Tim Keller
Pastor, author, and apologist who founded Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan and helped a generation of urban professionals engage thoughtfully with the Christian faith.
Key Works
The Reason for God(2008)
A thoughtful response to common objections to Christianity, written for skeptics and believers alike.
The Prodigal God(2008)
A fresh look at the parable of the prodigal son, revealing that both irreligion and religion can miss the gospel.
The Songs of Jesus(2015)
A year-long devotional through the Psalms, co-written with his wife Kathy.
Prayer(2014)
A comprehensive guide to prayer drawing on Augustine, Luther, Calvin, and personal experience.
Timothy Keller was a Presbyterian pastor who planted Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City in 1989. In a city known for its skepticism toward organized religion, Keller built a thriving congregation by engaging honestly and intellectually with the doubts and questions of secular culture.
His Story
Keller grew up in Pennsylvania, studied at Bucknell University, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Westminster Theological Seminary. After pastoring in a small Virginia town for nine years, he moved to Manhattan with his wife Kathy and three young sons to plant a church.
Against all expectations, Redeemer grew rapidly — attracting young professionals, artists, and skeptics who found Keller's preaching intellectually rigorous yet warmly pastoral. His sermons circulated widely online, making him one of the most influential pastors in the English-speaking world.
His Legacy
Keller's unique contribution was bridging the gap between the evangelical church and the secular urban world:
- He took the doubts of skeptics seriously, modeling a faith that was both confident and humble
- His books reached millions who would never have entered a church
- He mentored and inspired a generation of church planters in global cities
- His integration of Reformed theology with cultural engagement offered a model for thoughtful Christianity in a pluralistic age
Why Read Keller Today?
Keller was a pastor-theologian who read widely — from Augustine to Dostoevsky to secular philosophy — and brought it all into conversation with Scripture. His writing is clear, winsome, and honest about the difficulties of faith. For anyone navigating faith in a skeptical culture, Keller is an invaluable guide.