Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ

by Timothy Keller

Overview

From pastor and New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller comes the perfect gift for the Christmas holiday—a profoundly moving and intellectually provocative examination of the nativity story

Even people who are not practicing Christians think they are familiar with the story of the nativity. Every Christmas displays of Baby Jesus resting in a manger decorate lawns and churchyards, and songs about shepherds and angels fill the air. Yet despite the abundance of these Christian references in popular culture, how many of us have examined the hard edges of this biblical story?

In his new book Timothy Keller takes readers on an illuminating journey into the surprising background of the nativity. By understanding the message of hope and salvation within the Bible’s account of Jesus’ birth, readers will experience the redeeming power of God’s grace in a deeper and more meaningful way.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780143133780
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	10/30/2018
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	67,507
Product dimensions:	4.90(w) x 7.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Timothy Keller was born and raised in Pennsylvania and educated at Bucknell University, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Westminster Theological Seminary. His first pastorate was in Hopewell, Virginia. In 1989 he started Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City with his wife, Kathy, and their three sons. Today, Redeemer has nearly six thousand regular Sunday attendees and has helped to start more than three hundred new churches around the world. He is the author of Making Sense of God, The Songs of Jesus, Preaching, Prayer, as well as The Meaning of Marriage, The Prodigal God, and The Reason for God, among others.

Read an Excerpt

Christmas is the only Christian holy day that is also a major secular holiday—arguably our culture’s biggest. The result is two different celebrations, each observed by millions of people at the very same time. This brings some discomfort on both sides. Many Christians can’t help but notice that more and more of the public festivities surrounding Christmas studiously avoid any references to its Christian origins. The background music in stores is moving from “Joy to the World” to “Have A Holly, Jolly Christmas.” The holiday is promoted as a time for family, for giving, and for peace in the world. “Christmas is a wonderful, secular holiday,” wrote one enthusiast at the popular Web site Gawker.
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Excerpted from "Hidden Christmas"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Timothy Keller.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 A Light Has Dawned 5

Chapter 2 The Mothers of Jesus 20

Chapter 3 The Fathers of Jesus 40

Chapter 4 Where is the King? 63

Chapter 5 Mary's Faith 79

Chapter 6 The Shepherds' Faith 100

Chapter 7 A Sword in the Soul 116

Chapter 8 The Doctrine of Christmas 129

Acknowledgments 143

Notes 145

Editorial Reviews

11/14/2016
In this great gift book timed for the Christmas season, Keller takes readers through various Bible verses that describe the Nativity in order to explain its power, supplying ample historical context to drive home its teachings. It is easy to imagine this book as a sermon he might give to Redeemer Presbyterian Church (the church he founded in Manhattan) on a Sunday in December; this is a book for believers, and the reasoning he applies to the examined passages should be intellectually persuasive to his audience. He answers, for instance, questions about the Immaculate Conception by examining verses in which Mary and Joseph show their faith after first displaying skepticism. Keller doesn’t cheerlead, but he provides encouragement when he speaks of the sacrifices it takes to truly believe and during his arguments in favor of Biblical inerrancy, because Christmas isn’t simply one of the Christianity’s “very special” episodes, after all. In this slim volume, Keller achieves his pastoral goal of teaching Christmas’ most important message—“God alone has the life, truth and joy that we lack and cannot generate ourselves”— and in doing so, provides solace for those who seek it. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

[A] great gift book . . . Keller achieves his pastoral goal of teaching Christmas’ most important message—‘God alone has the life, truth, and joy that we lack and cannot generate ourselves’—and in doing so, provides solace for those who seek it.”
—Publishers Weekly

Praise for Timothy Keller and his other books:

“Superb. . .we should be grateful to Keller for his wisdom, scholarship, and humility.” 
—The Gospel Coalition

“Tim Keller’s ministry in New York City is leading a generation of seekers and skeptics toward belief in God. I thank God for him.” 
—Billy Graham

“Unlike most suburban megachurches, much of Redeemer is remarkably traditional. What is not traditional is Dr. Keller’s skill in speaking the language of his urbane audience. . . . Observing Dr. Keller’s professorial pose on stage, it is easy to understand his appeal.” 
—The New York Times

“Fifty years from now, if evangelical Christians are widely known for their love of cities, their commitment to mercy and justice, and their love of their neighbors, Tim Keller will be remembered as a pioneer of the new urban Christians.” 
—Christianity Today 

From the Publisher