John Stephen Piper was born January 11, 1946, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Bill and Ruth Piper.

Piper did his doctoral work in New Testament Studies at the University of Munich, Germany (1971–74) under Leonhard Goppelt. His dissertation, Love Your Enemies, was published by Cambridge University Press and Baker Book House. Upon completion of his doctorate, he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel University and Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, for six years (1974–80).

John Stephen Piper is a Calvinistic Baptist Christian preacher and author who served as Pastor for Preaching and Vision of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota for 33 years.

John is the author of over 50 books and now frequently travels to speak, and writes regularly, through Desiring God. He also serves as chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary, Minneapolis, Minnesota. John and Noël have four sons, a daughter, and twelve grandchildren.

His books include ECPA Christian Book Award winners Spectacular Sins, What Jesus Demands from the World, Pierced by the Word,and God's Passion for His Glory, and bestsellers Don't Waste Your Life and The Passion of Jesus Christ. The evangelical organization Desiring God is named for his book Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (1986).