Desiring God

John Piper

Multnomah® Publishers Sisters, Oregon

DESIRING GOD

published by Multnomah Publishers, Inc.

© 1986, 1996, 2003 by Desiring God Foundation

International Standard Book Number: 1-59052-119-6

Cover design by David Carlson Design

Cover image by Daryl Benson/Masterfile

Italics in biblical quotes indicate emphasis added.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from:

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Other Scripture quotations are from:

New American Standard Bible® (nasb) © 1960, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Revised Standard Version Bible (rsv) © 1946, 1952 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America

The Holy Bible, King James Version (kjv)

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The colophon is a trademark of Multnomah Publishers, Inc.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Piper, John, 1946–

Desiring God / revised and expanded by John Piper.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN 1-59052-119-6 (pbk.)

1. God--Worship and love. 2. Desire for God. 3. Happiness--Religious aspects--Christianity. 4. Praise of God. I. Title.

BV4817 .P56 2003

248.4--dc19

2002154750

To

William Solomon Hottle Piper,

my father,

in whom

I have seen

the holiness and happiness

of God.

Contents

What’s New in the 2003 Edition?

Preface

Introduction: How I Became a Christian Hedonist

1. The Happiness of God: Foundation for Christian Hedonism

2. Conversion: The Creation of a Christian Hedonist

3. Worship: The Feast of Christian Hedonism

4. Love: The Labor of Christian Hedonism

5. Scripture: Kindling for Christian Hedonism

6. Prayer: The Power of Christian Hedonism

7. Money: The Currency of Christian Hedonism

8. Marriage: A Matrix for Christian Hedonism

9. Missions: The Battle Cry of Christian Hedonism

10. Suffering: The Sacrifice of Christian Hedonism

Epilogue: Why I Have Written This Book: Seven Reasons

Appendix 1: The Goal of God in Redemptive History

Appendix 2: Is the Bible a Reliable Guide to Lasting Joy?

Appendix 3: Is God Less Glorious Because He Ordained That Evil Be? Jonathan Edwards on the Divine Decrees

Appendix 4: How Then Shall We Fight for Joy? An Outline

Appendix 5: Why Call It Christian Hedonism?

Scripture Index

Person Index

Subject Index