John MacArthur, the longtime pastor of Grace Community Church in Southern California and founder of the media ministry Grace to You, died on Monday, 14 July 2025, at the age of 86.
John MacArthur dies: What’s the cause of death?
The cause of death, according to reports, was complications from pneumonia.
His death was announced by Phil Johnson, a close associate who led MacArthur’s media outreach and edited many of his books.
MacArthur had experienced ongoing health challenges in recent years, including heart and lung issues.
In 2023, he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, a condition that causes irregular heartbeat. He had multiple surgeries, including procedures to address fluid in his lungs and to replace parts of his aorta.
Although he made limited public appearances in late 2024, his health began to decline again in early 2025.
On Sunday, 13 July 2025, an elder at Grace Community Church informed the congregation that MacArthur had been hospitalised and was not expected to recover.
He died the next evening at 18:17 PST (03:17 on Wednesday, 15 July 2025) in Santa Clarita, California.
John MacArthur biography
John Fullerton MacArthur Jr. was born on 19 June 1939, in Los Angeles. He came from a religious family. His father, Jack MacArthur, was a Baptist radio preacher, and his grandfather was a Canadian Anglican minister.
John MacArthur followed in their footsteps, studying theology and becoming a pastor.
He attended Bob Jones College, later transferred to Los Angeles Pacific College, and earned a Master of Divinity from Talbot Theological Seminary in 1963.
After working as an associate pastor, he became the senior pastor of Grace Community Church in 1969. He led the church for over five decades.
MacArthur became widely known for his preaching style, which focused on detailed explanations of the Bible, often called “expository preaching.”
He wrote or edited more than 150 books, including the best-selling MacArthur Study Bible, and founded The Master’s Seminary and The Master’s University.
He held strong theological views. He was known for opposing modern practices in some churches, such as speaking in tongues and women preaching.
He also supported young Earth creationism, a belief that the Earth is only a few thousand years old based on a literal interpretation of the Bible.
MacArthur had a large media presence. His “Grace to You” radio and TV programs spread his sermons worldwide. He was a popular speaker and appeared on several national news programs.
He is survived by his wife Patricia, four children, 15 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
Reactions to John MacArthur’s death
John MacArthur’s passing has drawn responses from both supporters and critics.
Here are some of the reactions we picked: