The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith

Timothy Keller reinterprets the biblical parable of the Prodigal Son by shifting the focus from the runaway younger brother to the elder brother. He argues that Jesus used this story to address two different types of people: those who break moral laws and those who strictly follow them to secure their own righteousness. Keller introduces the concept of two types of alienation from God, asserting that the elder brother’s pride and self-righteousness are as spiritually dangerous as the younger brother's rebellion. By defining the word prodigal as recklessly spendthrift, he describes God’s grace as an extravagant gift rather than a reward for moral performance.

Individuals seeking to understand the core message of the New Testament read this book to distinguish between religious moralism and the Christian gospel. It is written for both skeptical outsiders and long-term church members who struggle with resentment or a sense of superiority over others. Readers walk away with a framework for evaluating their personal motivations, learning to identify the difference between external obedience and internal change based on communal grace. It provides a specific lens for viewing forgiveness and social reconciliation.