Por qué amo al apóstol Pablo: 30 razones

by John Piper (Abridged by)

Si conocemos a este hombre, si vemos lo que ve Piper, nosotros también lo amaremos.

Ofreciendo a los lectores 30 razones por las cuales Piper ama al apóstol Pablo, este libro de meditaciones cortas sobre la maravilla del evangelio, la perseverancia a través del sufrimiento, el amor a los incrédulos y la obra de Dios a través de la debilidad alentará a los lectores a imitar el ejemplo de confianza inquebrantable de Pablo en la gracia y el amor de Dios hacia los demás..

Genres: Christian, Theology, Christianity, Nonfiction, Biography, Christian Living, Faith

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For 33 years, he served as senior pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.), and the University of Munich (D.theol.). For six years, he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem.

John is the author of more than 50 books and more than 30 years of his preaching and teaching is available free at desiringGod.org. John and his wife, Noel, have four sons, one daughter, and twelve grandchildren.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is written as a “highly personal pilgrimage.” It comes down to reader’s personal preferences. I prefer straight forward presentation of facts. I don’t like constant convincing with overly personal experiences. Therefore, I didn’t enjoy this book.

[Dr. David Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

The aim of John Piper’s most recent book is to help readers get to know Paul the apostle. Piper’s motive is that Paul’s “God-entranced soul and his unparalleled vision of Jesus Christ and the authenticity of his life would move you to admire him and believe his message and embrace his Lord.”

The name of the book is Why I Love the Apostle Paul. Thirty reasons are supplied in short, readable chapters as Dr. Piper unpacks the heart and soul of one of the greatest thinkers and theologians of all time.

This book reveals the underbelly or the foundations of Piper’s well-known Christian hedonism. Many have fought against the very notion of such a worldview. Some have cast it aside as heretical; others have discounted it or marginalized its value. The arguments for Christian hedonism that Piper presents are not only biblical; they are robust, logical, mind-shaping, and heart-warming. The central thought of Piper’s Christian hedonism is this:

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.

Piper’s latest offering, while not necessarily an apologetic for Christian hedonism, is a worthy defensive and brilliant articulation of the philosophy which has undergirded the author’s life and ministry.

Quite frankly, Why I Love the Apostle Paul is an enthralling book. It is certain to open many eyes to the depth, breadth, majesty, and beauty of the gospel. The deep biblical realities that Dr. Piper unfolds are powerful and encouraging. This is a book that deserves to be read over and over again!

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

[ValeReads Kyriosity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually don't start a review with the narrator, but ahhhh...here, finally, is a fellow who actually works reading Piper! Affect, people, affect! That's what's been wanting in every other Piper title I've listened to, and Michael Beck brings it. God bless him and the people who hired him!

I love the apostle Paul. John Piper loves him better than I do and helps me love him more.

[Hailey Ziegler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so edifying and encouraging. Dr. Piper has helped me to not only love the apostle Paul, but to follow his example and treasure the Lord Christ more deeply.

Read for BIBL 401 at Trinity College (Junior year, 2025-26).

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Piper has been a spiritual mentor for me for years. And I own and read every book he writes. He blesses me immensely. And when he writes a book about who has influenced him of course I am going to read it. I had a member of my church who struggled with the Apostle Paul so I dug this book out and realized I had not read it yet. So I gave her my copy and bought another. The. I dug into this book, it is so great. While Paul was inspired to write the Bible by the Holy Spirit, I have been so influenced for good by Dr Piper that, if I could write, I would say a lot of similar things to what Dr Piper wrote about Paul. Paul blessed Dr Piper and Dr Piper blessed me. The blessings just flow and flow! Highly recommended

[Tori Whitacre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piper did what he set out to do, and more. Fantastic book.

[Myles Southern · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was surprisingly good!! Easy to digest, quick read, and lots of gems from brother Paul😮‍💨

[Rod Innis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this book on audio and I will confess that was not a good choice for this book. I will explain why in a bit, but first I want to deal briefly with the contents. I think that Paul would have been embarrassed by this book. The author used far too many superlatives and focused too much on Paul when dealing with his inspired writings. The book had some really great teachings about the things in Paul's letters. The book is full of Scripture, which is never bad.
Now a bit about why the audio format was a poor choice for this book. The author read every word. I suppose that that is the way it is supposed to be done but when the book is so full of division titles that have no verbs, it was at times hard to follow. As I mentioned the book is full of Scripture verses and passages. This is how it was read: After quoting the passage the reader said "First Timothy chapter 2 verse 3." In the book I would have seen (1 Tim 2:3) It seems to move very slowly especially since there were so many verses and passages quoted. That format may be fine for some and I really enjoy it in some books but for this book, it did not work for me.
Let me conclude with this: the book has some great teachings and is worth the read. I recommend it despite its few faults. I just don't recommend it on audio!

