John F. MacArthur

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This article is about American evangelical writer and minister John F. MacArthur. For other people named John MacArthur, please see John MacArthur (disambiguation)

John F. MacArthur, Jr.
John MacArthur
Born	June 14, 1939 Los Angeles, California
Occupation	Minister

John F. MacArthur, Jr. (born June 14, 1939 in Los Angeles, California) is an American evangelical writer and minister, most noted for his radio program entitled Grace to You. MacArthur is a fifth-generation pastor, a popular author and conference speaker, and has served as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California since 1969, and as President of The Master's College (and the related Master's Seminary) in Santa Clarita, California.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Theological Views 3 Controversy 4 Publications 5 External links

[edit] Biography

The son of a Jack MacArthur (an accomplished preacher in his own right), John MacArthur was an athlete and attended Bob Jones University before transferring to Los Angeles Pacific College (now Azusa Pacific University). He later obtained his Masters of Divinity from Talbot Theological Seminary in La Mirada. He graduated with honors. From 1964 to 1966 he served as an associate pastor at Calvary Bible Church, Burbank, California, and 1966 to 1969 as a faculty representative for Talbot Theological Seminary, La Mirada, California. Then in 1969, he became the third pastor in the then-short history of the nondenominational Grace Community Church.

In 1985, MacArthur became president of The Master's College (formerly Los Angeles Baptist College), an accredited, four-year, liberal arts Christian college, and in 1986, founded The Master's Seminary. His daily radio program, Grace to You is broadcast throughout much of the world. He is the author of over 75 books, notably his MacArthur Commentary Series and the MacArthur Study Bible (ISBN 0-8499-1222-9). He works alongside Phil Johnson who edits most of his written work.

MacArthur earned a doctorate from Talbot Theological Seminary (D.D.) and was given an honorary degree from Grace Graduate School (Litt.D).

[edit] Theological Views

MacArthur is a proponent of expository preaching, and his theology is best described as Biblical, evangelical, Calvinistic, and dispensational, although he rejects some of the classic dispensational ideas – hence his self-description as a "leaky dispensationalist".^[1] His book The Gospel According to Jesus (ISBN 0-310-39491-0) caused controversy in the evangelical church by arguing for lordship salvation, which teaches that you must receive Jesus Christ for who He is: both Lord and Savior (II Peter 2:20), and his book Charismatic Chaos argued that Charismatic and Pentecostal theology and practice regarding the "gifts of the Spirit" (healing, miracles, glossolalia, etc.) are incorrect at best and blasphemous at worst.

MacArthur's writings similarly are critical of other modern Christian movements such as those who run "seeker-friendly" church services such as Robert Schuller, Bill Hybels, and Rick Warren. He is also an advocate of Biblical Counseling which stresses the Bible as a tool for counseling and rejects psychological theories and techniques that are contrary to the Bible in spiritual issues.

MacArthur has also been a proponent of Christians abstaining from alcohol, though he does not think it is necessarily sinful.^[2] (See Christianity and alcohol.)

[edit] Controversy

MacArthur has been embroiled in several controversies, the most notable of which was the first time an evangelical church had ever been sued for malpractice. Kenneth Nally, a 24-year old seminary student, committed suicide in 1979. The following year, MacArthur and several members of the staff were brought to court^[3] to determine the legality of counseling people from the Bible rather than modern psychology, although Nally had been receiving psychological help elsewhere as well. After seven years of court rulings, challenges, and appeals, the California Supreme Court found that there was not enough evidence to go to a full trial.

John MacArthur was also involved in a controversy known as the "Lordship of Christ" controversy in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with the publishing of the wildly popular book entitled, The Gospel According to Jesus. (A book MacArthur dedicated to Robert Van Kampen, the reclusive multi-millionaire.) The controversy surrounded MacArthur's sotereological view, that repentance of sin is necessary in order to obtain salvation. MacArthur's views raised controversy within American Evangelicalism and was challenged in print by Charles Ryrie and Zane Hodges, then professors of theology at Dallas Theological Seminary. Essentially, Ryrie and Hodges argued that John MacArthur was teaching that pre salvation works of righteousness were necessary in being saved by God. In response, MacArthur asserted that men and women are justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, but that true salvation will result in good works being performed by the saved individual (Ephesians 2:8-10).

