Collin Hansen - Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation

Tim Keller has been an immensely wise mentor for many of us. This book is a rich account of the sources of his spiritual formation, of the people who helped lead him to them, and of the dynamics contributing to the successes of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City.

G EORGE M ARSDEN , A UTHOR OF J ONATHAN E DWARDS : A LIFE

Collin Hansen brilliantly examines the story behind one of the greatest thinkers, teachers, and writers of our time. If youve been as blessed as I have by Tim Kellers work and ministry, you must read this book.

J OHN T HUNE , US SENATOR FROM S OUTH D AKOTA

As a Tim Keller admirer I was eager to read this biography, and Collin Hansen did not disappoint. In his marvelously written narrative, we learn much about the people, experiences, and struggles that have shaped Tims amazing ministry. I can add that I found this book inspiringbut with the awareness that saying so does not do justice to the profound ways it also spoke to my soul!

R ICHARD J. M OUW , PRESIDENT EMERITUS , F ULLER T HEOLOGICAL S EMINARY

Here is the story of a man possessed of unusual native gifts of analysis and synthesis, of the home and family life that has shaped him, of people both long dead and contemporary whose insights he has taken hold of in the interests of communicating the gospel, and also of the twists and turns of Gods providence in his life. These pages may well have been titled Becoming Tim Keller. That becoming has been neither a quick nor an easy road. But Collin Hansens account of it will be as challenging to readers as it is instructive.

S INCLAIR F ERGUSON , AUTHOR OF T HE W HOLE C HRIST

Tim Keller is a spiritual father to me and to so many through his teachings. No one has shaped my view of God and Scripture more, so what a treasure to be able to read all that has shaped his! This is the story of a faithful, imperfect man and the God he so loves and has given his life to serving.

J ENNIE A LLEN , AUTHOR OF G ET O UT OF Y OUR H EAD AND FOUNDER AND VISIONARY OF IF:G ATHERING

Collin Hansens informative study of Tim Keller explains how this traditional Calvinist became so effective as a minister in New York City despite that citys reputation for ignoring anything traditionally Christian. Especially important have been diverse influences that included well-known authors and preachers, but also lesser-known Bible teachers and pastoral exemplars as well as fellow Presbyterians who combined cultural, biblical, and pietistic emphases with the doctrinal. Under God, this mixture has not only worked, but also shown others the staying power, even in a hypermodern world, of what might be called soft-shell Calvinism.

M ARK N OLL , AUTHOR OF A MERICAS B OOK : T HE R ISE AND D ECLINE OF A B IBLE C IVILIZATION , 17941911

Tim Kellers sermons and books have influenced me greatly, but I believe his curiosity has influenced me most. To now have insight into the people and places that cultivated his brilliancea dramatic yet suitable wordfeels like a gift I didnt know I needed.

J ACKIE H ILL P ERRY , B IBLE TEACHER AND AUTHOR OF H OLIER T HAN T HOU

Tim Keller has done the hard work of being a faithful servant in our fractured world. His love of neighbor and consistent witness to the gospel are both inspiring and humbling. Even those of us whove earmarked his many books and listened to scores of his sermons will learn a lot about the ideas, people, and eventsfrom the tumult of the 1960s counterculture to the terrorist attacks of 9/11 to the polarized times in which we live todaythat shaped Tims life and ministry. Collin Hansens book is a special treat.

B EN S ASSE, US SENATOR FROM N EBRASKA

Like millions of others, I have been deeply impacted by Tim and Kathy Kellers ministry. In recent years, as Ive gotten to know them, I have an even deeper appreciation for their abiding faith in Jesus. I think all of us who have benefited from their ministry will be intrigued to learn more about the events and decisions that have shaped their lives.

B ILL H ASLAM , FORTY-NINTH GOVERNOR OF T ENNESSEE

My faith in God was challenged daily in front of millions while cohosting The View. That same decade, my pastor, Tim Keller, taught the facts of the Bible to unbelievers without judgment. His teaching deepened my understanding of shedding shame and prepared me to live out the truth and grace of the gospel while sharing the gospel. This book will illuminate the why behind the who of Tim Keller.

E LISABETH H ASSELBECK , E MMY A WARDWINNING DAYTIME COHOST OF T HE V IEW AND N EW Y ORK T IMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR

In our time, few Christian leaders have a vision of the faith that is as recognizableand as globally influentialas Tim Keller. In this engaging book, Collin Hansen charts the fascinating range of figures whose writings and examples influenced that vision and guides the reader through a life spent exploring and distilling the best of the Christian tradition. By humanizing a towering figure, Hansen challenges his own audience to learn from the deliberateness that marks Kellers own journey in the faith. Quite simply, I could not put this book down.

J AMES E GLINTON , M ELDRUM S ENIOR L ECTURER IN R EFORMED T HEOLOGY , N EW C OLLEGE , U NIVERSITY OF E DINBURGH

Im so grateful for this well-written and expertly researched work. Collin Hansen reveals things that many of us never knew about Keller. This is a book about Tim Keller of course, but in the end, it is a book about Jesus Christ. Im fairly sure this was intentional, or at least instinctive, and as a result it is a delight.

T IM F ARRON , MEMBER OF THE B RITISH P ARLIAMENT AND FORMER LEADER OF THE L IBERAL D EMOCRATS

ZONDERVAN REFLECTIVE

Timothy Keller

Copyright 2023 by Collin Hansen

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

Zondervan titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fundraising, or sales promotional use. For information, please email SpecialMarkets@Zondervan.com.

ePub Edition November 2022: ISBN 978-0-310-12869-4

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version). Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Any internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Cover design: Micah Kandros Design

Cover photo: Arianne Ramaker

Interior design: Sara Colley

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 /LSC/ 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1