John Piper Stats
· Born:
Jan. 11, 1946
· Church
Senior Pastor of
Bethlehem Baptist Church

·
Author of books, articles, and
poetry from a
Calvinist perspective


·
Education:
B.A. - Wheaton
College,
B.D. - Fuller Theological
Seminary,
Dr. theol. - University of Munich
· Denomination:
Baptist General Conference
· Theology:
7-point calvinist, credo baptist, Historic Premillenialist,
Leans to Covenant Theology, not dispensationalism



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 
 
 




 

"The task of all Christian scholarship—not just biblical studies—is to study reality as a manifestation of God's glory, to speak and write about it with accuracy, and to savor the beauty of God in it. It is a massive abdication of scholarship that so many Christians do academic work with so little reference to God."
(John Piper, The Pleasures of God, p. 298)




Biographical Sketch

“The ministry of preaching is the central labor of my life. My prayer is that through that ministry and everything else I do the great glory of our God and Savior Jesus Christ would be magnified as more and more people come to live out the obedience of faith more and more deeply.”

Piper was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee to Bill and Ruth Piper January 11, 1946. When John and his older sister were still young, the Pipers moved to Greenville, South Carolina where John spent the rest of his youth years. His father was an itinerant evangelist who ministered through international radio and Bible courses. John has written a tribute to his mother, who died in 1974, in the booklet, What's the Difference? (Crossway Books, 1990) which is also chapter one of the book, Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (Crossway Books, 1991).

At Wheaton College (1964-68), John majored in Literature and minored in Philosophy. Studying Romantic Literature with Clyde Kilby stimulated the poetic side of his nature and today he regularly writes poems to celebrate special family occasions as well as composing story-poems (based on the life of a Biblical character) for his congregation during the four weeks of Advent each year. At Wheaton, John also met Noël Henry whom he married 1968. Following college he completed a Bachelor of Divinity degree at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California (1968-71). While at Fuller, John took as many courses as he could from Dr. Daniel Fuller, the most influential "living" teacher in his life. Through Dr. Fuller he discovered the writings of Jonathan Edwards, his most influential "dead" teacher.

John did his doctoral work in New Testament Studies at the University of Munich, Munich, West Germany (1971-74). His dissertation, Love Your Enemies, was published by Cambridge University Press and Baker Book House. Upon completion of his doctorate he went on to teach Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota for six years (1974-80).

In 1980, after what he described as an irresistible call of the Lord to preach, John became the senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he ministered for 30 years until his retirement in 2013. John is also a contributor to WORLD Magazine.

John and Noël have four sons, a daughter, and twelve grandchildren.

John Piper regularly writes articles, helps us read and study the Bible, and answers your questions. He also serves as chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. He is the author of over 50 books, continues to write more, and frequently travels to preach.



Select (Best of) Articles/Sermons by John Piper

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Bethlehem Sermons
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Romans: The Greatest Letter Ever Written
The Gospel of John
Hebrews
Acts: What Jesus Did After the Beginning
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24 Free eBooks

More Articles by John Piper:


Over 2600 articles by John Piper

Select YouTube

The Ultimate Essence of Evil (YouTube)
John Piper and Tim Keller Wrestle with Sanctification (YouTube)
The Spirit Helps Us In Our Weakness(YouTube)
Gospel to the Nations, Generosity to the Poor(YouTube)
You Must Be Born Again: Why This Series and Where Are We Going?(YouTube)
Why We All Need the Gospel (YouTube)
The Doctrines of Grace(YouTube)

Bibliography

John Piper is author of the following books:

John Piper is author of the following chapters:

Chapter in Unashamed of the Gospel (2016)

"Boasting Only in the Cross," "Passion for the Supremacy of God," and "Getting to the Bottom of Your Joy" In Louie Giglio, Passion: The Bright Light of Glory (Thomas Nelson, 2014).

"Did Jesus Preach the Gospel of Evangelicalism?" In Mark Dever, J. Ligon Duncan III, R. Albert Mohler Jr., C.J. Mahaney, The Unadjusted Gospel (Crossway, 2014).

"Act the Miracle: Future Grace, the Word of the Cross, and the Purifying Power of God's Promises." In Acting the Miracle: God's Work and Ours in the Mystery of Sanctification, (Crossway, 2013).

