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Providence

John Piper · Crossway, 2020

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About this book

Providence is John Piper's full-length treatment of what theologians call the doctrine of providence: God's purposeful, sovereign rule over every part of creation and history. Across 45 chapters, Piper traces this theme from before creation, through the history of Israel, into the design of the new covenant, and on to the return of Christ — arguing throughout that the goal of God's providence is the Christ-exalting joy of a redeemed people.

The book unfolds in three parts: a definition of providence and the difficulty it raises for readers (why God's self-exaltation is good news); the ultimate goal of providence as it unfolds across biblical history; and the nature and extent of providence — over nature, Satan and demons, kings and nations, life and death, sin, conversion, and the whole of Christian living. A closing section turns to missions and the second coming of Christ.

  • Author: John Piper
  • Publisher: Crossway
  • Published: 2020
  • 752 pages
  • ISBN-13: 978-1-4335-6834-3

A note from UECF.NET

Providence is a current, copyrighted title published by Crossway in partnership with the Desiring God Foundation. Out of respect for the publisher's and author's rights, UECF.NET does not host the book's full text on this site. This page instead serves as a library reference: a description, the complete table of contents, and direct links to read the authorized free edition at Desiring God or to purchase a copy from Crossway.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Four Invitations13

Part 1 — A Definition and a Difficulty

  1. What Is Divine Providence?29
  2. Is Divine Self-Exaltation Good News?39

Part 2 — The Ultimate Goal of Providence

Section 1 · Before Creation and in Creation

  1. Before Creation51
  2. The Act of Creation59

Section 2 · In the History of Israel

  1. Overview: From Abraham to the Age to Come71
  2. The Exodus Unfolds87
  3. Remembering the Exodus99
  4. The Law, the Wilderness, and the Conquest of Canaan111
  5. The Time of the Judges and the Days of the Monarchy125
  6. The Protection, Destruction, and Restoration of Jerusalem137

Section 3 · In the Design and Enactment of the New Covenant

  1. The Designs of the New Covenant155
  2. Christ's Foundational Act in Establishing the New Covenant165
  3. The Entrance of Sin into Creation and the Glory of the Gospel175
  4. The Glory of Christ in the Glorification of His People187

Part 3 — The Nature and Extent of Providence

Section 1 · Setting the Stage

  1. Knowing the Providence of the God Who Is207

Section 2 · Providence over Nature

  1. The Loss and Recovery of a Theater of Wonders221
  2. Earth, Water, Wind, Plants, and Animals233

Section 3 · Providence over Satan and Demons

  1. Satan and Demons255
  2. The Ongoing Existence of Satan277

Section 4 · Providence over Kings and Nations

  1. Israel's Divine King Is King of the Nations287
  2. Human Kingship and the King of Kings295
  3. To Know and Rejoice That the Most High Rules313

Section 5 · Providence over Life and Death

  1. A Bath of Truth and the Gift of Birth337
  2. The Lord Has Taken Away; Blessed Be the Name of the Lord353
  3. We Are Immortal till Our Work Is Done371

Section 6 · Providence over Sin

  1. Natural Human Willing and Acting385
  2. Things We Know and Things We Do Not Need to Know411
  3. Joseph: God's Good Meaning in a Sinful Act421
  4. Israel Hated, Pharaoh Hardened, God Exalted, Helpless Saved431
  5. Broken Families449
  6. Deception and Dullness of Heart463
  7. Though He Cause Grief, He Will Have Compassion475
  8. A Wickedness God Especially Abhorred497

Section 7 · Providence over Conversion

  1. Our Condition before Conversion513
  2. Three Biblical Pictures of How God Brings People to Faith525
  3. Saving Faith as the Gift of Providence539
  4. Driven Back to the Precious Roots of Election559

Section 8 · Providence over Christian Living

  1. Forgiveness, Justification, and Obedience577
  2. God's Command-and-Warning Strategy591
  3. Those Whom He Called, He Also Glorified609
  4. Blood-Bought Zeal for Good Works623
  5. Working in Us That Which Is Pleasing in His Sight635
  6. Killing Sin and Creating Love—by Faith647

Section 9 · The Final Achievement of Providence

  1. The Triumph of Missions and the Coming of Christ661
  2. New Bodies, New World, Never-Ending Gladness in God673
Conclusion: Seeing and Savoring the Providence of God691
General Index713
Scripture Index727
Desiring God Note on Resources752

About the author

John Piper (b. 1946) is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minneapolis. He served for 33 years as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church and has written more than fifty books built around the conviction that God is most glorified in his people when they are most satisfied in him.

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J. I. Packer Mere Christianity
C. S. Lewis The Pursuit of God
A. W. Tozer Spiritual Depression
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Who Is God?
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Latest updates

  • 2026-09-08 — Book profile published: description, full table of contents, and links to the authorized edition.

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