The Pilgrim's Progress Part 2 Christiana's Journey: A Readable Modern-Day Version of John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress Part 2 (Revised and easy-to-read)

by John Bunyan, Alan Vermilye

Return Once again to the Epic Adventures of The Pilgrim’s Progress!The Pilgrim’s Progress, Part 1, chronicles the epic adventure of a man named Christian who leaves his home and family in the City of Destruction to begin a lifelong quest for the Celestial City. In Part 2, his wife, Christiana, must now examine her own beliefs while grieving her husband’s death. She’s torn between following Christian on a hazardous pilgrimage along a narrow way or staying in the place she knows best, the City of Destruction.

The harsh journey is wrought with obstacles, danger, and peril, and many have turned back for fear of their lives. Can she and her four boys really make it there, joining Christian and being rewarded with everlasting life? She just has to believe they can. Thus begins one family’s eternal quest to follow their husband and father into the kingdom of glory.

Losing no faithfulness to Bunyan’s original text, The Pilgrim’s Progress, Part 2 Christiana’s Journey follows the adventures of Christiana, her four boys, and a host of memorable characters who either help or hinder their progress on their journey to faith.

The book includes the original Bible references, and a Bible study guide is available separately for individual and small group use.



Frequently Asked

Is the book unabridged?

Yes. The most important consideration was to convert the original, archaic language into simple conversational English without losing any faithfulness to Bunyan’s text. When compared to the original version, you will find no key element missing. What you will find is sentence construction and certain interpretations of character reactions modified or enhanced to produce a more contemporary style of expression without sacrificing the intrinsic message. Also, instead of using the antiquated term “stages” to separate book sections, you will find chapter headings and subdivisions.

Does this book include Part 1 and Part 2?

This book only includes Part 2 which chronicles the journey of Christiana and her sons to the Celestial City. Part 1 chronicles the journey of her husband, Christian.

What age group is the book for?

The book is appropriate for all readers 12 and up and is a favorite of renowned authors such as Charles Spurgeon, C.S. Lewis, John Newton, George Whitefield, and many others.

Is there a Bible study?

Yes. The Pilgrim’s Progress Part 2 Study Guide, available separately, will guide you through Bunyan’s masterful use of metaphors to a better understanding of key concepts of the book, supporting Bible passages, and the relevance to our world today. Each study question is ideal for group discussion and answers to each question are available online.

Can I use other book versions with the study?

No. Although, there are many versions of this Bunyan classic, this version is the only book made specifically for this study. Each chapter, sub section, and study question of both the book and study guide are designed to be used with each other. Other book versions will feel drastically different and not match up with the study questions and format of this study.

Genres: Classics

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 4, 2023

About the author

John Bunyan, a Christian writer and preacher, was born at Harrowden (one mile south-east of Bedford), in the Parish of Elstow, England. He wrote The Pilgrim's Progress, arguably the most famous published Christian allegory. In the Church of England he is remembered with a Lesser Festival on 30 August.

Reviews

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I did enjoy the second portion of Pilgrim's Progress, I felt to be unnecessary. If I hadn't known Bunyan was the author, I would have assumed it was written by someone else (perhaps due to having to read a different edition for this portion). It felt more straightforward and preachy versus the allegorical elements in Christian's journey.

I also had the same issues with the final line as I did with part one, where it seems the story is turned into a complete fantasy.

Format: Book, owned physical (part of Pilgrim's Progress in Today's English)
Rating: 3 stars
Book 78 of 2024

[Paul Pompa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This adds a great deal to, even compliments, Part 1. It deepens and broadens the theology. It completes the story. More emphasis on generational impact, both positive and negative. While there is a decent amount of overlap, the differences still make for an interesting and fruitful read.

[Michael Heidle · Rating 4 out of 5]

In almost all ways this is very similar to Part 1: simple, readable, inspiring journey, encounters with various helpful and non-helpful characters, ... and a vague sense that the journey boils down to works rather than pure grace.

[Paula Vince · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the sequel to John Bunyan's famous masterpiece; the tale of Christian's wife and kids. Although Christiana and their four sons initially resisted Christian's pleas for them to go with him to the Celestial City, they now have second thoughts and decide to follow in his footsteps. The boys are called Matthew, Samuel, Joseph and James, but we don't find that out upfront. Their names unfold along with the story.