"'My Glory I Will Not Give to Another': Preaching the Fullness of Definite Atonement to the Glory of God." In From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective, ed. David Gibson and Jonathan Gibson, (Crossway, 2013).

"The Glory of God: The Goal of Biblical Counseling." In Christ-centered Biblical Counseling, ed. James MacDonald, Bob Kellemen, and Stephen Viars, (Harvest House, 2013).

"Ephesians 3:1–21." In Christ Our Reconciler: Gospel, Church, World, ed. Julia E. M. Cameron, (InterVarsity Press, 2012).

"Let the Peoples Praise You, O God! Let All the Peoples Praise You!" In Finish the Mission: Bringing the Gospel to the Unreached and Unengaged (Crossway, 2012).

"Thinking for the Sake of Joy: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God." In Thinking. Loving. Doing. A Call to Glorify God with Heart and Mind (Crossway, 2011).

"Feed the Flame of God's Gift: Unashamed Courage in the Gospel (2 Timothy 1:1–12)." In Entrusted with the Gospel: Pastoral Expositions of 2 Timothy ed. D. A. Carson, (Crossway, 2010).

"Jesus Christ as the Dénouement in the Theatre of God: Calvin and the Supremacy of Christ in All Things." In With Calvin in the Theatre of God: The Glory of Christ and Everyday Life (Crossway, 2010).

"How Does the Supremacy of Christ Create Radical Christian Sacrifice? A Mediation on the Book of Hebrews." In Mark Dever, J. Ligon Duncan III, R. Albert Mohler Jr., C. J. Mahaney, Proclaiming a Cross-centered Theology (Crossway, 2009).

"Is There Christian Eloquence? Clear Words and the Wonder of the Cross." In The Power of Words and the Wonder of God (Crossway, 2009).

"Getting Old to the Glory of God." In Stand: A Call for the Endurance of the Saints (Crossway, 2008).

"Joy and the Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World." In The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World (Crossway, 2007).

"Preaching as Expository Exultation for the Glory of God." In Mark Dever, J. Ligon Duncan III, R. Albert Mohler Jr., C. J. Mahaney, Preaching the Cross, (Crossway, 2007).

"Suffering and the Sovereignty of God: Ten Aspects of God's Sovereignty Over Suffering and Satan's Hand in It." In Suffering and the Sovereignty of God (Crossway, 2006).

"The Suffering of Christ and the Sovereignty of God." In Suffering and the Sovereignty of God (Crossway, 2006).

"Why God Appoints Suffering for His Servants." In Suffering and the Sovereignty of God (Crossway, 2006).

"A Divine and Supernatural Light . . .—An Edwardsean Sermon" In A God-Entranced Vision of All Things: The Legacy of Jonathan Edwards (Crossway, 2004).

"A God-Entranced Vision of All Things: Why We Need Jonathan Edwards 300 Years Later." In A God-Entranced Vision of All Things: The Legacy of Jonathan Edwards (Crossway, 2004).

"Grounds for Dismay: The Error and Injury of Open Theism." In Beyond the Bounds: Open Theism and the Undermining of Biblical Christianity (Crossway, 2003).

"Guilt, Grace, and the Global AIDS Crisis." In The Hope Factor: Engaging the Church in the HIV/AIDS Crisis, edited by Tetsunao Yamamori, David Dageforde, and Tina Bruner, (Authentic Media, 2003).

"The Surpassing Goal: Marriage Lived for the Glory of God." In Biblical Foundations for Manhood and Womanhood, ed. Wayne Grudem, (Crossway, 2002).

"Are There Two Wills in God? Divine Election and God's Desire for All to Be Saved." In Still Sovereign: Contemporary Perspectives on Election, Foreknowledge, and Grace ed. Thomas R. Schreiner and Bruce A. Ware, (Baker, 1995).

"For Single Men and Women (and the Rest of Us)." In Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism (Crossway, 1991).

"A Vision of Biblical Complementarity: Manhood and Womanhood Defined according to the Bible." In Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism (Crossway, 1991).

"An Overview of Central Concerns: Questions and Answers." In Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism (Crossway, 1991).

 

 

Author Related Links
Desiring God Ministries
Distributes Piper’s books, audio sermons, online articles, online sermons,
and children’s Sunday School curriculum.