SUN VALLEY, CA — John MacArthur, a renowned pastor, teacher, and author whose verse-by-verse Bible preaching helped inspire biblical evangelicalism for more than half a century went home to be with the Lord on Monday. He was 86.
Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, where MacArthur served as senior pastor since 1969, announced his death Tuesday. The church said MacArthur passed away at 6:17 p.m. PT on July 14 after a recent battle with pneumonia, following several months of health challenges.
MacArthur was widely known for his steadfast commitment to biblical inerrancy and the authority of Scripture. His expository preaching style—systematically teaching through entire books of the Bible—set a global standard for faithful pastoral ministry and reached millions through his international radio broadcast, Grace to You, and his extensive writing ministry.
“John MacArthur devoted his life to one thing: unleashing God’s truth, one verse at a time,” said a statement from The Master’s Seminary, the institution he founded and led. “His legacy will echo in pulpits and mission fields around the world for generations.”
Born June 19, 1939, in Los Angeles, John Fullerton MacArthur Jr. was the son of a Baptist preacher and the fifth generation of pastors in his family. After graduating from Talbot Theological Seminary in 1963, he entered full-time ministry and soon became a prominent voice in the movement to recover doctrinal fidelity in the evangelical church.
Over the course of more than five decades, MacArthur authored over 150 books, including The Gospel According to Jesus, Biblical Doctrine, and the best-selling MacArthur Study Bible, first published in 1997 and still widely used among pastors and laypeople.
His ministry expanded beyond the local church through the Grace to You broadcast, which began in 1977 and now airs in multiple languages across six continents. Whether in the largest cities or the smallest villages, MacArthur’s biblical teaching was used to train pastors, disciple believers, and equip evangelists.
“John MacArthur’s influence in my life was inestimable. He was a precious mentor and friend for nearly 45 years,” said Phil Johnson, Executive Director of Grace to You. “In the pulpit he was fierce, forceful, and full of earnest courage. In person, he was kind and gentle. This is a painful loss for the church; glorious triumph for John.”
MacArthur’s convictions often placed him at the center of public discussions that drew a national spotlight. In 2020, he gained national attention for defying California’s COVID-19 lockdown orders by reopening Grace Community Church, stating, “Christ is Lord of all—and that includes the church.” The legal battle that followed resulted in a settlement in the church’s favor, awarding Grace $800,000.
“We received a letter with a threat saying that we could be fined or I could go to jail for a maximum of 6 months,” Pastor MacArthur explained during the legal battle. “Of course, my biblical hero apart from the Lord Jesus Christ is the Apostle Paul. And when he went into a town he didn’t ask what the hotel was like, he asked what the jail was like because he knew that’s where he was gonna spend his time. So I don’t mind being a little apostolic if they want to tuck me into jail. I’m open for a jail ministry. I’ve done a lot of other ministries and I haven’t had the opportunity to do that one, so bring it on.”
He was also a leading critic of the modern charismatic movement, social justice theology, and the encroachment of secular ideologies into the church. His 2013 Strange Fire conference, as well as the 2018 “Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel,” sparked widespread debate in-defense of biblical evangelicalism.
Despite his secular critics, MacArthur remained unflinchingly focused on his calling.
MacArthur is survived by his wife, Patricia, whom he married in 1963; their four children; 15 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
“He ran the race, kept the faith, and now sees his Savior face to face,” Grace Community Church said in a statement. “To God be the glory.”
Through his ministry, John MacArthur inspired generations of pastors, many of whom credit him for helping them achieve their own calling and approach to faithful biblical teaching. He often described mentoring and equipping future church leaders as one of his greatest joys—a calling he embraced with humility and passion. His commitment to raising up pastors who would preach the Word with clarity and conviction ensures that his legacy continued the evangelistic ripple of The Gospel that expands across generations and will continue to strengthen the church for decades to come.
