Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation

by Collin Hansen

The untold story of the people, the books, the lectures, and ultimately the God who formed and shaped the life of the late Timothy Keller.

Millions have read books and listened to sermons by Timothy Keller. But who impacted his own thinking, and what shaped his spiritual growth and ministry priorities? With full access to Keller's personal notes and sermons—as well as exclusive interviews with family members and longtime friends—Collin Hansen takes readers behind the scenes of one of the 21st century's most influential church leaders.

For the first time, Hansen introduces readers to Keller's early the home where he learned to tell stories from the trees, the church where he learned to care for souls, and the city that lifted him to the international fame he never wanted.

This unique biography will allow you

Understand the principles and practices that allowed Keller to synthesize so many different influences in a coherent ministry.Take the best of Keller's preaching and teaching to meet emerging challenges in the 21st century.Develop your own historical, theological, and cultural perspectives to shape your leadership. 

The story of Timothy Keller is the story of his spiritual and intellectual influences, from the woman who taught him how to read the Bible to the professor who taught him to preach Jesus from every text to the philosopher who taught him to see beneath society's surface.

Genres: Biography, Christian, Nonfiction, Theology, Biography Memoir, Faith, Audiobook

309 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 7, 2023

About the author

Collin Hansen is editorial director for The Gospel Coalition and was previously an associate editor for Christianity Today. He has written for Books & Culture, Leadership, and Christian History & Biography, and is the author of Young, Restless, and Reformed.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few people have influenced me more than Tim Keller—this book is the story of who influenced him. I read it with keen interest and closed it with a grateful heart. On page after page, my friend Collin Hansen deploys journalistic talent to synthesize a diversity of voices—the family members, friends, professors, pastors, and authors who “made” Tim Keller. This terrific work will serve church leaders and thoughtful Christians for generations to come.

My favorite quotes: https://www.tgc.org/article/20-quotes...

[Barnabas Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best aspect of this book was the bibliography it helps one build as a reader--all the influences, authors, teachers, and works that have shaped Tim Keller. It made me respect Keller even more than I already do. And it made me profoundly aware that some people are uniquely gifted and called by God and their ministries, while exceptional, are duplicatable. Read this to learn much and be guided, but not as a roadmap or game plan for ministry.

[Cindy Rollins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled with the writing style of this but perhaps I am spoiled by reading a ton of biographies lately.
The best part of the book was the bibliography of Tim’s life scattered throughout.

[Purshia Gambles · Rating 5 out of 5]

As you can see, I couldn’t put this book down. More than a biography, this book told me the things that most deeply shaped whom I see as the cultural/theological father of our generation (and probably the one before ours). The schools, the books, the people, etc. served as rivers that flowed into the ocean that became this man so full of wisdom, Hope, courage, and character. This book felt like I was sitting across a coffee shop table with a latte in hand asking this guy his story (which I love doing). I pray I get to meet Timothy Keller One day, but should The Lord take him home before I do, this book gave me more of him to learn from and glean from in a lifetime.

[Mark Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well done. Unavoidably a tiny bit hagiographic. The time for greater distance will come. This is the right book for the moment. So glad he wrote it.

[Haley Baumeister · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been loving this genre of book as of late. St. Therese of Lisieux's Story of a Soul, as well as Beth Moore's memoir preceded this one for me this year.

We often don't think about the lives people have lived up to this point in time. The people they've been in relationship with, the people they've been formally educated by, the places they've lived, the work they've devoted themselves to, the scholars/authors/thinkers they've been learning from, the suffering they've endured, the intricacies of their personal lives, the novels they've cherished, the spiritual disciplines they've practiced in secret, the correspondence they've kept.

I loved the portion in the last quarter of the book where Keller said to someone that if you cut a person open, you should see many rings - like a tree. See only one or two rings and that person is more of a clone than an individual. Reading & learning widely & deeply makes for a person who has been shaped, challenged, and refined in ways that someone drinking from one stream of thought simply cannot be.

This has given me a new appreciation for Keller's spiritual and intellectual formation. They were not mutually exclusive. His zeal for personal piety & culture-specific evangelism was not at odds with intellectual rigor & excellence. We ought to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength - and our neighbors as ourselves. This books showed someone imperfectly but faithfully pursing that greatest commandment by the power of the Spirit.

This biography will stick with me for a while, as I hopefully read more of his books with a renewed appreciation and understanding of the person behind them.

