Timothy James Keller (September 23, 1950 – May 19, 2023) was an American pastor, theologian, and Christian apologist. He was the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City and a leading figure in Reformed Evangelicalism. Keller gained widespread recognition for his accessible approach to Christianity, which combined intellectual rigor, cultural engagement, and a strong emphasis on urban ministry. He authored numerous best-selling books on Christian belief, apologetics, and church planting, and was also the co-founder of the church-planting network, Redeemer City to City.

Tim Keller was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on September 23, 1950. Raised in a Lutheran home, Keller had a nominal church background until his spiritual transformation during college. He attended Bucknell University, where he experienced a Christian conversion through the ministry of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. This experience deepened his faith and set him on a path toward ministry.

After his conversion, Keller pursued theological training, earning a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 1975. He later completed a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) at Westminster Theological Seminary, where he studied under prominent Reformed theologians like Edmund Clowney.

Keller’s early ministry began in Hopewell, Virginia, where he served as pastor of West Hopewell Presbyterian Church (PCA) from 1975 to 1984. During this time, Keller developed a passion for urban ministry, and he became involved in training church leaders and pastors through his work with the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).

In 1984, Keller was appointed as a professor at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, where he taught practical theology and trained future church leaders. His time at Westminster deepened his theological understanding and prepared him for the next phase of his ministry in New York City.

In 1989, Keller and his family moved to New York City to plant Redeemer Presbyterian Church, with the support of the PCA. Keller’s vision was to create a church that would engage with the unique cultural and intellectual challenges of an urban, secular context. Redeemer quickly grew from a small gathering to a thriving congregation that attracted thousands of attendees, including young professionals, artists, and skeptics.

Keller’s preaching style was known for blending Reformed theology with cultural insights, and he often addressed questions about faith, doubt, and meaning in a way that resonated with both believers and skeptics. His ability to articulate the Christian faith in a compelling and intellectually credible manner made Redeemer Presbyterian a model for urban church planting.

By the 2000s, Redeemer had become one of the most influential churches in New York City, with multiple campuses across Manhattan. Keller continued as the senior pastor until his retirement from full-time ministry in 2017.

In 2001, Keller co-founded Redeemer City to City, an organization dedicated to church planting in urban centers worldwide. Through this initiative, Keller helped to train and support church planters in major cities such as London, Berlin, Tokyo, and Mumbai, with a particular focus on reaching non-religious, secular populations.

City to City’s influence spread far beyond New York, contributing to the growth of a global network of urban churches grounded in Reformed theology but culturally sensitive to their local contexts. Keller’s vision for gospel-centered urban renewal helped redefine evangelical engagement in cities.

Tim Keller was a leading voice in Reformed Evangelicalism, a theological movement that emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of Scripture, and the centrality of grace in salvation. While Keller was committed to Reformed theology, he also sought to engage with contemporary culture in a way that was intellectually rigorous, compassionate, and missional.

Keller is best known for his approach to Christian apologetics, where he emphasized the importance of addressing modern doubts about Christianity. His book, “The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism” (2008), became a New York Times bestseller and is widely regarded as one of the most accessible defenses of Christian faith for a secular audience. In it, Keller tackled common objections to Christianity, such as the problem of evil, the exclusivity of religious truth, and the relationship between science and faith.

In subsequent works, such as “The Prodigal God” (2008) and “Making Sense of God” (2016), Keller continued to explore the themes of grace, identity, and meaning, aiming to present Christianity as both intellectually viable and emotionally satisfying.

Keller’s ministry was deeply shaped by his understanding of how the gospel interacts with culture. He often engaged with topics such as work, justice, and human flourishing, framing the Christian faith as something that speaks to all areas of life, not just personal spirituality. His book “Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God's Work” (2012) discussed the role of faith in the workplace, and his interest in cultural renewal was reflected in his advocacy for Christians to actively contribute to the common good in secular environments.

Keller was also an advocate for mercy and justice ministries, seeing them as integral to the church’s mission. Redeemer Presbyterian established several initiatives focused on homelessness, education, and neighborhood revitalization in New York City.

A central theme of Keller’s ministry was his emphasis on the gospel—the good news of Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection—as the foundational message that addresses both the spiritual and social needs of individuals and communities. Keller believed that the gospel was not only the way to eternal salvation but also the key to personal transformation, social justice, and human flourishing.

Tim Keller was married to Kathy Keller, and the couple had three sons: David, Michael, and Jonathan. Kathy Keller was a key partner in Tim's ministry and co-authored several works with him, including “The Meaning of Marriage” (2011).

In 2020, Keller announced that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Despite undergoing treatment, Keller continued to write and speak, using his remaining time to reflect on faith, suffering, and the hope of the gospel.

Tim Keller passed away on May 19, 2023, at the age of 72. His death marked the end of a remarkable career in ministry, but his legacy continues to influence Christian thought and practice worldwide.

Tim Keller left an indelible mark on both the Christian world and broader cultural conversations about faith. His books, sermons, and church-planting efforts shaped a generation of pastors and theologians, particularly within the Reformed Evangelical movement. Keller’s approach to Christianity—intellectually robust, culturally engaged, and deeply compassionate—remains a model for many seeking to navigate faith in a secular age.

His vision for urban ministry through Redeemer Presbyterian Church and Redeemer City to City has inspired church planting and gospel-centered community engagement in cities around the globe. Keller’s ability to communicate the Christian faith to skeptics, believers, and those in between will ensure his teachings continue to resonate long into the future.

• The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (2008)
• The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith (2008)
• Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope That Matters (2009)
• Generous Justice: How God’s Grace Makes Us Just (2010)
• King’s Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus (2011)
• Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work (2012)
• Walking with God through Pain and Suffering (2013)
• Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God (2014)
• Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptical (2016)
• The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God (with Kathy Keller, 2011)