What books does John MacArthur recommend?
The John MacArthur book recommendations here come from the longtime pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church and author of over 150 books, known for verse-by-verse expository preaching that reaches a global audience. Seventeen titles are sourced from his Grace to You resources, a Ligonier "Deserted Island" interview, book endorsements and forewords. Philosophy and theology dominate, alongside history and works on the spiritual life. His standout pick is Stephen Charnock's The Existence and Attributes of God, of which he says he didn't know it was possible to have that many thoughts about God, calling it inexhaustible. He recommends The Valley of Vision as the best place to begin learning to pray, and credits R.C. Sproul's The Holiness of God with bringing him face-to-face with the awful splendor of God's majestic holiness. MacArthur also authored five works here, including The Gospel According to Jesus and The MacArthur Study Bible.
Last updated March 2026 · Every recommendation cited to its original source.
The Existence and Attributes of God
Updated and Unabridged
byStephen Charnock
20221760 Pages“I didn't know it was possible to have that many thoughts about God. It is inexhaustible.”
— John MacArthur
Source: Ligonier 'Deserted Island' Interview
Read by Paul Washer, John Piper, Timothy Keller and 1 others
The Valley of Vision
A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions
byArthur G. Bennett
1975240 Pages“I have had this book for a long time and have read off and on from these prayers... There is no better place to begin than this collection of prayers.”
— John MacArthur
Source: Grace to You 'What books have most influenced John MacArthur?'
Preaching and Preachers
40th Anniversary Edition
byD. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
2012352 Pages“In an age when so many preachers seem so unsure of what preaching is, in Martyn Lloyd-Jones we find a minister that leaves no doubt.”
— John MacArthur
Source: Grace to You 'What books have most influenced John MacArthur?'
byR.C. Sproul
1998240 Pages“R. C. Sproul's teaching on the holiness of God brought me face-to-face with the awful splendor of God's majestic holiness in a new and fresh way.”
— John MacArthur
Source: Ligonier Ministry Endorsement
byA.W. Pink
1984269 Pages(10,500)
“He was a good servant of the Lord and proponent of Sovereign Grace in a time when such doctrines were rarely heard. I personally would recommend The Sovereignty of God.”
— John MacArthur
Source: Grace to You 'What books have most influenced John MacArthur?'
A Body of Divinity
Contained in Sermons upon the Westminster Assembly's Catechism
byThomas Watson
1958316 Pages“I read it and read it and marked it up, when I was still a seminary student, sorting through lots of things.”
— John MacArthur
Source: Grace to You 'What books have most influenced John MacArthur?'
Read by Paul Washer, Craig Groeschel, John Piper and 1 others
Knowing God
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byJ.I. Packer
1973286 Pages(65,000)
Source: Grace to You 'What books have most influenced John MacArthur?'
Read by John MacArthur
The Treasury of David
An Exposition of the Book of Psalms
byCharles H. Spurgeon
20042912 Pages“Spurgeon's massive multi-volume commentary on the Psalms called The Treasury of David has been a huge help.”
— John MacArthur
Source: Grace to You 'First 750 Books for an Expositor's Library'
Read by John MacArthur
byB.B. Warfield
1948486 Pages(445)
“I was anchored down by B.B. Warfield's The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible. Those are influential books that I would want to go back to.”
— John MacArthur
Source: Ligonier 'Deserted Island' Interview
Read by John MacArthur
byCharles Hodge
18712260 Pages(657)
“I think I would want to have Charles Hodge's Systematic Theology... That's exactly right.”
— John MacArthur
Source: Ligonier 'Deserted Island' Interview
Read by John MacArthur
Desiring God
Meditations of a Christian Hedonist
byJohn Piper
2011411 Pages“I'm a disciple of that reality and thankful to you for clarifying in so many wonderful ways.”
— John MacArthur
Source: Conversation with John Piper (2022)
Read by John MacArthur
The Message of the New Testament
Promises Kept
byMark Dever
2005560 Pages“This outstanding series of bird's-eye studies of the New Testament books will enable all Christians to feed deeper from God's word and equip teachers to feed others.”
— John MacArthur
Source: Book Endorsement
Read by John MacArthur
Everyone's a Theologian
An Introduction to Systematic Theology
byR.C. Sproul
2014357 Pages“This is a tremendously valuable resource for everyone from the newest believer to the most seasoned pastor.”
— John MacArthur
Source: Book Endorsement
Read by John MacArthur
byTim Challies
2007208 PagesSource: Book Foreword
Read by John MacArthur
Between Two Worlds
The Challenge of Preaching Today
byJohn Stott
2017304 Pages“One of the best books I ever read (and re-read) on ministry.”
— John MacArthur
Source: Grace to You 'What books have most influenced John MacArthur?'
Read by John MacArthur
The Death of Death in the Death of Christ
Being a Treatise of the Redemption and Reconciliation that is in the Blood of Christ
byJohn Owen
1959312 Pages(1,846)
Source: Grace Community Church Recommended Resources
The Pilgrim's Progress
From This World, to That Which Is to Come
byJohn Bunyan
2003336 Pages(160,040)
Source: Grace to You Recommended Resources
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Frequently asked questions
What books does John MacArthur recommend?
His 17 recommendations include The Existence and Attributes of God by Stephen Charnock, The Valley of Vision, Lloyd-Jones's Preaching and Preachers, R.C. Sproul's The Holiness of God, and A.W. Pink's The Sovereignty of God.
What is John MacArthur's most recommended book?
MacArthur points to Stephen Charnock's The Existence and Attributes of God, saying he didn't know it was possible to have that many thoughts about God and describing the work as inexhaustible.
Where do John MacArthur's book recommendations come from?
They come from Grace to You resources on the books that influenced him, a Ligonier Deserted Island interview, his First 750 Books for an Expositor's Library, and various book endorsements and forewords.
Has John MacArthur written any books?
Yes. Five of his own works appear here, including The Gospel According to Jesus, Twelve Ordinary Men, Strange Fire, Slave, and The MacArthur Study Bible, all drawn from a body of more than 150 published books.
What genres does John MacArthur read most?
His recommendations are dominated by philosophy and theology and by history, with a strong self-improvement and devotional strand plus works on preaching and pastoral leadership, reflecting his lifelong focus on expository ministry and doctrine.
All 17 Books John MacArthur Has Recommended
- The Existence and Attributes of God · Stephen Charnock
- The Valley of Vision · Arthur G. Bennett
- Preaching and Preachers · D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
- The Holiness of God · R.C. Sproul
- The Sovereignty of God · A.W. Pink
- A Body of Divinity · Thomas Watson
- Knowing God · J.I. Packer
- The Treasury of David · Charles H. Spurgeon
- The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible · B.B. Warfield
- Systematic Theology · Charles Hodge
- Desiring God · John Piper
- The Message of the New Testament · Mark Dever
- Everyone's a Theologian · R.C. Sproul
- The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment · Tim Challies
- Between Two Worlds · John Stott
- The Death of Death in the Death of Christ · John Owen
- The Pilgrim's Progress · John Bunyan