[Jessica Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was easy and quick to read. I didn’t want to put it down. It is put together like a spiritual biography of Paul with short devotional chapters. Piper’s love for Paul helped me to love Paul and ultimately Jesus better. It was encouraging, convicting, and joyful to read, and it made me want to study Paul’s letters even more closely.

[Ben Mellinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This will grow your love for Paul! He was truly an amazing man, God used him in such mighty ways.
The top review as I’m writing this complained it was too personal, but if you buy a book about why someone else loves a person I’m not sure what you were expecting, I think it’s excellent!

[Rob Sumrall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful short book that enumerates Piper’s admiration for the Apostle Paul. This book would serve great as a devotional or as a small group workbook.

I love how Piper starts every chapter with a clear, concise sentence that lays out his argument. He essentially exegetes that sentence, supporting it with plenty of Scripture.

Piper can sometimes be cumbersome to me. This work was the total opposite - it was exceedingly life giving. I highly recommend.

[Brandon H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think I've ever heard or seen anyone praise Paul like Piper does in this book. There's no doubt about it! Piper loves Paul. More than a kid at fat camp loves cake! And after reading this, I can see why. I love the guy too. He may have been the worst of all sinners but God did a work in him and he was also one of the saintliest saints that I know of.

I'm not sure if JP wrote this as a pushback to those who tend to say silly things when you quote something Paul said from the scriptures they don't have ears to hear. Things like, "That was Paul! I follow Christ and only read the red letters in the Bible." In any event, it was worth reading about this great man.

A quote from the book -

"My love for Paul rises not only because his joy stood firm through all his sufferings but even more because he saw his whole ministry as a project of bringing others into the joy that he had in knowing Jesus Christ. This is in fact the way Paul understood love - bring people into his joy in God no matter what it cost him. So he writes, 'I felt sure of all of you that my joy would be the joy of you all for I wrote to you to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.'(2 Corinthians 2:3-4)

"Love means gladly embracing the quest to bring others into your experience of joy in God, even if it cost you your life."

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I've ever read. Piper ties together so many pieces of the Bible, of Christ, and of our Christian walk, that I'm left amazed. I laughed; I cried; I drew closer to God. It's an easy read, but so impactful.

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him."

"Genuine, Christ-exalting, Spirit-empowered, sacrificial love for people is the overflow of joy in God that expands by meeting the needs of others."

[Bill Pence · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his latest book, in thirty short chapters divided into seven parts, John Piper gives us not a comprehensive overview of the Apostle Paul’s thought, but a highly personal book. No one has taken the author deeper into the mysteries of the gospel than Paul, who wrote thirteen books of the Bible, and much of the book of Acts is about his ministry. After the Lord Jesus himself, no one has won the author’s appreciation and admiration more. His aim in the book is to commend the Apostle Paul as a trustworthy witness. He wants us to be deeply and joyfully persuaded that he is admirable and trustworthy and that what he writes is true.
Over the thirty chapters, the author tells us about the profound impact the Apostle Paul has had on his life and ministry. Among the topics included are suffering, love, contentment, killing sin, Christian freedom, community, Gospel accuracy, God’s sovereignty, imperfection, cancer, joy, the poor and Romans 8:32. You can read the book through like a normal book, or choose to read it devotionally, covering a chapter a day for thirty days.
I highlighted a number of passages in this book. Below are 20 of my favorite quotes:
1. If we are going to live and die for Jesus, we must see his glory with the eyes of our hearts.
2. I would rather see a man die abruptly, on his way to one last conquest, than to see him drift off course into the comforts of old age.
3. I am drawn to people who suffer without murmuring. Especially when they believe in God but never get angry with him or criticize him.
4. It seems to me that not murmuring is one of the rarest traits in the world. And when it is combined with a deep faith in God—who could alter our painful circumstances, but doesn’t—it has a beautiful God-trusting, God-honoring quality that makes it all the more attractive. Paul was like that.
5. The truth that Paul believed about his suffering—no matter how severe—was that it came ultimately with God’s purpose, and the purpose was that Paul would trust himself less and trust God more, every moment of his life, especially as death approached.
6. Christ is shown to be magnificent in our dying when we experience him as more satisfying than all the pleasures that life in this world could give.
7. Paul said that Christ is magnified not instead of my being satisfied in him, but by means of my being satisfied in him.
8. You cannot glorify God in your heart if your heart does not find God more satisfying than everything else.
9. Genuine, Christ-exalting, Spirit-empowered, sacrificial love for people is the overflow of joy in God that expands by meeting the needs of others.
10. No follower of Jesus has said more important or more explosive things about race and ethnicity than the apostle Paul.
11. Jesus himself—knowing him in all his inestimable worth—was his highest glory and joy. Achievements were secondary. Jesus himself, known and enjoyed, was primary.
12. God’s decisive, sovereign rule in the world and in our lives is not a hindrance but a help in doing what he calls us to do.
13. What we want to see in others, and have in ourselves, is a kind of wholeness that can be blunt and forceful and corrective when necessary, but that also has a peaceful pattern of encouragement and affirmation and kindness.
14. Paul embraced and expressed the sovereignty of God over all historical events and in people’s lives. And he embraced the lost world with compassion and longing.
15. If God were not compassionate, he would not want to save us. If God were not sovereign, he would not be able to save us. But he is both. And because of Jesus we are saved.
16. It is not essential in this life that we know how to explain the way God’s sovereignty and our responsibility fit together. It is enough to know that they do.
17. Joy originates in God. It comes through Jesus his Son. And it is the fruit of his Spirit. Those who embrace Jesus as their Savior and treasure, by the power of the Spirit, for the glory of the Father, enter into that Trinitarian joy.
18. My love for Paul rises not only because his joy stood firm through all his sufferings, but even more because he saw his whole ministry as a project of bringing others into the joy that he had in knowing Jesus Christ.
19. Nevertheless, in spite of all this success, Paul did not boast in himself. He boasted in Christ.
20. Of all the places in the Bible that provide a solid place to stand when all around you is shaking, this has been my foundation stone more than any other: He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Rom. 8:32)