[Brett Wiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I have not read all of Keller's books (I am sure I will one day), but I am deeply indebted to him personally and theologically. As a young Christian who grew up in a pretty shallow theological environment, he was really the first one to introduce me to an intellectual Christianity. I mean that in the best sense of the word. A Christianity that is not simply shallow and emotional, but one that engages the mind as well as the heart. A Christianity that doesn't shy away from science, doubts, and skepticism, but shows that the God of the Bible has something real and significant to say to the hardest and biggest questions of life. And more personally than that, he helped me understand the gospel more fully. And for that, I am eternally grateful. What I loved about this book is that I came away with the real sense that Tim Keller had no desire to become a celebrity pastor that was well known in the Christian world. I believe he came to believe in and love the real Jesus in college, and that from the beginning he had a burning passion to see others come to know him too. He was faithfully sharing the gospel and ministering to seekers and skeptics decades before he ever became famous or wrote books. That's why I love this opening line of the book..."When he walks out the door, the first ten thousand people he sees will have no idea who he is." And I think Keller is completely fine with that. May God give us many more years with him, but if not, I am thankful for the time we have had.

[Payne Walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tim K is probably the most influential person in my life that I’ve never met. His books and sermons have repeatedly drawn me back to and grown me in the Gospel-centered life.

Hansen does a nice job of giving the reader a breakdown of Keller’s life and the influences that formed him. I have a long list of “want to read’s” after hearing about all of Keller’s favorite authors and ideas.

RIP Tim.


“To be loved but not known is comforting yet superficial. To be known but not loved is our greatest fear. To be both fully known and fully loved is a lot like God’s love for us - it is what our hearts desire most. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of self-righteousness, and fortifies us for whatever life may throw our way.”

- Tim Keller (my fav quote of his)

[Matt Pitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t agree with Keller on everything, but reading this book reminded me how much he has influenced me and many others for good. I’m not sure I ever heard one of his sermons (outside of his conference messages), but his apologetic work and his apologetic posture (winsome, unworried, and wise) I have found compelling. And I found this book compelling too, not because of what Keller accomplished, but because of all the great thinkers, preachers, and philosophers who shaped him.

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gift has Tim Keller been to the church. Collin Hansen masterfully tells his story through the spiritual and intellectual influences on his life.

[Melissa P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Won in a giveaway* 😊 Now this is not a book I would normally read. It did sound a bit interesting and no doubt, Timothy Keller did lead a very interesting life. He was brought up by a controlling mother and an emotionally absent father. He was bullied. He wanted to find religion that accepted everyone. He was all for equality during the race riots. He sounded like a very wise, kind man. I saw another review that said this book read like a very long Wikipedia page. I have to agree. While his life was interesting, so much info is thrown at you at once, it was hard to absorb a lot of it. It's not terrible, but could have been written maybe a little different to keep my attention better. Happy reading. 🙂💜

[Scott Bielinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll always be grateful to God for Tim Keller.

[Natalie Herr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the unique take on a biography here- to look at Keller’s life through the lens of his influences. It’s incredible to see how a person of such influence has been influenced by others.

My To Read List grew with each chapter read, as well as my appreciation for Keller’s unique contributions to the kingdom. It inspired me to continue to read widely, question long-held assumptions, seek unity in the church and pray for revival.

(Only 4 stars because I found the writing to be a bit dry/overcomplicated at times.)

[Brice Karickhoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A biography of the late Tim Keller (written before his death). I cannot say a negative word about Keller or the quality of this book. It took a really interesting biographical angle by focusing largely on how he was influenced and formed by who he knew and who he read, but it did not fail to fill in the narrative gaps.

Biggest takeaways: Kathy Keller is a stud, it is possible and beneficial to read broadly in (mostly) all life stages, and I need to continue to develop my thoughts on the intersection of evangelism and discipleship within the church (because it’s pretty much the only thing I see differently than Keller and he is far wiser than I).

If you like Tim Keller, you will eat this book up. If you don’t even know who he is, I think it’d still be a solid read.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'm not fighting cancer. I'm fighting sin."
"We're enjoying our days more now than ever before."
Collin Hansen did us all a great service by writing this book. It is stellar work, even if it inevitably sounds hagiographical at points.

"We will honor Keller more if we read the sources he read more than we read him."

