John Piper (theologian) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Piper
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Piper in 2010
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John Stephen Piper
January 11, 1946 Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Munich |
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| Era | Late 20th and early 21st centuries |
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Notable work
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Noël Piper
(m. 1968) |
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| Thesis | "Love your enemies." Jesus' love command in the synoptics and in the early Christian paraenesis. A history of the tradition and interpretation of its uses. (1974) |
| Doctoral advisor | de:Leonhard Goppelt |
John Stephen Piper (born January 11, 1946) is an American theologian and pastor. He is known for his work as a writer and teacher in the Reformed Baptist tradition. Piper is also the chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Before becoming a pastor, Piper taught biblical studies at Bethel University for six years (1974–1980). He then served as a pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis for 33 years (1980–2013).
Piper founded Desiring God (desiringgod.org), an organization named after his book Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (1986). He has written many popular books, including Don't Waste Your Life and The Passion of Jesus Christ. He is also very active online with his podcast Ask Pastor John, which has over 2,000 episodes.
Contents
John Piper's Early Life and Education
John Piper was born on January 11, 1946, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. His parents were Bill and Ruth Piper. His father was an evangelist who traveled and preached for over 60 years. Before John was one year old, his family moved to Greenville, South Carolina. He grew up there and graduated from Wade Hampton High School in 1964.
Piper says he had an important religious experience when he was six years old during a family vacation. He married Noël Henry in December 1968. They have four sons, one daughter, and twelve grandchildren.
Piper attended Wheaton College from 1964 to 1968. He studied literature and philosophy. He became very interested in poetry. He has published several books of poetry. The writer C. S. Lewis has been a big influence on Piper's life.
In 1966, Piper became sick with mononucleosis. While recovering, he listened to Pastor Harold John Ockenga on the radio. This experience made him feel a strong desire to teach God's word. He decided then to become a minister.
Piper studied at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, from 1968 to 1971. Here, he learned a lot from his teacher, Daniel Payton Fuller. Fuller taught him to pay close attention to details when studying the Bible. He also taught him about God's complete control over everything.
Piper earned his Doctor of Theology degree in New Testament studies. He studied at the University of Munich, Germany, from 1971 to 1974. His main research was about Jesus' command to "Love Your Enemies." After finishing his doctorate, Piper taught biblical studies at Bethel University in Saint Paul, Minnesota, for six years.
John Piper's Ministry and Work
In 1980, John Piper became the pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He served there until March 31, 2013.
Piper became well-known in the Christian world after his book Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist was published in 1986. He has written many more books since then, explaining his ideas about faith.
In 1994, Piper started Desiring God Ministries. Its goal is to share "a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ." This ministry offers all of Piper's sermons, articles, and most of his books online for free.
Piper took a break from his ministry for eight months in 2010. In 2011, he announced he would step down as pastor. On March 31, 2013, Piper preached his last sermon as the main pastor of Bethlehem Baptist. He and his family then moved to Tennessee for a year. He is now a pastor emeritus, which means he no longer has an official role in the church leadership, but he still attends.
After retiring from his active role as pastor, Piper has focused on his online work through Desiring God ministries. He is especially known for his podcast, Ask Pastor John. In this podcast, he answers questions about the Bible and life that listeners send in. He also has a video series called "Look at the Book" (LAB). In this series, he explains parts of the Bible in great detail.
John Piper has sold millions of books. He donates all the money he earns from his book sales to different charities.
Recognition and Personal Life
In 2018, Baylor University named John Piper as one of the 12 Most Effective Preachers in English.
John Piper married Noël Henry in 1968. They have five children, including an adopted daughter. One of his sons, Abraham Piper, has openly shared his different views on evangelical Christianity.
On January 11, 2006, Piper announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer. He and his doctors believed the cancer could be fully treated. He had successful surgery on February 14, 2006.
Selected Books by John Piper
- Love Your Enemies (1980)
- Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (1986)
- The Pleasures of God (1991)
- Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (Co-editor) (1991)
- Let the Nations Be Glad! The Supremacy of God in Missions (1993)
- Don't Waste Your Life (2003)
- The Passion of Jesus Christ (2004)
- What Jesus Demands from the World (2006)
- Spectacular Sins (2008)
- Providence (2021)