[Christian Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title sums up this book pretty well. In this book Piper walks through 30 reasons for why he loves the apostle Paul. I have always enjoyed reading Piper, and I found him to be excellent in this book. I think that may have to do with the size of each chapter. Piper gets straight to the point on every page and does not waste much time. For Piper the reason why he loves Paul can be summed up by stating that Paul showed John Piper what it looked like to live as someone who is redeemed by God, constantly pursuing godliness, and living as a true “Christian Hedonist.” The main focus of this work wasn’t “Christian Hedonism” or making sure you don’t waste your life, but had more of a Biblical Theology feel to it.

[Caly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this, and John Piper will introduce you to his friend, the Apostle Paul. Piper writes with care and an eagerness for us to know the incredible man who was Paul. Loved every one of his 30 eye-opening chapters.

[Ryan Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

As anyone who knows me knows, John Piper is my favorite preacher, teacher, and Christian book writer. It’s his thoughts, connections, and ideas which are stunning; more than stunning—glorious, as they reveal to me unlike anyone else the glory of God.

But what about this book? A book about 30 reasons why Paul is great—can it be any good?

Yes. Surely, yes.

Now, it is *not* on the same level as his brilliant argument-type books, which have left ripples upon ripples in evangelicalism. Books in this category would be *Desiring God*, *The Pleasures of God*, *Let the Nations Be Glad*, and the like.

And yet, it’s still very, very good. Honestly, surprisingly so. It’s not just a man reveling in Paul. It’s a man reveling in God through the apostle Paul’s life, ministry, and letters.

As for my favorite chapters, I really enjoyed the introduction, chapter 2, 5, 7, 11, 14, 23, 24, 28, 29, and 30 (I guess you have to read the book to know what they’re about!). But my favorite chapters were chapter 23—about how Paul helped him when Piper was diagnosed with cancer, and chapter 24—about PIper’s personal sins and how Paul has helped. Perhaps I liked these particularly because Piper shed more personal information than he usually does, but it was also how Piper applied Paul’s writings that was especially helpful.

Overall, I recommend it. It’s a very easy read. Each chapter is a short, blog-post size, and it’s 30 chapters plus an intro and conclusion. In short, it’s much better than you’d expect with such a title. I’ll be reading it again for sure.

[Eva-Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps I didn't really enjoy this book because it's a PERSONAL collection of opinions about the Apostle Paul and reasons why John Piper loves him. It was a little dry and boring, which is unfortunate because Paul is super special to me and I was expecting to love this book. Other readers may get more out of it, though, so I'd still recommend checking it out if you're a fan of Paul or John Piper.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Tarissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The apostle Paul was a passionate man. After he became a Christian, he was on fire for God. Isn't he someone that all Christians should emulate? Do you think we could end up shining as bright for our world, as he did back in biblical times?

