The Pilgrim's Progress | The Jackson Institute

The Pilgrim’s progress

Overview

The poet Robert Browning (1812-1889) wrote:

“A fiery tear he put in every tone.
‘Tis my belief God spoke; no tinker has such powers.”

Of course, he was speaking of John Bunyan (1628-1688), the tinker (one who repairs pots and pans) of Bedford, England, who wrote the greatest allegory ever written. This classic story uses the metaphor of a journey to trace the path of the central character, Christian, as he struggles to escape the City of Destruction and find his way to the Celestial City. Along the path, he encounters many people and experiences the very things that we find described in the pages of God’s Word. Relevant for every generation for over three hundred years, untold millions around the world have discovered how to receive the free gift of eternal life and have matured in their walk with Christ by returning over and over again to this creative masterpiece.

Charles H. Spurgeon said of Bunyan’s work: “Next to the Bible, the book I value most is John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. I believe I have read it through at least a hundred times. It is a volume of which I never seem to tire; and the secret of its freshness is that it is so largely compiled from the Scriptures. It is really Biblical teaching put into the form of a simple yet very striking allegory.”

You may never match Spurgeon’s milestone of 100, but it is quite possible that The Pilgrim’s Progress could become one of the greatest touchstones of your life, testing the genuineness of your faith and the reality of your own relationship with Christ as you encounter some of the richest metaphors that language can offer to one seeking first the kingdom of God.

Content/Chapters: 1-25

Additional Resources: 1-7

Lectures: 1-56

Marathi Version: 1-25

Content Downloads

The Pilgrim’s Progress is, without question, a book to be read in solitude – in an environment that promotes quiet reflection and meditation. I would also argue that there is significant benefit in gathering a small group of believers to discuss Bunyan’s metaphors. Men, women, and students have been studying this edited version of The Pilgrim’s Progress for over 20 years.

The study can easily be completed over a nine month period. The material, which contains Bunyan’s Apology and 25 individual chapters, may be downloaded, after which it may be printed or saved to your favorite electronic reader. For printed copies, please contact the Jackson Institute.

Content/Chapters 1-25

Click on the chapters below to download.

The Author’s Apology

Chapter 1: Christian Begins His Journey

Chapter 2: Help and Worldly Wiseman

Chapter 3: Evangelist and Goodwill

Chapter 4: Interpreter’s House

Chapter 5: The Cross and the Hill Difficulty

Chapter 6: The Porter’s Lodge

Chapter 7: The Study, Armory, and Delectable Mountains

Chapter 8: Apollyon

Chapter 9: The Valley of the Shadow of Death

Chapter 10: Faithful

Chapter 11: Talkative

Chapter 12: Vanity Fair

Chapter 13: By-ends and Demas

Chapter 14: Lot’s Wife and By-Path Meadow

Chapter 15: Giant Despair

Chapter 16: The Delectable Mountains

Chapter 17: Ignorance and Little-Faith

Chapter 18: The Flatterer and the Enchanted Ground

Chapter 19: Hopeful’s Testimony of God’s Grace

Chapter 20: Ignorance

Chapter 21: Christian and Hopeful Discuss Conviction and Backsliding

Chapter 22: The Country of Beulah

Chapter 23: A Deep River

Chapter 24: The Paradise of God

Chapter 25: Ignorance and the King

The Conclusion

Additional Resources for your Study of Pilgrims Progress

Click on the additional resources below to download.

From September 2010 to June 2012, John Musselman gave 56 lectures on Pilgrim’s Progress at Perimeter Church in Atlanta, Georgia. The PDFs of his PowerPoint slides are available to download for individual or group study. Please contact the Jackson Institute if you are interested in obtaining the PowerPoint slides for use in large group settings.

Chronology of Bunyan’s Life

How to Read The Pilgrim’s Progress

The Pilgrim’s Progress in Five Pages

What Others Say about The Pilgrim’s Progress

John Bunyan’s Text by F.W. Boreham

Memory Verses for Your Study of The Pilgrim’s Progress

Great Idea from Brad Culp

Lectures

Click on the lecture below to download.

