanW92]

I think we go too far if we try to read into Bunyan here anything other than a warning. Interpreter is teaching Christian lessons for his walk not schooling him in doctrine.

But a warning of what? That the Elect can become apostate? That the outwardly pious can actually be reprobate? Is it a warning to beware the person who claims that you can lose salvation?

Hopeless acts like the Arminians I know from my days as a Methodist, constantly wringing their hands about their salvation and wondering if they've done enough while insisting that they do not believe in works righteousness.

 

[abacabb3]

For the record, I went into going into this thread and there was a really inappropriate advertisement (almost pornographic while simultaneously warning about WW3.) They need to get rid of that stuff here.

 

[twin1954]

But a warning of what? That the Elect can become apostate? That the outwardly pious can actually be reprobate? Is it a warning to beware the person who claims that you can lose salvation?

Hopeless acts like the Arminians I know from my days as a Methodist, constantly wringing their hands about their salvation and wondering if they've done enough while insisting that they do not believe in works righteousness.

A warning against apostacy. Bunyan almost quotes from Heb. 6:4-6 It is an admonition to guard your soul and not be like the seed planted in rocky ground. Do not let the pleasures of sin and the pride of life rob you of your faith. It is a matter of actually being what you profess to be rather than a professor but not a possessor.

There are many who have an experience which they claim is God's grace and go on for a while as though they are truly believers but eventually the bobbles and sparkles of the world and sin draw them back into their former selves. They had a reformation of life but have not been made a new creature.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

Don't care for the book, as it paints Christianity as a pilgrimage rather than a destination. Christianity begins with a "done", not a "do".

 

[BryanW92]

A warning against apostacy. Bunyan almost quotes from Heb. 6:4-6 It is an admonition to guard your soul and not be like the seed planted in rocky ground. Do not let the pleasures of sin and the pride of life rob you of your faith. It is a matter of actually being what you profess to be rather than a professor but not a possessor.

There are many who have an experience which they claim is God's grace and go on for a while as though they are truly believers but eventually the bobbles and sparkles of the world and sin draw them back into their former selves. They had a reformation of life but have not been made a new creature.

That's what I got out of it too when I first read it. It was like Bunyan went full Arminian for that section of the book with a bunch of stuff about God not being sufficient and your own works being essential to complete Christ's work.

 

[BryanW92]

Don't care for the book, as it paints Christianity as a pilgrimage rather than a destination. Christianity begins with a "done", not a "do".

When I start a trip, I start with a bunch of big "dones" too. Suitcases packed, car checked out, fuel tank full: done. But, I haven't driven a single mile yet.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

The book gives the idea that we need to pass successfully through some testing, like it's a Survivor episode. It completely detracts from the work of Christ.

 

[BryanW92]

The book gives the idea that we need to pass successfully through some testing, like it's a Survivor episode. It completely detracts from the work of Christ.

I'm not getting that from it. I could see where the path theme would cause people to think that, but I see it more as the tribulations of being a Christian and not about some qualification process.

 

[AndOne]

You can get it for free over at Desiringgod.com

 

[sdowney717]

For the record, I went into going into this thread and there was a really inappropriate advertisement (almost pornographic while simultaneously warning about WW3.) They need to get rid of that stuff here.

Install Add Block Plus and all those annoying adds are gone.

https://adblockplus.org/

I run it on Chrome and works fine.