Derek Thomas

This is a very sobering truth and one, I think, that makes Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress perhaps shocking and somewhat alarming to modern readers, particularly modern readers who have been influenced by an easy believism.

This is a very sobering truth and one, I think, that makes Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress perhaps shocking and somewhat alarming to modern readers, particularly modern readers who have been influenced by an easy believism.

Well, welcome back to Lecture 3 in our study together of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. We're at a very, very interesting stage in Pilgrim's Progress. Christian has just made it through the Wicket Gate. He's been pulled through by a man by the name of Goodwill.

Well, welcome back to Lecture 3 in our study together of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. We're at a very, very interesting stage in Pilgrim's Progress. Christian has just made it through the Wicket Gate. He's been pulled through by a man by the name of Goodwill.

And you might, had you not known the story, you might have expected at this point for the burden to roll away and from this point onwards there would be little by way of difficulty. But actually that's not the case. And what happens now is alarming. For some it is distressing. For others it is confusing. Because Mr. Goodwill tells him now to go to the house of Mr. Interpreter.

And you might, had you not known the story, you might have expected at this point for the burden to roll away and from this point onwards there would be little by way of difficulty. But actually that's not the case. And what happens now is alarming. For some it is distressing. For others it is confusing. Because Mr. Goodwill tells him now to go to the house of Mr. Interpreter.

And here in this house, he will see many things, one of which will be deeply, deeply disturbing. Alexander White says in his commentary on Pilgrim's Progress and on the characters of Pilgrim's Progress, he says, "'Every minister of the gospel is an interpreter, and every evangelical church is an interpreter's house.'"

And here in this house, he will see many things, one of which will be deeply, deeply disturbing. Alexander White says in his commentary on Pilgrim's Progress and on the characters of Pilgrim's Progress, he says, "'Every minister of the gospel is an interpreter, and every evangelical church is an interpreter's house.'"

So bear that in mind as commentators try to understand what Bunyan is actually doing at this point. He's saying that the church has a responsibility to teach those who are recently converted, those who have been brought in through the wicked gate, they've got a responsibility to teach them certain things about the way of salvation, about what the Christian life actually looks like.

So bear that in mind as commentators try to understand what Bunyan is actually doing at this point. He's saying that the church has a responsibility to teach those who are recently converted, those who have been brought in through the wicked gate, they've got a responsibility to teach them certain things about the way of salvation, about what the Christian life actually looks like.

And I suppose Pilgrim's Progress is at the opposite end of the spectrum from views of Christianity that might suggest, come to Jesus and all your troubles will disappear. Now, I was told something of that kind when I became a Christian, and actually what I discovered was that I came to Jesus and I discovered problems I didn't have before. And I think that Bunyan is wanting to prepare Christians

And I suppose Pilgrim's Progress is at the opposite end of the spectrum from views of Christianity that might suggest, come to Jesus and all your troubles will disappear. Now, I was told something of that kind when I became a Christian, and actually what I discovered was that I came to Jesus and I discovered problems I didn't have before. And I think that Bunyan is wanting to prepare Christians

Christians and his readers for the difficulty of the Christian life, that the Christian life is going to be a battle from beginning right up to the point of entry to the celestial city. Well, he comes to the house of Interpreter, and Interpreter lights a candle and gives Christian a tour of the house. And what kind of issues now emerge?

Christians and his readers for the difficulty of the Christian life, that the Christian life is going to be a battle from beginning right up to the point of entry to the celestial city. Well, he comes to the house of Interpreter, and Interpreter lights a candle and gives Christian a tour of the house. And what kind of issues now emerge?

Seven in particular, and I'm going to stress a couple of them more than the others, but he's basically taken to seven different rooms. He comes, first of all, he sees a picture of

Seven in particular, and I'm going to stress a couple of them more than the others, but he's basically taken to seven different rooms. He comes, first of all, he sees a picture of

portrait and it's a very grave person with his eyes lifted up to heaven and he has the best of books in his hands and the law of truth upon his lips and the world behind his back and he is pleading with men and a crown of gold hangs over his head. Well, it might be special pleading on my part to say Bunyan is, of course, thinking here about a minister. He's thinking about a gospel preacher.

portrait and it's a very grave person with his eyes lifted up to heaven and he has the best of books in his hands and the law of truth upon his lips and the world behind his back and he is pleading with men and a crown of gold hangs over his head. Well, it might be special pleading on my part to say Bunyan is, of course, thinking here about a minister. He's thinking about a gospel preacher.

He's thinking about an evangelist. He's thinking about the Puritan preacher of the 17th century. And I think in Bunyan's mind, this is his own minister, John Gifford in the Baptist church, a man who influenced Bunyan a great deal in his early pilgrimage and in his early discipleship. And he's characterized by several things. He's characterized by the fact that he has the Bible in his hands.

He's thinking about an evangelist. He's thinking about the Puritan preacher of the 17th century. And I think in Bunyan's mind, this is his own minister, John Gifford in the Baptist church, a man who influenced Bunyan a great deal in his early pilgrimage and in his early discipleship. And he's characterized by several things. He's characterized by the fact that he has the Bible in his hands.