[Alex Strohschein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Timothy Keller is one of my heroes. As I began to "make my faith my own" midway through undergrad I delved into apologetics and read Keller's 2008 book 'The Reason for God' (which made the Presbyterian pastor a household name in Christian circles). I also discovered his sermons. Tim Keller - along with Darrell Johnson and Jason Byassee - led me to a love and appreciation for sermons that I had never had before. Whereas many expositional preachers focus so closely on the biblical text that they sometimes seem unable to or clunkily apply it to the present day, Keller was able to weave deep scriptural insights together with confident and incisive critiques of modern culture in a way that avoided the fundamentalist fulminations of the Religious Right.

Collin Hansen's biography of Timothy Keller traces the bookish pastor's spiritual and intellectual influences. I learned many new things about Tim's life, such as the fact that his Roman Catholic mother had him baptized in the Catholic Church before she determined that Catholicism did not square with Scripture (p. 4); Tim's family would sojourn with the Lutherans before his mother settled in the Evangelical Congregational Church, a Wesleyan-Arminian denomination. I had always thought Tim came from a more secular background but it seems like he always had Christianity in his life growing up, even if his own deep and sincere conversion experience happened while in undergrad at Bucknell University.

In the early days after his "conversion" Tim relied heavily upon InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and would later serve on its staff (this is interesting as IVCF's ethos is more egalitarian and has more of a mixture of Arminian and Reformed theology; Tim would eventually become a complementarian Calvinist). He also gravitated towards British influences such as C.S. Lewis (Tim's wife Kathy wrote to the Oxford professor as a child and recommended Lewis' works) and the "evangelical statesman" John Stott (and isn't Tim Stott's successor?).

Tim and Kathy Kristy attended Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Here they cultivated a romance alongside a rich intellectual life made possible by Gordon-Conwell's theology diversity. Tim established a reputation for being able to "translate" the heady classroom lectures into more understandable lessons for his peers - a skill that continued throughout Tim's life as he copiously quoted and explained the insights of notable scholars like Robert Bellah, Charles Taylor, Alasdair MacIntyre, Jonathan Haidt, and many more during his own teaching ministry (p. 82). He and Kathy also gained valuable, lifelong friends during their seminary years.

Both Tim and Kathy took class with the legendary Elisabeth Elliott whose first husband had been killed by an indigenous tribe in Ecuador; as a widow, Elliott herself later went to the Huaorani tribe to minister to them in an amazing embodiment of forgiveness and reconciliation. Kathy had begun seminary courses intent to be ordained as a PCUSA pastor but through Elisabeth Elliott and other influences Kathy came to adopt the belief that the Bible does not permit the ordination of women.

Tim's theology also sharpened at Gordon-Conwell. Despite a Lutheran and nominal Wesleyan-Arminian church background, Tim came to Calvinist convictions through the influence of professors like William Lane, Richard Lovelace (whose teachings on the history of revival and his book 'Dynamics of the Spiritual Life' would exert a lifelong influence on Tim) and Roger Nicole (Hansen writes of the latter "Nicole has been largely forgotten today, except by his students, because he focused more on classroom teaching than on writing books and journal articles," pp. 88-89). In fact, Hansen notes that by the time Tim graduated from Gordon-Conwell, he had essentially crystalized his lifelong tenets - "Presbyterian-Reformed theology...penal substitution, classic covenant theology, amillennialism," complementarianism, the reality of evolution, and a blend of neo-Calvinism, evangelism, and social justice (p. 103). This is somewhat ironic as Tim counseled pastors-turned-aspiring-authors to wait until they were older before publishing books because then their theology will have had time to be tried and tested but in Tim's case his key dogmatic beliefs appear to have remained fairly static.

Hansen opens up a window into the Kellers' first church in Hopewell, Virginia, where they spent nine years. The novice pastor learned the ropes of church ministry and preached about 1500 sermons by the time he was 34 (p. 127). During this time Tim had a paltry salary so he would ask his family to buy him books for Christmas (p. 123); he especially dug into the Puritans and would find in figures like John Owen, Richard Sibbes, and Thomas Brooks rich resources for personal devotion and pastoral care. It is also comforting to hear that during his Hopewell ministry, Tim played video games, especially Space Invaders - one forgets how old video games are (p. 123)!

The next stage of Tim's career was as a professor of practical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary where he taught alongside Bruce Waltke, Tremper Longman III, and one of his (preaching) heroes, Edmund Clowney. During this time Tim and Kathy continued to serve in ministry even while enjoying a step back from the intensity of vocational pastoral work. Part of this ministry included outreach to those suffering with AIDS and Hansen sheds light on a lesser-known part of Tim's life - that his own brother Billy was a gay man who died of AIDS in 1998 (Hansen writes of this experience movingly and tenderly). Tim earned a D.Min. in 1981 studying under Harvie Conn and focusing on mercy ministries.