It begins when Secret delivers a gold-written invitation for Christiana to embark on the same journey her husband took. Mrs Nervousness tries to talk her out of it, advocating the safety of a comfort zone, but a young woman named Mercy opts to travel with the family, although she fears she'll be rejected because she has no personal invitation. When Christiana advocates for Mercy, they discover the Lord will accept all who believe in Him, no matter how they come to be pilgrims. So we traverse the same ground as before, beginning with the Slough of Despond, the Wicket Gate, the Interpreter's House and so on.

Some readers claim to love Part Two for its more corporate vibe, but I tend to agree with Emily of New Moon, who felt the crowd that surrounds Christiana at every turn dispels the fascination. Their guide, Greatheart, faces most of the dangerous foes on their behalf. All Christiana's party really has to do is tag along and hide behind him, which isn't my idea of a riveting adventure.

That's not to say nothing interesting ever happens to the family at all. Matthew gets a bad stomach ache from snacking on fruit hanging over someone's fence. It turns out to be Beelzebub's orchard, so no wonder! And remember the Giant Despair. He gets his just desserts.

Interestingly, Greatheart tells the family that although Christian faced Apollyon in the Valley of Humilation, that doesn't make it a bad place per se. It's a pretty good place to settle down. 'I've known many working men who have magnificent estates in the Valley of Humiliation, because God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.'

I think this has to be a 3-star read. Its slower pace and lack of challenge for the main characters probably deserves just two, but I guess the spiritual insights lift it to three.

I didn't enjoy it half as much as the original.

[Connor Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic sequel to an epic original. Pilgrim's progress part two follows the journey of Christiana and her children (The family of Christian, the original pilgrim) to the celestial city. This book is shorter and different in several ways. Part 2 had much more of an emphasis on community as the company going to the celestial city starts with 6 and ends up more than doubling by the time the story is over. The primary difference is that in this story they have a guide, Mr. Great Heart. Mr. Great Heart seems to be a symbolic representation of Christ armed with a sword and guiding the party with a map. He fights their battles, leads the company, keeps them from temptation, and encourages them during difficulty. I particularly loved the treatment and introduction of Mr. About Tofall, Mr. Feeblemind, Mr. Despondency, and Ms. Much Afraid. These characters sheltering and journeying in the shadow of Mr. Great Heart accurately describe much of our Christian journey. We want to be brave and courageous and bold for in our faith and yet Christ takes us in our weakness and imperfection. The victories were epic and I especially loved the last couple chapters where they vanquish many enemies and cross over the river to the celestial city. Would definitely recommend to anyone who has read pilgrims progress as it elaborates on the story in powerful and important ways.

[Sadie Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh What joy

How I arrived at reading this book and the one before me is a mystery. Once beginning I could see myself and others that I have relationships with. The words became clear of the journey we all should want to take with clarity, wisdom and grace. I have recommended these books and studies to other and by the leadership of God I will teach them to my congregation. For I am persuaded to do my Master's will.

[Elizabeth Choi · Rating 3 out of 5]

this one focuses much more on the characters along the road compared to the first book, as well as going into more of the nuances of the locations too. much more adventurous, fun, but still has the slightly dry feel due to it being allegory, since you aren't getting as much depth or dynamics between the characters. (this review isn't of the vermilye version, I just couldn't find mine on Goodreads!)

[Bill Stutzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like its companion (Part 1), this rendition of Bunyan's classic is quite accessible to the modern reader without compromising the original. It's nicely updated and clears away some of the obstacles that can scare away younger or first-time readers. I appreciate this work, and it makes me admire the original even more, which is as it should be. This is a story you know you're supposed to like, but if you're like me, you had a hard time coming around to that position. This might help.

[Randy Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the follow up to the Pilgrims Progress, Christian's journey. I personally love the Pilgrims progress books. I love how they are relatable and give practical analogies that apply to life no matter who the reader is. These stories of Christian and his family are timeless.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

There aren’t as many prevalent versions of part 2 as there are of part 1. This is a readable version, but at times came across as a bit cheesy. The heart of the story still resonates however, as it has for centuries.

[Eliza Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second time finishing this book.

[Aaron Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice little sequel, focusing on the woman Christian left behind to journey to the King. I didn't expect much from this short book, but it was filled with wisdom and thought-provoking situations.

[Carol Sente · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure I needed to read a second book on how Christiana and her four children followed her husband’s journey many years later. I was curious how this book would be different than Christian’s journey but some of the time the family spent in the company of others over months and their conversations, was enlightening. There seemed to be a greater span of time passing before Christiana reached Heaven (forgot what they called this place in the book), so that her young children had all grown and married. Although I didn’t read the old text, I believe the author did a good job translating the original book into more easy to understand English.