John Piper (theologian)

John Piper
Piper in 2010
Born
John Stephen Piper

(1946-01-11) January 11, 1946
Occupations
  • Theologian
  • Professor
  • Author
Spouse
Noël Piper
(m. 1968)
Children
  • Karsten
  • Benjamin
  • Abraham
  • Barnabas
  • Talitha
Parents
  • Bill Piper
  • Ruth Piper
Academic background
Education
Alma materUniversity of Munich
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 advisorLeonhard Goppelt
Academic work
EraLate 20th and early 21st centuries
School or tradition
Notable works
  • Love Your Enemies (1974)
  • The Justification of God (1983)
  • Desiring God (1986)
  • The Pleasures of God (1991)
  • Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (1991)
  • Don't Waste Your Life (2003)
  • Providence (2021)
Notable ideasChristian hedonism
Religious life
ReligionChristianity
DenominationBaptist
ChurchBethlehem Baptist Church (Minneapolis)
ProfessionPastor

John Stephen Piper (born January 11, 1946) is an American theologian and Reformed Baptist pastor. He is also chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Piper taught biblical studies at Bethel University for six years (1974–1980), before serving as pastor for preaching and vision of Bethlehem Baptist Church (Converge) in Minneapolis for 33 years (1980–2013).

Piper is the founder and senior teacher of Desiring God (desiringgod.org), named for his book Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (1986), and has written a number of award-winning books, including ECPA Christian Book Award winners Spectacular Sins, What Jesus Demands from the World, Pierced by the Word, and God's Passion for His Glory, as well as bestsellers Don't Waste Your Life and The Passion of Jesus Christ.

Piper has been extensively active online, particularly with his podcast Ask Pastor John in which he answers submitted questions. It has over 2,000 episodes.