After much wrestling the Kellers answered God's call to plant Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City in 1989. The last third of this book is dedicated to this era, as Tim, Kathy, and the early members of Redeemer poured out their life in service, mission, and prayer to NYC. Redeemer grew dramatically in attendance, particularly attracting young professionals and Asian Americans like Makoto Fujimura. Tim's sermons interrogated the idols of the secular city and pointed listeners to the beauty and majesty of Jesus Christ. After the devastating attacks of 9/11 hundreds of visitors came to Redeemer to find spiritual solace as they worked through their grief and trauma and they found thoughtfulness, comfort, and guidance in Tim's sermons.

Nearly twenty years after planting Redeemer, Tim also began publishing beloved bestsellers like 'The Reason for God' (2008), 'The Prodigal God' (2008), 'The Meaning of Marriage' (2011), and 'Center Church' (2012). These books, along with the co-founding of The Gospel Coalition by Tim and D.A. Carson made Tim rise to prominence in Christian circles. Hundreds of churches (including my own!) were planted through the direction of Redeemer's City to City church planting initiative.

Hansen begins the postscript of this book writing "I never found a parallel among biographies for this book, which has explored the influences ON, more than the influence OF, our subject" (p. 269). I don't want to critique Hansen for not writing what he had no intention OF writing but I do wish the book had been more comprehensive and detailed. His sons are barely mentioned at all in the book. We learn of Tim's association with R.C. Sproul and his Ligonier Ministries but very little attention is given to The Gospel Coalition - how did Tim become friends with D.A. Carson and John Piper? Why was Redeemer so attractive to Asian-Americans in particular? Did Tim read any Wesleyan-Arminian theologians or egalitarian scholars as he moved towards Calvinism and complementarianism? Hansen opaquely writes "Though Keller didn't engage deeply in the New Perspective debates that raged during the 1990s and 2000s, he observed subtle legalism in alternatives to the Reformers" - is there more of an explanation of this observation (p. 262)? On the one hand, Tim lauded N.T. Wright's 'The Resurrection of the Son of God' but it seems he was also more critical of Wright's views on the New Perspective on Paul - why did Tim avoid the debates and what critique of the New Perspective would he make and what evidence did he see for "subtle legalism? At times like these the book seems a little too scanty and rushed.

And maybe that's because tragically (though it is never really tragic for a follower of Christ), Tim Keller died a few months after this book was published. Hansen has done a marvelous job of interviewing Tim himself, as well as family, friends, and colleagues, to help sketch out Tim's spiritual and intellectual journey. If they hadn't already looked at the endnotes of Tim's books, readers will discover how figures like Martin Luther, George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, C.S. Lewis, Geerhardus Vos, Herman Bavinck, and Lesslie Newbigin shaped Tim's thought and ministry. May Tim's legacy inspire and enrich others as he dwells now in the presence of the Lord.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like many others, Keller helped me overcome some objections against Christianity. His books were used by my high school pastor/teachers. I'm so grateful for Keller and his ministry.

random thoughts from the book – 

1. Keller was undoubtedly influential... because he was influenced by those who've gone before him: Augustine, Owen, Edwards, Flavel, Bavinck, Lewis, Lloyd-Jones, Stott, Clowney, Lovelace, Conn, Miller, Sproul, etc. Drawing deep from the well of good authors (and, as Keller would teach, from those whom you disagree with) and mentors can help and challenge our views for the better.

2. Most know Keller through his ministry in NY. But it was interesting to see how his time at Hopewell, VA was formative. What prepared him to be an effective pastor in one of the busiest, biggest cities of the world was his time caring for his then-90-member flock. Hopewell, Keller remembers, was where he learned how to preach.

3. Hansen did an amazing job. One improvement, I think, is not to mention the same fact over and over again. For example, he mentions that Clowney was the president of WTS many times throughout the book, or Kathy had health problems or Jack Miller was Tim's pastor. This book could've been better if Hansen trusted the readers that they would remember what he wrote 20-30 pages earlier.

Overall, a great book.

