11/14/2022

This edifying intellectual biography by Hansen (The New City Catechism), editor-in-chief for the Gospel Coalition, explores the theology of the cofounder of the Coalition, Reformed pastor Timothy Keller. The author details the threads of piety and dogma that typify Keller’s intellectual formation, including French theologian John Calvin’s sermons on suffering, American revivalist Jonathan Edwards’s “desire for mystical experiences of God,” and C.S. Lewis’s wide-ranging curiosity. Two institutions, Hansen posits, played a crucial role in shaping Keller’s theology: the Reformed-leaning Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, which Keller graduated from in 1975, and the Westminster Theological Seminary, where he studied and taught in the early 1980s. The author’s careful analysis of Keller’s work unpacks the nuances and vicissitudes of larger debates within evangelicalism, as when Hansen dissects a polemical article Keller wrote in seminary rebuking the “ancient heresy” that contends Jesus was manifested in two persons, one human and one divine. Those looking for a traditional narrative account of Keller’s life will want to look elsewhere, but readers hoping to find a deep dive into the ideas of this influential figure in recent Protestant history will be well rewarded. This meticulous account of Keller’s ideas and faith enlightens. (Feb.)

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

'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 Tim's amazing ministry. I can add that I found this book inspiring—but with the awareness that saying so does not do justice to the profound ways it also spoke to my soul!'

'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.'

'Tim Keller's 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 brilliance—a dramatic yet suitable word—feels like a gift I didn't know I needed.'

'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 God's 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 Hansen's account of it will be as challenging to readers as it is instructive.'

'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.'

'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.'

'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 who've earmarked his many books and listened to scores of his sermons will learn a lot about the ideas, people, and events—from the tumult of the 1960s counterculture to the terrorist attacks of 9/11 to the polarized times in which we live today—that shaped Tim's life and ministry. Collin Hansen's book is a special treat.'

'In our time, few Christian leaders have a vision of the faith that is as recognizable—and as globally influential—as 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 Keller's own journey in the faith. Quite simply, I could not put this book down.'

'I'm 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. I'm fairly sure this was intentional, or at least instinctive, and as a result it is a delight.'

'Collin Hansen's informative study of Tim Keller explains how this traditional Calvinist became so effective as a minister in New York City despite that city's 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.'

'Like millions of others, I have been deeply impacted by Tim and Kathy Keller's ministry. In recent years, as I've 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.'