THE PLEASURES of GOD

Multnomah® Publishers Sisters, Oregon

THE PLEASURES OF GOD

published by Multnomah Publishers, Inc.

© 1991, 2000 by Desiring God Foundation

International Standard Book Number: 1-57673-665-2

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture references in the Introduction,

Chapters 1 through 9, and the Epilogue are the author’s own translation.

Also quoted in these portions of the book are:

The Holy Bible, New International Version (niv) © 1973, 1984

by International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House

New American Standard Bible (nasb) © 1960, 1977

by the Lockman Foundation

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

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture references in the remainder of the book are from:

New American Standard Bible (nasb) © 1960, 1977, 1995

by the Lockman Foundation

Also quoted in the new and revised portions of the book:

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

and the author’s own translation

Multnomah is a trademark of Multnomah Publishers, Inc. and is registered in the U.S. Patent and

Trademark Office. The colophon is a trademark of Multnomah Publishers, Inc.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any

form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without

prior written permission.

For information:

MULTNOMAH PUBLISHERS, INC.*P.O. BOX 1720*SISTERS, OR 97759

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Piper, John, 1946–

The pleasures of God: meditations on God’s delight in being God / John Piper.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN 0-88070-436-5 (hd)

ISBN 0-88070-537-X (pa)

ISBN 1-57673-665-2

1. God. I. Title.

To My Sons

Karsten Luke Piper

Benjamin John Piper

Abraham Christian Piper

Barnabas William Piper

Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface: At the Beginning of the Millennium

Introduction: How the Book Was Born

1. The Pleasure of God in His Son

2. The Pleasure of God in All He Does

3. The Pleasure of God in His Creation

4. The Pleasure of God in His Fame

5. The Pleasure of God in Election

6. The Pleasure of God in Bruising the Son

7. The Pleasure of God in Doing Good to All Who Hope in Him

8. The Pleasure of God in the Prayers of the Upright

9. The Pleasure of God in Personal Obedience and Public Justice

10. The Pleasure of God in Concealing Himself from the Wise and Revealing Himself to Infants

Epilogue: Almost Too Good to Be True—A Final Word of Hope

Appendix: Are There Two Wills in God? Divine Election and God’s Desire for All to Be Saved

Study Guide

Person Index

Subject Index