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John MacArthur (American pastor)
John Fullerton MacArthur Jr. (June 19, 1939 – July 14, 2025) was an American Calvinist Baptist pastor, theologian, author, and broadcaster. He was the founder of Grace to You, a nationally syndicated radio and television Bible teaching program. He was also the longtime pastor of Grace Community Church, a non-denominational church in Sun Valley, California from 1969 until his death in 2025. Additionally, MacArthur served as the chancellor emeritus of The Master's University and The Master's Seminary, both based in Santa Clarita, California.
MacArthur was known for his advocacy of expository preaching, and was recognized by Christianity Today as one of the most influential Christian preachers of his era. MacArthur wrote or edited more than 150 books. Among them The MacArthur Study Bible, sold more than one million copies and received a Gold Medallion Book Award. In 2021, he worked with a team from The Master's Seminary and the Lockman Foundation to produce the Legacy Standard Bible (LSB), an update of the 1995 edition of the New American Standard Bible NASB.
MacArthur was born in Los Angeles to Baptist radio preacher Jack MacArthur. He was educated at Bob Jones University, Los Angeles Pacific College, and Talbot Theological Seminary, earning a Master of Divinity in 1964. Following his father’s example, he began ministry in Southern California, serving as an associate pastor and later as the youngest pastor of Grace Community Church in 1969. MacArthur’s radio and television program, Grace to You, began broadcasting in 1977. Over his decades-long ministry, he completed a 42-year sermon series covering the entire New Testament and remained a prominent voice in evangelical Christianity until his death in 2025.
Theologically, MacArthur was known for his staunch positions on cessationism, Young Earth creationism, complementarianism, and Lordship salvation, often sparking debate within evangelical circles. He criticized modern Charismatic practices, opposed same-sex marriage and the ordination of women, and promoted a literal interpretation of Scripture within dispensational theology. His ministry faced controversies, including disputes over pastoral qualifications, responses to domestic violence, and his defiance of COVID-19 public health mandates. MacArthur authored numerous books on theology, biblical interpretation, and Christian living.
John MacArthur was born on June 19, 1939, in Los Angeles, California, to Baptist radio preacher Jack MacArthur and Irene Dockendorf. He was the grandson of Canadian Anglican minister Harry MacArthur (d. 1950). In a 1979 interview, he stated that he was "distantly related to General Douglas MacArthur [...] a fifth cousin."
Following in his father's path, MacArthur attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina from 1957 to 1959. After a gap year, he enrolled at Los Angeles Pacific College, affiliated with the Free Methodist Church in 1960. He earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1964 from the Talbot Theological Seminary, graduate school of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles' new in La Mirada, California.
When MacArthur was at Bob Jones University, his father recruited him to the Voice of Calvary singing quartet, often broadcast on Christian radio in Southern California. Then, from 1964 to 1966, he was hired by his father to be an associate pastor at the Harry MacArthur Memorial Bible Church (now Calvary Bible Church) in Burbank, California, which his father Jack had planted and named for his own father. From 1966 to 1969, John MacArthur served as the faculty representative for Talbot Theological Seminary. On February 9, 1969, he was brought on as the third and the youngest yet, pastor at the non-denominational Grace Community Church of Sun Valley, a neighborhood of Los Angeles adjacent to Burbank. MacArthur's daily radio and television program, Grace to You, began as sermons from the Grace Community Church pulpit recorded on reel-to-reel (and then audio cassettes). In 1977, the sermons were first broadcast on WRBS in Baltimore, Maryland, and the radio ministry of the church was born. Also in 1977, he received an honorary degree from Grace Graduate School in 1976 and from Talbot Theological Seminary (a Doctor of Divinity degree in 1977).
In 1985, MacArthur was made the president of Los Angeles Baptist College, now The Master's University, a four-year Christian liberal arts college. In 1986, he was named the president of The Master's Seminary. On June 5, 2011, MacArthur completed a 42 year long sermon series of the entire New Testament at Grace Community Church, a self-described life goal.