"He held a more negative view of depraved human nature than most people can fathom, and a more exalted view of human destiny than most people can dream."

So many excellent topics are covered, including contentment, suffering, love, leaving sin behind, friendships, joy, and the amazingness of God's hand in our life... and still much more. Loads of wonderful ideas to ponder over.

This book revealed character traits of Paul's to me, which remind me so deeply of my own grandfather. Both men being missionaries, their focus on life being to go where the gospel hasn't gone before, and to run the race well.

"Love means gladly embracing the quest to bring others into your experience of joy in God, even if it costs you your life."

Minimum age to read: 16 and up. It vaguely mentions a topic or two suited only for older teens and adults, but it doesn't go into detail about it.

Overall? This isn't an average biography on Paul, in fact, it's really not one at all. So even if you think you know Paul's story front to back, I guarantee at least 1 of these 30 reasons will shock you into thinking about him in a new perspective. More than likely though, you'll find new ideas aplenty from Piper's book.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been years since I've read a book by John Piper, and I'm glad I read this one. This serves as both a good introduction to the Apostle Paul and as a good introduction to John Piper, containing not only his views on many things but also quite a few autobiographical tidbits.
The book is easy to read, and is made up of mainly short chapters. Much that Piper is known for (like e.g. 'Christian Hedonism') gets airtime. And while I don't agree with everything in the book, most of what he writes here is immensely helpful. Additionally, one of the great things about this book is that we can see Piper at work. He shows how he gets to many of his conclusions through close reading of the text. I'm confident that if we apply ourselves to the text with similar dedication, much good will follow.

[Lauren Fee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely book I tacked on to my daily Bible reading time this past month. The chapters are short and to the point, but contain deep truths and well thought out reasons for why Pastor John Piper loves the apostle Paul. I learned so much about Paul and my affections grew for Paul as well as these reasons were illuminated. All the reasons can be summed up by the following: “The essential thing is not that I love Paul, but that Paul loved me, and showed me the love of Christ who loved us both and gave himself for us. That has made all the difference.”

[Karl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took my sweet time with this, but fell more in love with Paul every time I opened it up. I'm honestly not that familiar with Piper's writing, but it's clear he has such a pastor's heart - there's not one verse or fact in this book the author doesn't turn into an encouraging or usable gift to us readers.

[Megan Baratta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. It made me see Paul in a more personal way and added helpful historical context to some of his letters. But even though the content was good, it was hard for me to click with Piper’s writing style; his intensity and razor-sharpness makes it a difficult read at times.

[Stephanie Sutherland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty quick read. Wasn’t my favorite book, but it really does a great job explaining the sufferings of Paul and why we should be so grateful for our God. John Piper is great, just not my favorite book from him.

[Reese Hurt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have grow to really love the apostle Paul and his writings which is what led me to read this book. Piper brought me to appreciate Paul and his life all the more. The words from this book which are based on what we know from scripture encouraged me greatly as a fellow sufferer. I want to be more like Paul and follow this Lord as he did. This book made me look to Christ all the more as I dwelled on the life that Paul lived and how he sought after the Lord with all he was and all he had.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read about one the of the greatest apostles who considered himself the least.

[Philip Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice tribute to the Apostle Paul. Basically John Piper showing how the main emphases from his teaching ministry have been derived from Paul's epistles.

[Kevin Halloran]

Read my brief review.

[Christopher Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Piper is an emotive teacher and preacher of the Word, so it was not a surprise when he wrote a book on why he loved the Apostle Paul. I would classify this book as part devotional and part theological. Although Piper might be too emotional for me at times, I appreciate Piper’s passion for the Word if God.

This book is a very nice, short one volume that will familiarize the reader with Pau’s theology, and if you are like me, you will finish this book with the Apostle Paul, whom F.F. Bruce aptly called “The Apostle if the Heart Set Free.”

This is an enjoyable and a profitable read and I gladly commend it to you. Happy reading!

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess it's difficult following such engaging Paul scholars as Moo and Wright, and then reading Piper, who gives a much more personal account of Paul and what he means to the author's life (as the title of the book would suggest.)

But it really felt like Piper was just reading me a bunch of random verses from Paul's letters and then repeatedly telling me he loves Paul. Which is not really a bad thing and I definitely oversimplified there but, again, that's how it felt.

I could have done without phrases like "Did you catch that?" and his constant clarifying statements after scripture, "my translation."

Not a bad book by any means, but certainly my last Piper book.