[edit] Publications

Year	Title	Notes	Publisher
1973	The Church: The Body of Christ		Zondervan
1973	Found: God's Will		Victor Books
1975	Liberated for Life (Galatians)		Regal Books
1975	Can a Man Live Again?
1976	Keys to Spiritual Growth		Revell
1977	Focus on Fact: Why You Can Trust the Bible		Revell
1977	God's Plan for Giving		Western Baptist Press
1977	Found: God's Will		Victor
1978	The Charismatics: A Doctrinal Perspective		Zondervan
1978	Giving: God's Way		Tyndale Publishers
1980	Beware the Pretenders (Jude)		Victor Books
1980	Kingdom Living: Here and Now		Moody Press
1980	Why Believe the Bible		Regal
1980	Take God's Word For It		Regal
1981	Jesus' Pattern of Prayer		Moody Press
1982	Body Dynamics		Victor Books
1982	The Family		Moody Press
1982	Your Family		Moody Press
1983	The MacArthur New Testament Commentaries: Hebrews		Moody Press
1983	The Ultimate Priority		Moody Press
1983	Why I Trust the Bible		Victor Books
1984	The MacArthur New Testament Commentaries: 1 Corinthians		Moody Press
1985	The MacArthur New Testament Commentaries: Matthew 1-7		Moody Press
1986	The MacArthur New Testament Commentaries: Ephesians		Moody Press
1986	The Legacy of Jesus		Moody Press
1987	The MacArthur New Testament Commentaries: Galatians		Moody Press
1987	The MacArthur New Testament Commentaries: Matthew 8-15		Moody Press
1988	The Gospel According to Jesus		Zondervan
1988	The MacArthur New Testament Commentaries: Matthew 16-23		Moody Press
1988	The Lordship Controversy		Word of Grace Communications
1988	You Can Trust the Bible		Moody Press
1988	When the Healing Doesn't Come		Word of Grace Communications
1989	God With Us: The Miracle of Christmas		Zondervan
1989	The MacArthur New Testament Commentaries: Matthew 24-28		Moody Press
1989	Shepherdology		The Master's Fellowship
1991	The MacArthur New Testament Commentaries: Romans 1-8		Moody Press
1991	Keys to Spiritual Growth	(revision of 1976 edition)	Revell
1991	The Master's Plan for the Church		Moody Press
1991	Our Sufficiency in Christ		Word
1992	Charismatic Chaos		Zondervan
1992	Rediscovering Expository Preaching	(co-authored with The Master's Seminary faculty)	Word
1992	How to Meet the Enemy		ChariotVictor Publishing
1992	Saved Without a Doubt		ChariotVictor Publishing
1992	The MacArthur New Testament Commentaries: Colossians/Philemon		Moody Press
1993	Faith Works: The Gospel According to the Apostles		Word
1993	God: Coming Face to Face with His Majesty		Victor Books
1993	Ashamed of the Gospel: When the Church Becomes Like the World		Crossway Books
1993	Anxiety Attacked: Apply Scripture to the Cares of the Soul		ChariotVictor Publishing
1993	Drawing Near		Crossway Books
1993	The Miracle of Christmas		Zondervan
1994	The Gospel According to Jesus	(revised and expanded)	Zondervan
1994	The Vanishing Conscience		Word
1994	The MacArthur New Testament Commentaries: Romans 9-16		Moody Press
1994	Introduction to Biblical Counseling	(co-authored with Dr. Wayne Mack and selected faculty of The Master's College)	Word
1994	Different By Design		ChariotVictor Publishing
1994	The MacArthur New Testament Commentaries: Acts 1-12		Moody Press
1994	Reckless Faith: When the Church Loses its Will to Discern		Word
1995	First Love: The Joy and Simplicity of Life in Christ		Victor Books
1995	The Power of Suffering: Strengthening Your Faith in the Refiner's Fire		Victor Books
1995	Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry	(co-authored with The Master's Seminary faculty)	Word
1995	The MacArthur New Testament Commentaries: 1 Timothy		Moody Press
1995	The MacArthur New Testament Commentaries: 2 Timothy		Moody Press
1995	Alone With God: The Power and Passion of Prayer	(revision of Jesus' Pattern of Prayer, Moody, 1981)	Victor Books
