The most readable version of The Life and Death of Mr. Badman available!The Life and Death of Mr. Badman by John Bunyan can be a bit challenging, even for the best of readers. Not so with this new, easy-to-read version that translates the original archaic language into simple conversational English, allowing readers of all ages to easily navigate this popular Christian story considered by many to be the third part of The Pilgrim’s Progress series.
The church bells rang yesterday for the death of Mr. Badman—a thief, a liar, a drunk, a swindler, an adulterer, a sexual deviant, and a master of deception. His wife, children, and friends will not miss him. In fact, most will consider the world better off without him. His life didn’t have to end up that way, and Wise knew it. He watched Badman grow up from a child and was there when he lay on his deathbed, urging him to change his ways, repent, and turn to God, though he never did.
But today, Wise awoke to a beautiful morning believing he could put all that behind him. That is, until his young friend and neighbor, Attentive, came bounding into his day. It was then Wise realized he must tell the story of the life and death of a very bad man…at least one more time.
The Life and Death of Mr. Badman depicts the stages of life—from cradle to grave—of a very wicked man in an evil age and the miserable consequences that undoubtedly follow such wretched living.
The book includes the original Bible references and a Bible study guide is available separately for individual and small group use.
Frequently Asked Questions:
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. However, Bunyan presented his original book in the form of one long dialogue between two men. A storyline has been inserted along and divided into chapters to help the overall narrative flow better without sacrificing the intrinsic message.
Is the book part of the Pilgrim’s Progress Series?
Yes. The Life and Death of Mr. Badman is considered third in the series and a counterpart to Christian’s journey of faith in The Pilgrim’s Progress. But the books can be read in any order.
What age group is the book for?
The book is appropriate for all readers 12 and up.
Is there a Bible study?
Yes. The Life and Death of Mr. Badman Study Guide, coming soon and available separately, will guide you through a better understanding of the key concepts found in 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 several versions of this Bunyan classic, this version is the only book made specifically for this study. Each chapter 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.
John Bunyan (baptised 30 November 1628 - 31 August 1688) was an English writer and Puritan preacher best remembered as the author of the Christian allegory The Pilgrim's Progress, which also became an influential literary model. In addition to The Pilgrim's Progress, Bunyan wrote nearly sixty titles, many of them expanded sermons.Bunyan came from the village of Elstow, near Bedford. He had some schooling and at the age of sixteen joined the Parliamentary Army during the first stage of the English Civil War. After three years in the army he returned to Elstow and took up the trade of tinker, which he had learned from his father. He became interested in religion after his marriage, attending first the parish church and then joining the Bedford Meeting, a nonconformist group in Bedford, and becoming a preacher. After the restoration of the monarch, when the freedom of nonconformists was curtailed, Bunyan was arrested and spent the next twelve years in prison as he refused to give up preaching. During this time he wrote a spiritual autobiography, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, and began work on his most famous book, The Pilgrim's Progress, which was not published until some years after his release.
