Customer Reviews

The New Pilgrim's Progress

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(3)

 

 

Wiersebe has done a great job revising the English to make Pilgrim's Progress understandable to the modern American. His revisions are done sparingly, preserving the style of the original.
As a devout Evangelical himself, Wiersbe has no agenda other than making the work understandable. His notes and comments at the end of each section offer theological insights, both true to Bunyan and true to the Scripture.

If you are reading Pilgrim's Progress for you own edification, or if you are teaching a class, this is the best edition.

Get this version of Pilgrims Progress if you want to understand it best. The notes in this book are outstanding and are presented along side the text so you don't have to flip pages. I have given out about 10 copies of this book to my friends and they have all loved it. I have read this book to young and old and they all enjoyed it. Yes, it is a paraphase but it lovingly captures the message and explains the historical context.

Do not forget that Bunyan was a simple tinker; a practical man. I don't think he would have objected to this paraphrase so long as the message he intended came through clearly and was accessible to everyone, and in this, it well accomplishes. The late Warren W. Wiersbe was a well known international Bible conference teacher, a gifted communicator, and was known as a "pastors, pastor." He kept to Bunyan's meaning and gives about the best running commentaries available. Buy the original for its poetic language, but if you want to understand its timeless message and have a fun read, buy this version. In fact, buy five copies and share them with friends. It was the message, not the language, which made this one of two books almost every English family owned in Bunyan's times.

Wiersbe's revised edition of this classic is notable for several reasons. The extensive notes, Scripture references and end-of-chapter comments are excellent. Also, the translation manages to retain the style and form of the original--I wasn't jarred by obviously modern words or phrases. I would recommend The New Pilgrim's Progress, especially as a companion in studying Bunyan's original work.

Having read the original many years ago, I find this version refreshing and necessary to our times. Sadly, some of our commentaries thrashing the book for paraphrasing shows an "artsy" snobery when what we should be doing is hailing the author for being inciteful enough to realize that the message is what is most important and it will not reach it's intended audience if they cannot understand the language. Let's face it, the USA sits at the bottom of the educational food chain; perhaps this version of the book will reach and thus help bring to Christ some of our less educated brothers and sisters. Isn't that what is most important?

John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress originally published in 1678 is an enduring classic in Christian inspirational writing. In the present edition Markham and Wiersbe have sought to make this text more accessible to the modern reader by minor updates to the language and structure.

The book describes the allegorical journey of a Christian pilgrim from the City of Destruction to the Eternal City (Earth to Heaven). Throughout this trip the pilgrim encounters a range of individuals that embody various human characteristics (doubt, mistrust, superficiality, etc.). Most thoughtful readers will undoubtedly see something of themselves in these characters.

The editors have added helpful historic and religious notes to better situate the modern reader to Bunyan's seventeenth century context. Brief appendices discussing the Puritans and Bunyan have also been included. Readers who enjoy works such as C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce and The Screwtape Letters may be interested in this book.

Overall, it is one of the better works in the genre of inspirational religious writing. I highly recommend it to all readers

This is an amazing, transcending, universal allegory of what the Christian walk is about. It contains an enormous amount of truthful application -- which is astounding considering that it was "penned" in the 1400's. It is my hope that all who follow Christ today will pay close attention to the chapter regarding "Vanity Fair" -- an essential problem with American Christianity today. For all those who are in Christ: Read this book! You will be blessed.

Pilgrims Progress is a must read for all - children and adults. Take the time to study the scriptures Bunyan used as the basis of his wonderful story. It will strengthen your faith. God Bless, John

Wow. The modern version is excellent.
I have long thought that people need to fear a higher being and feel that
they are observed at all times. Laws just won't do it.
And I feel Pilgrims Progress helps make that point,
although from a more positive
perspective.
Pilgrims Progress is a classic and not long, so everyone, really, everyone, should read it.

Pilgrims Progress in simple laymans terms; appropriately dated to our time. A fun, fast paced, word picture, and living story that illustrates the many realities of the Christian Walk.

Read Pilgrim's Progress, by all means, but not this 'adapted' version. What will they do next, translate Shakespeare to make it more 'accessible?' Awful.