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| Adapted version of Dick Worth |
I first read this edition twelve years ago. What
impressed at the time were the incidents at the Slough of Despond and the
Doubting Castle; they were so relatable to me. Four years ago while I was
visiting a friend in Shillong, I befriended some teenagers. It seemed appropriate
to me to help them cultivate the habit of reading books, particularly Christian
literature. What would be the best book for teenagers who have never grown
accustomed to reading books? Without competition, this edition of the Pilgrim’s
Progress came into my mind because this edition is easy to read, simple to
understand, inexpensive in price, and very pertinent in its contents. I went
through all the Christian bookshops in Shillong, but I couldn't find it. Sorry!
I wasn’t able to help them. As one of our famous Zeliangrong proverbs says,
“Nimduakmeikha dai ran ne,” loosely translated, the fish that slipped your hand
was the biggest, I was even more determined to get this book for the youngsters.
Time went by, and when I was in Imphal, I went to all the Christian bookshops,
hoping to find at least an old copy but it was not found.
Time continued to pass, and I was in Punjab. There, I befriended
other youngsters and increasingly felt the need to give this book away. I went to
all the known Christian bookshops in Delhi just to return empty-handed. I sent
an email to the online distributors and they said the book was out of stock and
out of print. Last year, in December, I came across it online and ordered dozens
of copies. The reason I am narrating this is to make it clear that this is a
book that I want everyone to read and be rejuvenated. By now, I have read this
edition 4 times. You may be young or old if you have not acquired the habit to
read Christian books, I would submit to you that this edition of Pilgrim’s
Progress is the best one to start with. Well, there are a lot of good Christian
books, but my recommendation is this.
I have already mentioned some features of this edition of
Pilgrim's Progress, and I will elaborate on them here:
1. This is not an original
version of the 1684 edition of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. That version
is much longer, tougher to read as it was written in old English, slightly
intimidating, and will cost you more money. Even if that version sounds perfect
for you, this version will complement well, and vice versa. How about reading
both? Or I would press further, why not read both again and again?
2. This edition is a modern
English adaptation by Dick Worth. It was published by Good Shepherd Books, 2019
Reprint, Indian Edition (copyright 1994). It doesn’t contain the author’s
apology, which I am not sure is a good or a bad omission, but maybe the 236
rhyming apologetic lines would put off a naïve reader.
3. It has a total number of 138 printed
pages of which only 98 are readable pages. Indeed, a light reading, isn’t it?
It is a very small book which you could tuck inside your pocket. Its dimension
is only 18 cm in length, 12 cm in width and only 0.9 cm thick.
4. Another great feature of this
edition is that it contains 18 illustrations, 8 pages of Journey Chart and 4
pages of John Bunyan's biography.
5. In fact, this is a combination
of John Bunyan’s two books: Christian’s Journey (Part I) and Christina’s
Journey (Part II). Part I has 52 readable pages and 10 illustrations. Part II
has 46 readable pages and 8 illustrations. [I am giving this detail that you
may know it is easily readable in one sitting.]
6. At Christianstore.in it is
sold for only rupees 79 without any shipping charge. Place an order now, and I
hope you will be able to answer the following questions with ease.
PART I: Christian’s Journey
Q1. Who had a dream? p.9, 69, 73, What does that tell you
about this story, novel? Literary Genre?
Q2. Who helped Mr. Christian to start his journey? p. 9
How does someone become a Christian? [Refer p.91 too.]
Q3. What was the message of Mr. Evangelist? p.9. 11. How
must we preach the gospel?
Q4. What was the name of the gate? p.11. How must we live
our lives? [Similar to Q14.]
Q5. What made Mr. Christian leave all his friends and the
life he enjoyed before unlike Mr. Obstinate? [p.11] What comes with the good
news of Salvation?
Q6. What is the name of the place where Mr. Christian
first fell in? p.13. Why is that bog named like that? Also, refer to p.77.
Q7. What has been done to that bog in the last 2000
years? p.13. When was the last time you had fallen into that bog?
Q8. What was on the back of Mr. Christian and how did he
get it? p.15, 9
Q9. What was the advice of Mr. Worldly-Wiseman to get rid
of his burden? p. 15, 14
Q10. What was wrong with the advice of Mr.
Worldly-Wiseman? p. 17. Why should not we heed to the saying of the wise men of
the world?
Q11. What would you reply if Jesus asks you, “Why should
I let you into My Kingdom?” p. 19, 97, 77
Q12. What is the difference between the law and the
gospel? p.21
Q13. Who are the Shining Ones? How did they greet Mr.
Christian? p.24
Q14. Who climbed over the wall by not going through the
Wicket-Gate, and what did they lack in doing so? p.25. How must we live?
[Similar to Q4.]
Q15. Where did Mr. Christian fall asleep? What made him
sleepy and what had he lost because of falling asleep? p.26, 27. Where was
right for him to sleep? p.27
Q16. What was wrong with Mr. Shame, according to Mr.
Faithful? p.34-35. Why should we not give in to self-pity?
Q17. Mr. Faithful, Lady Christina and the children, and
others went through the Valley of the Shadow of Death in daylight, why did
Christian go through the night? p.35, 103, 106, 32
Q18. What is the difference between Mr. Talkative’s
theology of sin and Mr. Faithful’s theology of sin? p. 39. Refer p.64-65 too.
Q19. What are the characteristics of Saving Grace
according to Mr. Faithful in response to Mr. Talkative? p.40
Q20. After the death of Mr. Faithful who went with Mr.
Christian? p.48
Q21. What was Mr. By-ends philosophy of life? p.49
Q22. Do you agree with John Bunyan that Esau, Ananias,
and Sapphira are in Hell? [p.58 ]Also do you agree with his view on dreams?
p.95. Refer p.135 too.
Q23. Analyze the character of Mr. Ignorance (p.58, 62-64,
69) and Mr. Talkative (p.35-41)
Q24. What was that river at the end? p.67. How and What
happened to Mr. Ignorance? p.69
PART II: Christina and the
Kids’ Journey
Q1. What should a sinner do as Ms. Mercy did? p.76, 79,
80
Q2. What has happened to the Slough of Despond? p.77.
What is the nature of Christianity nowadays?
Q3. What’s your thought on chicks and hens? p.85-86
Q4. How did the young James know to reply to a
Trinitarian answer? p.95-96, 98
Q5. What did Ms. Mercy want in her man? p.98-99. How did
John Bunyan view of works?
Q6. How does the fear of God differ from the fear of hell?
p.106
Q7. Analyze the character of Mr. Fearing (p.105-106) and
Mr. Feeble- (p.110-111, 112, 122)
Q8. What were the rest of the pilgrims not crossing the
river? p.125
Critical Comment: Of course, Pilgrim’s Progress is not a perfect
book, it doesn’t even come close, for that matter. I do not agree with some of
his (John Bunyan) allegorical interpretations and allusions. Particularly in
this edition, there is a lack of clarity on some issues like the fate of
Ananias and Sapphira (p.58) and the issue of dreams (p.95). Also, in this
edition, in one of the scenes of the Delectable Mountains (Part II, page 117),
there is an omission of a character Godly-man which was replaced by neuter
gender “it,” which unfortunately is misleading. However, the illustration on p116
shows that “it” was a person, not a mountain. I could say a little more on the
choice of illustrations as well, that some of them are inaccurate (p. 68, 36),
and some are somewhat confusing (p44, who’s who?). However, the picture of a
man with a muck-rake ignoring the crown (p84) is so captivating that even if
the rest of the illustrative pictures fail, I shall not murmur.