1996	The MacArthur New Testament Commentaries: Titus		Moody Press
1996	The Love of God: He Will Do Whatever it Takes to Make Us Holy		Word
1996	The Silent Shepherd: The Care, the Comfort and the Correction of the Holy Spirit		ChariotVictor Publishing
1996	The Glory of Heaven: The Truth About Heaven, Angels and Eternal Life		Crossway Books
1996	The Body Dynamic: Finding Where You Fit in Today's Church	(revision of Body Dynamics, 1982)	ChariotVictor Publishing
1996	The MacArthur New Testament Commentaries: Acts 13-28		Moody Press
1997	The Power of Integrity: Building a Life Without Compromise		Crossway Books
1997	How to Get the Most from God's Word: An Everyday Guide to Enrich Your Study of the Bible		Word
1997	The MacArthur Study Bible		Word
1997	Strength for Today		Crossway Books
1998	The Only Way to Happiness	(reprint of Kingdom Living, 1980)	Moody Press
1998	The Freedom and Power of Forgiveness		Crossway Books
1998	The Pillars of Christian Character: The Essential Attitudes of a Living Faith		Crossway Books
	The MacArthur New Testament Commentaries: James
1998	Our Sufficiency in Christ	(reprint from Word, 1991)	Crossway Books
1998	In the Footsteps of Faith: Lessons to Learn From Great Men and Women of the Bible		Crossway Books
1998	Successful Christian Parenting		Word
1999	The MacArthur New Testament Commentaries: Revelation 1-11		Moody Press
1999	The Second Coming		Crossway Book
1999	I Believe in Jesus: Leading Your Child to Christ		Nelson
1999	Nothing but the Truth		Crossway Books
1999	The MacArthur Topical Bible		Word
2000	The Murder of Jesus		Word
2000	The Gospel According to the Apostles	(re-title of Faith Works, 1992)	Word
2000	Whose Money Is It, Anyway?	(out of print)	Word
2000	Why Government Can't Save You		Word
2000	O Worship the King	(book & CD)	Crossway
2000	Biblical Parenting for Life (Student's & Teacher's Manuals)	(out of print)	Word
2000	MacArthur Bible Studies - 1 Samuel		Word
2000	MacArthur Bible Studies - Mark		Word
2000	MacArthur Bible Studies - Romans		Word
2000	MacArthur Bible Studies - Ephesians		Word
2000	MacArthur Bible Studies - John		Word
2000	MacArthur Bible Studies - Acts		Word
2000	MacArthur Bible Studies - Ruth & Esther		Word
2000	MacArthur Bible Studies - 1 & 2 Peter		Word
2000	MacArthur Bible Studies - Daniel		Word
2000	MacArthur Bible Studies - Galatians		Word
2000	The Murder of Jesus	(Participant's Guide)	Nelson Word
2000	Revelation 12-22	(Commentary)	Moody
2000	A Faith to Grow On		Tommy Nelson
2001	A Bright Tomorrow		Crossway
2001	How to Survive in a World of Unbelievers	(out of print)	Word
2001	The MacArthur Student Bible	(out of print)	Word
2001	The God Who Loves	(Reprint of The Love of God)	Word Publishing
2001	The Keys to Spiritual Growth	(1991 Revell edition revised & expanded)	Crossway
2001	MacArthur Bible Studies - Nehemiah		Word
2001	MacArthur Bible Studies - 1 Corinthians		Word
2001	MacArthur Bible Studies - 1 & 2 Timothy		Word
2001	MacArthur Bible Studies - Hebrews		Word
2001	MacArthur Bible Studies - James		Word
2001	MacArthur Bible Studies - Revelation		Word
2001	Philippians	(Commentary)	Moody
2001	God in the Manger		W Publishing Group
2001	The Battle for the Beginning		W Publishing Group
2001	Our Awesome God	(re-title of God: Coming Face to Face..., Chariot/Victor, 1993)	Crossway
2001	O Come All Ye Faithful	(book & CD)	Crossway
	Truth for Today		J. Countryman (a division of Thomas Nelson)
2001	Terrorism, Jihad, and the Bible		W Publishing Group
2002	MacArthur's Quick Reference Guide to the Bible	(out of print)	W Publishing Group
2002	Why One Way		W Publishing Group