[Dani Pop · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't help but devour this book in this vacation. Felt so fresh to "go through" Keller in an orderly manner, finding the "inner rings" (Keller's phrase) inside the likes of beloved Taylor and Bellah and Rieff and MacIntyre: Clowney, Conn, Elliot, Lewis, Bavinck, Newbigin and all the others. Reading this book was nothing less than a breath of fresh air for my to-read list.
But understanding Keller only as a source of good book recommendations on culture and faith is to make his memory a great disservice. What I learned about Tim and Kathy is how intelligent faith and penetrating cultural analysis go hand in hand with prayer and community.
I loved the book. I would like it quoted a bit less and analyzed a bit more, but I think I didn't read enough biographies to understand that inner mechanics of the genre. Will surely recommend it.

[John Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nourished.

That’s how I feel after reading this book.

Regardless of religious orientation, here are three things I believe we can all learn from Tim Keller’s approach to leadership.

1. Keller didn’t become famous by trying to become famous. His influence emerged out of many years of faithful service, and he didn’t start publishing until his 50’s, after his wisdom had time to mature and crystallize.

2. Keller drank deeply from many different streams of knowledge, masterfully synthesizing and contextualizing the information for his audiences.

3. Keller’s leadership was defined by what he was for, never by who he was against. I believe this is why he gained a hearing from such a wide spectrum of people.

[John Funnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book of the year…..so far!

Made me weep, pray, question, praise, worship and repent.

More than a biography but a work of theology, history, social science and an evangelism guide.

What a life, what a ministry!

As a Pastor in Wales trained by those who sat under Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones and someone who has written a thesis on Bonhoeffer’s theology of Community it was wonderful to learn how my two heroes influenced Keller.

His passing was a sad loss to the Kingdom, but Keller died well, radiating hope for the glory to come! See you there old friend!

[Elizabeth Santelmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this as a concept. The writings of the people that formed belief!
I loved the quote from the book, “If you cut a good minister like a tree, there should be a lot of rings. if you’re only learning from one or two individuals or kinds of sources, you risk becoming a clone.”

It was inspiring to not worry about only reading close to what you know you believe but to take in various forms of thought.

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

The chapters on Sproul (6), Betty Elliott (8), Lovelace (10), Clowney (12), and the sections on Jack Miller (in 13) Keller’s brother (in 16), and Black spirituals and Kierkegaard (in 17) were all deeply moving to me. Reading about Keller’s influences prompted me to reflect with gratitude about my own. I pray this book prompts the same thanksgiving in every reader. Well done, Collin Hansen!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hansen's biography of Keller is excellent. It's lighter on the biographical details of Keller's life and heavier on Keller's spiritual influences. I loved the approach and found the book edifying and personally challenging.

[Grant Carter]

This was highly anticipated for me, especially after Keller's death. It's more about Keller's influences than his actual ministry. I actually appreciated this model for a biography because it kept me from feeling that I was reading a hagiography. Despite it being more about his heroes, this book still gave a glimpse into Keller's life that was refreshing and clarifying. Also, Kathy Keller is the GOAT

[Samuel G. Parkison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good.

[Noel L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book today…the day that Tim Keller died. What an amazing story, read by the author. I got to sit in on a homiletics class that Keller taught at Westminster in the 80s. I am thankful for Tim Keller and his ministry, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know him through this book.

[Alexander Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5/5) Not sure if it’s legal to read Keller’s biography before having read any of Keller’s books… but either way, this book was fantastic. I absolutely loved the format (looking at Keller’s influences rather just his life story) and would recommend this to anyone and everyone

[Darin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved learning more about Tim Keller’s life and his story including those who were important to him both personally and to his ministry (The rings of his tree). I think when you read and learn from someone, especially in studying theology, it is helpful to understand who and what influenced them.

I also came away with some addition books to read by other authors, and even one movie to watch which is always meaningful to me.

Having said that, I found the book difficult to read due to the authors writing style and how much it jumped around. For me at least, it wasn’t a well written biography. There were times where this would be 2-3 stars, but in the end I was grateful for the research and what I learned from the book itself.

I have enjoyed so many of Keller’s books over the years and was truly saddened when he passed. I appreciated the author highlighting most of Keller’s books and reminded me of ones I had not read, but look forward to.

[Joel Quezada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnífico

Este libro es más que una biografía. Es la historia del pensamiento de Timothy Keller. Es el trayecto intelectual y espiritual que lo llevó a convertirse en el hombre de Dios que fue.
Nos da los anillos del árbol para que nosotros podamos seguirlos.
Es magnífico.

[Josh G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A feast for the soul. Well-written, well-researched, and truly inspiring.

2nd time: June 2024. Still amazing.