John Macarthur _ YOUR PAST IS NOT YOU: Such Were Some of You

John Macarthur _ YOUR PAST IS NOT YOU: Such Were Some of You
John Fullerton MacArthur Jr. (June 19, 1939 – July 14, 2025) was an American pastor, Bible teacher, theologian, and author, best known for his verse-by-verse expository preaching and his unwavering commitment to the authority of Scripture. Born in Los Angeles, California, into a family of preachers, he grew up immersed in church life and Christian radio ministry. His father, Jack MacArthur, was a well-known Baptist pastor and radio evangelist, and his grandfather had also served in pastoral ministry. From an early age, John was surrounded by preaching, worship, and Bible teaching, which shaped his sense of calling and gave him a deep familiarity with the world of ministry.

MacArthur studied at Bob Jones University before transferring to Los Angeles Pacific College, where he completed his undergraduate work. He went on to earn a Master of Divinity from Talbot Theological Seminary, part of Biola University, in the mid-1960s. During those years he was already involved in ministry, traveling with a gospel quartet, assisting his father, and preaching in various settings. These experiences refined his ability to communicate clearly, grounded him in rigorous Bible study, and helped form the doctrinal convictions that would define his later work. In 1963 he married Patricia Smith, who would remain his partner in life and ministry for more than six decades. Together they raised four children and built a family that, although often away from the public spotlight, was central to his life.

In 1969, at the age of 29, John MacArthur became pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California. At that time it was a relatively small congregation, but under his leadership it grew into a large and influential church. From the very beginning of his ministry there, MacArthur committed himself to expository preaching—opening the Bible and teaching through it verse by verse, book by book. Rather than shaping his sermons around trends, news, or popular topics, he walked systematically through Scripture, explaining its meaning in context and applying it to daily life. Over the course of more than four decades, he preached through the entire New Testament, a long-term goal that became one of the defining achievements of his ministry. His preaching style was direct, text-centered, and often confrontational toward error. He rarely relied on jokes or emotional stories. Instead, he focused on clarity, doctrine, and the conviction that God’s Word, rightly handled, has its own power.

The influence of his pulpit ministry spread far beyond the walls of Grace Community Church through the media ministry known as Grace to You. What began as simple recordings of sermons eventually grew into a radio broadcast that first aired in 1977. From there, Grace to You expanded into a global ministry using radio, television, print, and digital platforms. The familiar tagline, “Unleashing God’s truth, one verse at a time,” captured the heart of the work: not entertainment or religious inspiration in a shallow sense, but serious Bible teaching made accessible to listeners around the world. By the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, Grace to You programs were airing thousands of times per day in multiple languages, and a vast archive of sermons became available online for free. Many pastors, students, and lay believers first encountered MacArthur’s teaching through these broadcasts and would later describe his ministry as shaping their understanding of Scripture and doctrine.

MacArthur’s commitment to training future leaders also led him into academic and institutional roles. In 1985 he became president of Los Angeles Baptist College, which was later renamed The Master’s College and eventually The Master’s University. In 1986, he helped found The Master’s Seminary, an institution dedicated to preparing men for pastoral ministry through rigorous, Bible-centered education. As president and later chancellor of these institutions, MacArthur emphasized a combination of strong academics, devotion to Scripture, and close connection to local-church life. The seminary became especially known for its focus on biblical languages, systematic theology, expository preaching, and shepherding. Graduates spread around the world, planting churches, leading congregations, and establishing training centers that carried the same theological and pastoral DNA. Through The Master’s Academy International, a network of partner training ministries in various countries, MacArthur’s influence extended into many cultures and languages beyond North America.
As an author, John MacArthur was exceptionally prolific. He wrote, edited, or contributed to well over a hundred books, covering biblical commentaries, theological works, pastoral manuals, and popular-level Christian living titles.