A Tribute to Tim Keller and Biography
Timothy James Keller was an influential pastor, theologian, and Christian apologist who died on May 19, 2023, at the age of 72. He was the founder of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, a megachurch that attracted thousands of young professionals and skeptics to the gospel.
He was also the co-founder of The Gospel Coalition, a network of evangelical churches that aimed to uphold biblical orthodoxy and engage with contemporary culture. He wrote several best-selling books, such as The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, that made a compelling case for Christianity in a secular world.
Keller was born on September 23, 1950, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He grew up in a Lutheran church and became a Christian at the age of 12. He studied religion at Bucknell University, where he encountered different worldviews and learned to defend his faith. He then pursued a Master of Divinity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry at Westminster Theological Seminary. He served as a pastor in Virginia and Philadelphia before moving to Manhattan in 1989 to plant Redeemer Presbyterian Church.
Keller's vision was to reach out to the urbanites who were disillusioned with religion or indifferent to Christianity. He preached with clarity, compassion, and relevance, addressing the doubts and questions of his listeners. He also modeled a winsome and respectful engagement with people of other faiths or no faith. He avoided partisan politics and focused on the gospel as the source of hope and transformation for individuals and society. He also mentored and trained hundreds of pastors and church planters through his organization Redeemer City to City.
Keller was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2020. He announced his condition publicly and asked for prayers. He continued to write and speak until his final days. He died peacefully at his home, surrounded by his wife Kathy and their three sons. He leaves behind a legacy of faithful ministry, intellectual rigor, cultural engagement, and gospel-centered leadership. He will be greatly missed by many who were influenced by his life and work.
Some of Keller's quotes that capture his essence are:
- "To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God." (The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God)
- "The only person who dares wake up a king at 3:00 AM for a glass of water is a child. We have that kind of access." (Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God)
- "The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope." (The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God)
- "The essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself; it is thinking of myself less." (The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness: The Path to True Christian Joy)
- "If your god never disagrees with you, you might just be worshiping an idealized version of yourself." (Twitter @TimKellerNYC)
Grace to you!