The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God

Timothy Keller (1950–2023) was a pivotal figure in contemporary evangelical theology. His prolific writings are cited for the intellectual depth and pastoral clarity with which he addressed modern cultural and spiritual concerns. As the co-author of The Meaning of Marriage, he draws from decades of theological study, pastoral experience, and urban ministry. Keller’s ideas ground abstract theological musings in lived reality—his own marriage, his ministry among skeptics and believers in secular urban settings, and his deep engagement with Scripture. His academic formation, cultural awareness, and commitment to Reformed theology converge to offer readers a view of marriage that is biblically faithful and culturally aware.

Keller was an undergraduate at Bucknell University, had theological training at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Westminster Theological Seminary. His early pastoral years in a small church in Hopewell, Virginia, honed his ability to connect deep theological concepts to everyday struggles. Later, his role as professor of practical theology at Westminster further developed his skill in bridging doctrinal truth with pastoral application. This dual experience—academic and pastoral—is woven throughout The Meaning of Marriage.

The most significant influence on Keller’s approach in the book comes from his ministry in Manhattan, New York, where he founded Redeemer Presbyterian Church in 1989. Redeemer quickly grew into a thriving community of mostly single, skeptical, professional adults. In this unique context Keller had to approach the topic of marriage in a way that was theologically rich but also intelligible to a generation wary of traditional institutions. His sermons on marriage, many of which form the basis of this book, reveal awareness of the cultural currents—such as individualism, consumerism, and the idolization of romantic love—that shape modern attitudes. In The Meaning of Marriage, Keller challenges these views with critique rooted in Scripture and cultural observation. His approach invites rather than alienates, and that accessibility is part of his lasting influence.

Despite his influence, Keller’s legacy is not without controversy. Some conservatives criticize him for not being culturally combative enough, especially in his attempts to reach secular and progressive audiences with a winsome tone. Others on the left find his theology too traditional, particularly his complementarian views on gender roles and his lack of overt alignment with social justice movements. Yet, Keller has remained consistent in his belief that the Gospel offers a distinct, third way that challenges all other ideologies. In The Meaning of Marriage, this approach surfaces repeatedly: His defense of covenant love challenges consumerism, his vision of mutual submission challenges patriarchy, and his insistence on grace challenges moralism. Keller wants Christians to see marriage not as a self-fulfillment project but as a divine calling shaped by grace, service, and spiritual transformation. His contribution to Christian discourse on marriage is enduring because it invites readers to wrestle with the hardest questions in the light of God’s love.

When he was 72, Keller died from pancreatic cancer.