"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.

Bibliography

John Piper is author of the following books:

• The Satisfied Soul: Showing the Supremacy of God in All of Life(Multnomah, 2017).

• Reading the Bible Supernaturally: Seeing and Savoring the Glory of God in Scripture (Crossway, 2017).

• A Peculiar Glory: How the Christian Scriptures Reveal Their Complete Truthfulness (2016)

• A Camaraderie of Confidence: The Fruit of Unfailing Faith in the Lives of Charles Spurgeon, George Müller, and Hudson Taylor (2016)
  

• Living in the Light: Money, Sex and Power (2016)

• Andrew Fuller: Holy Faith, Worthy Gospel, World Mission (2016)
  
  
• An All-Consuming Passion for Jesus: Appeals to the Rising Generation (Desiring God, 2014)
  
  
• A Godward Heart: Treasuring the God Who Loves You (Multnomah, 2014).

• Seeing Beauty and Saying Beautifully: The Power of Poetic Effort in the Work of George Herbert, George Whitefield, and C. S. Lewis (Crossway, 2014).

• The Dawning of Indestructible Joy: Daily Readings for Advent (Crossway, 2014).

• The Romantic Rationalist: God, Life, and Imagination in the Work of C. S. Lewis (Co-editor with David Mathis; Crossway, 2014).

• Acting the Miracle: God’s Work and Ours in the Mystery of Sanctification (Co-editor with David Mathis; Crossway, 2013).

• Doctrine Matters: Ten Theological Trademarks From a Lifetime of Preaching
  (Desiring God, 2013)
  
  
• Does God Desire All to Be Saved? (Crossway, 2013; originally published in The Grace of God, the Bondage of the Will, vol. 1, ed. Schreiner and Ware (Baker 1995), then in Still Sovereign, ed. Schreiner and Ware (Baker, 2000) and in the second edition of The Pleasures of God, 2001).
  
  
• Risk Is Right: Better to Lose Your Life Than to Waste It (Crossway, 2013; originally published as chapter five in Don’t Waste Your Life, then expanded here).
  
  
• A Hunger for God: Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer Rev. ed. (Crossway, 2013).

• Five Points: Towards a Deeper Experience of God’s Grace (Ross-shire, Scotland: Christians Focus, 2013).

• Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry Rev. ed. (B&H, 2013).

• Alive To Wonder: Celebrating The Influence of C.S. Lewis (Whitaker House, 2013)
  

• Finish the Mission: Bringing the Gospel to the Unreached and Unengaged (Co-editor with David Mathis; Crossway, 2012).
  
  
• The Pleasures of God: Meditations on God’s Delight in Being God Rev. ed. (Multnomah, 2012).

  Love Your Enemies: Jesus’ Love Command in the Synoptic Gospels and the Early Christian Paraenesis Reprint with New Foreword (Crossway, 2012).

• Future Grace: The Purifying Power of the Promises of God Rev. ed. (Multnomah Books, 2012).

• Esther (Crossway, 2012).

• Thinking. Loving. Doing. A Call to Glorify God with Heart and Mind (Co-editor with David Mathis; Crossway, 2011).

• Don’t Waste Your Cancer (Crossway, 2011).

• Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist 3rd ed. (Multnomah, 2011).

• The Dangerous Duty of Delight: Daring to Make God Your Greatest Desire Rev. ed. (Multnomah, 2011).

• Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian (Crossway, 2011).

• The Pastor as Scholar and the Scholar as Pastor: Reflections on Life and Ministry (With D.A. Carson, edited by David Mathis and Owen Strachan; Crossway, 2011).

• Ruth: Under the Wings of God (Crossway, 2010).

• Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God (Crossway, 2010).

• Jesus: The Only Way to God: Must You Hear the Gospel to be Saved? (Baker, 2010; originally chapter four in Let the Nations Be Glad, then expanded here).

• A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God (Crossway, 2010).

• With Calvin in the Theatre of God: The Glory of Christ and Everyday Life (Co-editor with David Mathis; Crossway, 2010).

• Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ: The Cost of Bringing the Gospel to the Nations in the Lives of William Tyndale, Adoniram Judson, and John Paton (Crossway, 2009).

• This Momentary Marriage: A Parable of Permanence (Crossway, 2009).

• Finally Alive: What Happens When We Are Born Again (Christian Focus, 2009).

• The Power of Words and the Wonder of God (Co-editor with Justin Taylor; Crossway, 2009).

• Velvet Steel: The Joy of Being Married to You (Crossway, 2009).

• Rethinking Retirement: Rethinking Life for the Glory of Christ (Crossway, 2009).