2002	What Wondrous Love Is This	(book & CD)	Crossway
2002	Can God Bless America?		W Publishing Group
2002	When Morning Guilds the Skies	(book & CD)	Crossway
2002	1 & 2 Thessalonians	(Commentary)	Moody Press
2002	Twelve Ordinary Men		W Publishing Group
2003	Think Biblically!		Crossway Books
	Lord, Teach Me to Pray		J. Countryman (a division of Thomas Nelson)
2003	Safe in the Arms of God		Thomas Nelson Publishers
2003	Unleashing God's Word in Your Life	(re-print of How to Get the Most From God's Word, Word Publishers, 1997)	Thomas Nelson Publishers
2003	MacArthur Bible Handbook		Thomas Nelson Publishers
2003	Hard to Believe		Thomas Nelson Publishers
2003	MacArthur Daily Bible		Thomas Nelson Publishers
2003	2 Corinthians	(Commentary)	Moody Press
2003	MacArthur Scripture Memory System		Nelson Reference & Electonric Publishing
2004	Truth Matters		Thomas Nelson Publishers
2004	The Murder of Jesus	(revised edition)	Thomas Nelson Publishers
2004	Welcome to the Family		Nelson Books (a division of Thomas Nelson Publishers)
	Follow Me		J. Countryman (division of Thomas Nelson Publishers)
2004	The Book on Leadership		Nelson Books (a division of Thomas Nelson Publishers)
2004	A Faith to Grow On	(reprint)	Tommy Nelson
2004	A Faith to Grow on Journal		Tommy Nelson
2005	Battle for the Beginning	(reprint)	Thomas Nelson Publishers
2005	The Gospel According to the Apostles	(reprint)	Thomas Nelson Publishers
2005	The Vanishing Conscience	(reprint)	Thomas Nelson Publishers
2005	The Heart of the Bible		Nelson Reference and Electronic
2005	The Fulfilled Family		Nelson Books (a division of Thomas Nelson Publishers)
2005	1 Peter	(Commentary)	Moody Press
2005	A Faith to Grow On Bible		Tommy Nelson
2005	The John MacArthur Pastor's Library: Counseling: How to Counsel Biblically		Nelson Reference and Electronic (a division of Thomas Nelson)
2005	The John MacArthur Pastor's Library: Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically		Nelson Reference and Electronic (a division of Thomas Nelson)
2005	The John MacArthur Pastor's Library: Preaching: How to Preach Biblically		Nelson Reference and Electronic (a division of Thomas Nelson)
2005	2 Peter and Jude	(Commentary)	Moody
2005	Twelve Extraordinary Women		Moody
2005	The Second Coming	(reprinted by Crossway)	Crossway
2006	John 1-11	(Commentary)	Moody
2006	The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Version		Thomas Nelson
2006	The Quest for Character		Thomas Nelson
2006	Experiencing the Passion of Christ, Student Edition		Nelson Impact (a division of Thomas Nelson)
2006	Anxious for Nothing		Cook Communications Ministries
2006	Saved without a Doubt		Cook Communications Ministries
2006	Mark	(Bible Study)	Nelson Impact (a division of Thomas Nelson)
2006	John	(Bible Study)	Nelson Impact (a division of Thomas Nelson)
2006	Acts	(Bible Study)	Nelson Impact (a division of Thomas Nelson)
2006	Romans	(Bible Study)	Nelson Impact (a division of Thomas Nelson)
2006	1 Corinthians	(Bible Study)	Nelson Impact (a division of Thomas Nelson)
2006	Galatians	(Bible Study)	Nelson Impact (a division of Thomas Nelson)
2007	1-3 John	(Commentary)	Moody
2007	The Truth War		Thomas Nelson

[edit] External links

• Grace to You
• Grace to You daily radio broadcast on OnePlace.com
• Grace to You Podcast Archive
• Grace Community Church
• The Master's College
• The Master's Seminary

Persondata
NAME	MacArthur, John F. MacArthur, Jr.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	John MacArthur
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Los Angeles, California Minister
DATE OF BIRTH	June 14, 1939 (age 67)
PLACE OF BIRTH	Los Angeles, California
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH