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Timothy Keller

Born: September 23, 1950 – Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States

Social links:

Official Website Gospel in Life - YouTube

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Timothy Keller was an influential American pastor, theologian, and Christian apologist, best known as the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. His notable works include the bestselling The Reason for God and The Prodigal God, which have sold over two million copies and been translated into 25 languages.

Biography & Author's Journey

Timothy Keller emerged as one of the most influential Christian thinkers and writers of his generation, renowned for his unique blend of theological depth, cultural engagement, and pastoral care. Born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 1950, Keller's early life was shaped by a home marked by both intellectual rigor and spiritual intensity. His mother’s demanding religious expectations and his father's emotional distance instilled in him an acute awareness of both faith's consolations and its burdens. Keller attended Bucknell University, where a transformative experience with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship spurred his commitment to Christianity. Completing graduate work at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Westminster Theological Seminary, he developed not only a robust understanding of Reformed theology, but also a curiosity for philosophy and historical currents shaping contemporary belief.

Quotes

The gospel is that I am so sinful that Jesus had to die for me, yet so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. I can’t feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone

-The Gospel Coalition - 50 Quotes from Tim Keller

To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything

-The Meaning of Marriage

The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope

-CARE - 20 of our favourite Tim Keller quotes

If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn't rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his teaching but whether or not he rose from the dead

-CARE - 20 of our favourite Tim Keller quotes

The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints

-Counterfeit Gods

Love without truth is sentimentality; it supports and affirms us but keeps us in denial about our flaws. Truth without love is harshness; it gives us information but in such a way that we cannot really hear it

-The Meaning of Marriage

It is not the strength of your faith but the object of your faith that actually saves you. Strong faith in a weak branch is fatally inferior to weak faith in a strong branch

-CARE - 20 of our favourite Tim Keller quotes

Our need for worth is so powerful that whatever we base our identity and value on we essentially 'deify.' We will look to it with all the passion and intensity of worship and devotion, even if we think ourselves as highly irreligious

-Counterfeit Gods

You don’t fall into love. You commit to it. Love says, ‘I will be there no matter what.’

-The Gospel Coalition - 50 Quotes from Tim Keller

Only if your god can outrage and challenge you will you know that you worship the real God and not a figment of your imagination. If your god never disagrees with you, you might just be worshiping an idealized version of yourself

-The Gospel Coalition - 50 Quotes from Tim Keller

Popular Books

Prodigal God

Timothy Keller

A fresh interpretation of the prodigal son parable, challenging both religious and irreligious to embrace God's radical grace.

Forgive

Timothy Keller

A compelling exploration of forgiveness, offering practical steps to heal relationships and find freedom from resentment and vengeance.

The Reason for God

Timothy Keller

A compelling defense of Christianity, addressing common doubts and objections with intellectual rigor and pastoral sensitivity.

The Freedom of Self Forgetfulness

Timothy Keller

Discover true Christian joy through gospel-humility and self-forgetfulness, freeing yourself from ego and self-condemnation.

Meaning of Marriage

Timothy Keller

A profound exploration of marriage through biblical wisdom, offering insights for singles, couples, and skeptics alike.