• The Hidden Smile of God: The Fruit of Affliction in the Lives of John Bunyan, William Cowper, and David Brainerd (Crossway, 2008).

• John Calvin and His Passion for the Majesty of God (Crossway, 2008; originally published in The Legacy of Sovereign Joy).

• Spectacular Sins: And Their Global Purpose for the Glory of Christ (Crossway, 2008).

• Stand: A Call for the Endurance of the Saints (Co-editor with Justin Taylor; Crossway, 2008).

• The Future of Justification: A Response to N.T. Wright (Crossway, 2007).

• The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World (Co-editor with Justin Taylor; Crossway, 2007).

• Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce (Crossway, 2007).

• Battling Unbelief: Defeating Sin with Superior Pleasure (Multnomah, 2007; originally, the eight application chapters of Future Grace, then expanded here).

• When the Darkness Will Not Lift: Doing What We Can While We Wait for God — and Joy (Crossway, 2006).

• What Jesus Demands of the World (Crossway, 2006).

• Suffering and the Sovereignty of God (Co-editor with Justin Taylor; Crossway, 2006).

• Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die (Crossway, 2006).

• What’s the Difference? (Crossway, 2001, reprint 2008).

• Contending for Our All: Defending Truth and Treasuring Christ in the Lives of Athanasius, John Owen, and J. Gresham Machen (Crossway, 2006).

• God Is the Gospel: Meditations on God's Love as the Gift of Himself (Crossway, 2005).

• Taste and See: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life (Multnomah, 2005; originally published as A Godward Life, Book Two, then expanded here).

• Sex and the Supremacy of Christ (Co-editor with Justin Taylor; Crossway, 2005).

• A God-Entranced Vision of All Things: The Legacy of Jonathan Edwards (Co-editor with Justin Taylor; Crossway, 2004).

• Life as a Vapor: Thirty-One Meditations for Your Faith (Multnomah, 2004).

• When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy (Crossway, 2004).

• The Passion of Jesus Christ (Crossway, 2004).

• The Prodigal’s Sister (Crossway, 2003).

• Pierced by the Word: Thirty-One Meditations for Your Soul (Multnomah, 2003).

• Don't Waste Your Life (Crossway, 2003).

• Beyond the Bounds: Open Theism and the Undermining of Biblical Christianity (Co-editor; Crossway, 2003).

• Counted Righteous in Christ: Should We Abandon the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness? (Crossway, 2002).

• The Roots of Endurance: Invincible Perseverance in the Lives of John Newton, Charles Simeon, and William Wilberforce (Crossway, 2002).

• Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry (Broadman & Holman, 2002).

• The Misery of Job and the Mercy of God (Crossway, 2002).

• The Dangerous Duty of Delight: The Glorified God and the Satisfied Soul (Multnomah, 2001).

• Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ (Crossway, 2001, 2nd edition, 2004).

• The Hidden Smile of God: The Fruit of Affliction in the Lives of John Bunyan, William Cowper, and David Brainerd (Crossway, 2001).

• The Legacy of Sovereign Joy: God’s Triumphant Grace in the Lives of Augustine, Luther, and Calvin (Crossway, 2000).

• A Godward Life, Book Two: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life (Multnomah, 1999).

• The Innkeeper (Crossway, 1998).

• God’s Passion for His Glory: Living the Vision of Jonathan Edwards (Crossway, 1998).

• A Godward Life: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life (Multnomah, 1997).

• A Hunger for God: Desiring God Through Fasting and Prayer (Crossway, 1997).

• Let the Nations Be Glad! The Supremacy of God in Missions (Baker, 1993; 2nd Edition, 2003; 3rd edition, 2010).

• 50 Crucial Questions about Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: An Overview of Central Concerns (Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, 1992; originally published in Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, 1991).

• Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism (Co-editor with Wayne Grudem; Crossway, 1991; 2nd edition, 2006).

• The Pleasures of God: Meditations on God's Delight in Being God (Multnomah, 1991; Expanded edition, 2000).

• The Supremacy of God in Preaching (Baker, 1990; 2nd edition, 2003).

• Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (Multnomah, 1986; 2nd edition, 1996; 3rd edition, 2003; revised edition, 2011; 25th anniversary edition, 2011).

• The Justification of God: An Exegetical and Theological Study of Romans 9:1–23 (Baker, 1983; 2nd edition 1993).

• Love Your Enemies: Jesus’ Love Command in the Synoptic Gospels and the Early Christian Paraenesis (Cambridge University Press, 1980; Baker, 1991).

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.