John Fullerton MacArthur Jr. (June 19, 1939 – July 14, 2025) was an American Calvinist Baptist pastor, theologian, author, and broadcaster known for his verse-by-verse expository preaching of the Bible.[2][1][6] Born in Los Angeles to Baptist radio preacher Jack MacArthur and Irene Dockendorf, he attended Bob Jones College and Los Angeles Pacific College before earning a Master of Divinity from Talbot Theological Seminary in 1963.[6][1] After serving as an associate pastor in Burbank and as a traveling representative for Talbot, he became pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, in 1969, a role he held until his death, growing it into a megachurch with 3,500-seat services and extensive lay-led programs.[1][2][6] MacArthur founded Grace to You, a globally syndicated radio and television Bible teaching program reaching over 200 countries.[2][5] In 1985, he became president of The Master's University (then Los Angeles Baptist College), later serving as chancellor, transforming it into a leading Christian liberal arts institution.[1][4] He established The Master's Seminary in 1986 on the Grace church campus, graduating over 2,000 men for pastoral and missionary work worldwide, and helped launch The Master's Academy International in 1991 to train pastors amid post-Soviet doctrinal challenges.[1] Theologically, he championed cessationism, Young Earth creationism, complementarianism, Lordship salvation, and dispensationalism, critiquing Charismatic practices, same-sex marriage, and women's ordination; he once taught "incarnational sonship" but retracted it by the late 1990s.[2] His numerous books addressed theology, biblical interpretation, and Christian living.[2][4] Controversies included disputes over pastoral qualifications, domestic violence responses, and defying COVID-19 mandates.[2] MacArthur's 56-year tenure at one church exemplified faithful, long-term expository ministry, influencing evangelicals globally.[3][4][6]