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John MacArthur (American pastor)
John Fullerton MacArthur Jr. (June 19, 1939 – July 14, 2025) was an American Calvinist Baptist pastor, theologian, author, and broadcaster. He was the founder of Grace to You, a nationally syndicated radio and television Bible teaching program. He was also the longtime pastor of Grace Community Church, a non-denominational church in Sun Valley, California from 1969 until his death in 2025. Additionally, MacArthur served as the chancellor emeritus of The Master's University and The Master's Seminary, both based in Santa Clarita, California.
MacArthur was known for his advocacy of expository preaching, and was recognized by Christianity Today as one of the most influential Christian preachers of his era. MacArthur wrote or edited more than 150 books. Among them The MacArthur Study Bible, sold more than one million copies and received a Gold Medallion Book Award. In 2021, he worked with a team from The Master's Seminary and the Lockman Foundation to produce the Legacy Standard Bible (LSB), an update of the 1995 edition of the New American Standard Bible NASB.
MacArthur was born in Los Angeles to Baptist radio preacher Jack MacArthur. He was educated at Bob Jones University, Los Angeles Pacific College, and Talbot Theological Seminary, earning a Master of Divinity in 1964. Following his father’s example, he began ministry in Southern California, serving as an associate pastor and later as the youngest pastor of Grace Community Church in 1969. MacArthur’s radio and television program, Grace to You, began broadcasting in 1977. Over his decades-long ministry, he completed a 42-year sermon series covering the entire New Testament and remained a prominent voice in evangelical Christianity until his death in 2025.
Theologically, MacArthur was known for his staunch positions on cessationism, Young Earth creationism, complementarianism, and Lordship salvation, often sparking debate within evangelical circles. He criticized modern Charismatic practices, opposed same-sex marriage and the ordination of women, and promoted a literal interpretation of Scripture within dispensational theology. His ministry faced controversies, including disputes over pastoral qualifications, responses to domestic violence, and his defiance of COVID-19 public health mandates. MacArthur authored numerous books on theology, biblical interpretation, and Christian living.
John MacArthur was born on June 19, 1939, in Los Angeles, California, to Baptist radio preacher Jack MacArthur and Irene Dockendorf. He was the grandson of Canadian Anglican minister Harry MacArthur (d. 1950). In a 1979 interview, he stated that he was "distantly related to General Douglas MacArthur [...] a fifth cousin."
Following in his father's path, MacArthur attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina from 1957 to 1959. After a gap year, he enrolled at Los Angeles Pacific College, affiliated with the Free Methodist Church in 1960. He earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1964 from the Talbot Theological Seminary, graduate school of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles' new in La Mirada, California.
When MacArthur was at Bob Jones University, his father recruited him to the Voice of Calvary singing quartet, often broadcast on Christian radio in Southern California. Then, from 1964 to 1966, he was hired by his father to be an associate pastor at the Harry MacArthur Memorial Bible Church (now Calvary Bible Church) in Burbank, California, which his father Jack had planted and named for his own father. From 1966 to 1969, John MacArthur served as the faculty representative for Talbot Theological Seminary. On February 9, 1969, he was brought on as the third and the youngest yet, pastor at the non-denominational Grace Community Church of Sun Valley, a neighborhood of Los Angeles adjacent to Burbank. MacArthur's daily radio and television program, Grace to You, began as sermons from the Grace Community Church pulpit recorded on reel-to-reel (and then audio cassettes). In 1977, the sermons were first broadcast on WRBS in Baltimore, Maryland, and the radio ministry of the church was born. Also in 1977, he received an honorary degree from Grace Graduate School in 1976 and from Talbot Theological Seminary (a Doctor of Divinity degree in 1977).
In 1985, MacArthur was made the president of Los Angeles Baptist College, now The Master's University, a four-year Christian liberal arts college. In 1986, he was named the president of The Master's Seminary. On June 5, 2011, MacArthur completed a 42 year long sermon series of the entire New Testament at Grace Community Church, a self-described life goal.