Luther's Influence on Bunyan's Use of Allegory

• Published in: Bunyan studies no. 14; p. 76
• Main Author: Runyon, Daniel V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Newcastle Upon Tyne Northumbria University, Department of Humanities, Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences 01.01.2010
• Subjects: British & Irish literature; Bunyan, John (1628-1688); Bunyan, John (1628-88); English literature
• ISSN: 0954-0970

Michael Davies writes that 'theology' and 'predestination' 'have become virtually synonymous in Bunyan criticism', but notes with appreciation U. Milo Kaufmann 's non-predestinarian reading of Bunyan and argues convincingly that 'the most important doctrinal tenet of Bunyan's text (indeed, of his whole divinity) resides not in the concept of predestination but [...] in his covenant theology'.16 For Davies, The Pilgrim 's Progress is punctuated with 'the impossibility of justification by the law and the necessity of salvation by grace', and he points to the example of Hopeful's conversion to underscore the lesson of Bunyan's text, the 'need to understand, accept, and have faith in a justification by imputed righteousness through Christ'.17 Like Luther, Bunyan struggles with the doctrine of predestination, first in his personal life, and finally in his writing. Haskin notes, 'Luther's victory was achieved when he discovered the true meaning of the text of Romans, concerning the justice or righteousness of God'.18 Richard Greaves identifies an additional parallel in that 'Bunyan's conversion was markedly similar to that of Luther, as well as to those of Paul and Augustine'. Because of their vicariously shared experience, 'the influence of Luther on Bunyan's concept of the nature of God can be seen especially in Bunyan's view of God fundamentally in terms of the wrath-grace dichotomy rather than in terms of the Calvinist emphasis on the sovereign will of God'.19 Luther also influenced the way scripture is interpreted. [...]Bunyan learns from Luther a prophetic view of scripture. Gaining a prophetic versus a legal view of scripture has the practical effect of launching Bunyan on his literary career, for, as Kerrigan notes, 'By their very anomaly, good metaphors are prophetic - troublers of stability.