Bibliographic information:
Najapfour, Brian G. The Very Heart of Prayer: Reclaiming John Bunyan’s Spirituality . Mountain Home, Ark.: BorderStone Press, 2012.
Description:
Description:
The purpose of this study is twofold: first, to demonstrate that while John Bunyan (1628-1668) historically belonged to the sectarian world, he can still rightly be considered a Puritan; and second, to reclaim Bunyan from scholars who not only dispute his identity as a Puritan but also overlook his rich and peculiar spirituality.
The book has only three chapters. Chapter 1 carefully explores Bunyan’s religious identity, leading to the conclusion that he may be labeled a sectarian Puritan. Chapter 2 critically examines his theology of prayer, one important aspect of his spirituality. In this segment, Bunyan’s treatise I will pray with the Spirit (1662) is particularly scrutinized. The analysis of this treatise shows Bunyan’s radical emphasis on the Holy Spirit’s work in prayer. It also shows both Bunyan’s sectarianism and Puritanism. Chapter 3 probes his teaching on piety, as found in A Holy Life (1684). This chapter demonstrates that Bunyan’s goal in all of his life was the pursuit and promotion of piety. Sadly, some scholars who put Bunyan within a sectarian context not only suspect his identity as a Puritan but also slight his rich spirituality. Chapter 3 seeks to recover Bunyan from such scholars who depreciate his piety.
It is hoped that this study will create a thirst among readers to pray more—to pray with the Spirit, which for Bunyan is “the very heart of Prayer.”
Publisher:
BorderStone Press (website: http://borderstonepress.com/BorderStone_Press,_LLC/Home.html)