Week 6: Faithful — A Fellow Pilgrim Shares the Road

1.Christian races to catch Faithful, overtakes him, stumbles and falls — and Faithful has to help him up. "Then I saw in my dream they went very lovingly on together." What does this small episode say about competition, humility, and the nature of Christian fellowship? Has a fellow pilgrim ever literally had to help you back to your feet?

2.Faithful describes his encounter with Madam Wanton: she "lay at me hard to turn aside with her, promising me all manner of content." He escaped by shutting his eyes (quoting Job 31:1) because "I would not be bewitched with her looks." Christian's observation is pointed: "Thank God you have escaped her." But Faithful admits he is not sure he "wholly escaped." What does this honest uncertainty reveal about the nature of temptation to sexual or sensual sin? Why does Bunyan not let Faithful off too easily?

3.Adam the First ("the old man" of Ephesians 4:22) offers Faithful a home, wages, and the hand of his three daughters — the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life (1 John 2:16). Faithful is tempted until he reads the words written on Adam's forehead: "Put off the old man with his deeds." Then Moses overtakes Faithful and beats him nearly to death — until One with holes in his hands intervenes. What is Bunyan teaching about the relationship between the Law (Moses) and Christ in our wrestling with indwelling sin?