Lecture 1 – Introduction

Lecture 2 – The Life of John Bunyan, Part 1

Lecture 3 – The Life of John Bunyan, Part 2

Lecture 4 – The Life of John Bunyan, Part 3

Lecture 5 – How to Read Bunyan’s Allegory, Part 1

Lecture 6 – How to Read Bunyan’s Allegory, Part 2

Lecture 7 – Bunyan’s Apology

Lecture 8 – Chapter 1, Christian Begins His Journey, Part 1

Lecture 9 – Chapter 1, Christian Begins His Journey, Part 2

Lecture 10 – Chapter 1, Christian Begins His Journey, Part 3

Lecture 11 – Chapter 2, Help and Worldly Wiseman, Part 1

Lecture 12 – Chapter 2, Help and Worldly Wiseman, Part 2

Lecture 13 – Chapter 3, Evangelist and Goodwill

Lecture 14 – Chapter 4, Interpreter’s House, Part 1

Lecture 15 – Chapter 4, Interpreter’s House, Part 2

Lecture 16 – Chapter 4, Interpreter’s House, Part 3

Lecture 17 – Chapter 4, Interpreter’s House, Part 4

Lecture 18 – Chapter 4, Interpreter’s House, Part 5

Lecture 19 – Chapter 4, Interpreter’s House, Part 6

Lecture 20 – Chapter 4, Interpreter’s House, Part 7

Lecture 21 – Chapter 5, The Cross and the Hill Difficulty, Part 1

Lecture 22 – Chapter 5, The Cross and the Hill Difficulty, Part 2

Lecture 23 – Chapter 5, The Cross and the Hill Difficulty, Part 3

Lecture 24 – Chapter 5, The Cross and the Hill Difficulty, Part 4

Lecture 25 – Chapter 5, The Cross and the Hill Difficulty, Part 5

Lecture 26 – Chapter 5, The Cross and the Hill Difficulty, Part 6

Lecture 27 – Chapter 5, The Cross and the Hill Difficulty, Part 7

Lecture 28 – Chapter 5, The Cross and the Hill Difficulty, Part 8

Lecture 29 – Chapter 6, The Porter’s Lodge, Part 1

Lecture 30 – Chapter 6, The Porter’s Lodge, Part 2

Lecture 31 – Review of Chapters 1-6

Lecture 32 – Chapter 7, The Study, Armory, & Delectable Mountains

Lecture 33 – Chapter 8, Apollyon

Lecture 34 – Chapter 9, The Valley of the Shadow of Death

Lecture 35 – Chapter 10, Faithful

Lecture 36 – Chapter 11, Talkative

Lecture 37 – Chapter 12, Vanity Fair, Part 1

Lecture 38 – Chapter 12, Vanity Fair, Part 2

Lecture 39 – Chapter 12, Vanity Fair, Part 3

Lecture 40 – Chapter 13, By-ends and Demas, Part 1

Lecture 41 – Chapter 13, By-ends and Demas, Part 2

Lecture 42 – Chapter 14, Lot’s Wife and By-Path Meadow

Lecture 43 – Chapter 15, Giant Despair

Lecture 44 – Chapter 16, The Delectable Mountains

Lecture 45 – Chapter 17, Ignorance and Little-Faith, Part 1

Lecture 46 – Chapter 17, Ignorance and Little-Faith, Part 2

Lecture 47 – Chapter 17, Ignorance and Little-Faith, Part 3

Lecture 48 – Chapter 18, The Flatterer & the Enchanted Ground, Part 1

Lecture 49 – Chapter 18, The Flatterer & the Enchanted Ground, Part 2

Lecture 50 – Chapter 19, Hopeful’s Testimony of God’s Grace

Lecture 51 – Chapter 20, Ignorance

Lecture 52 – Chapter 21, Christian & Hopeful Discuss Conviction & Backsliding

Lecture 53 – Chapter 22, The Country of Beulah

Lecture 54 – Chapter 23, A Deep River

Lecture 55 – Chapter 24, The Paradise of God

Lecture 56 – Chapter 25, Ignorance and the King