Q406 : Interpretive Bias of the MacArthur Study Bible

Thank you so much for your wonderful site. It has been so helpful to me in my studies. I was just curious about your Bible recommendations^a.  You recommend highly the  MacArthur Study Bible, but I know he was instrumental in the Lordship Salvation movement which you oppose (as do I).  Does it concern you that the study notes might be slanted toward a reformed view and make dispensational study and soteriology unclear?  I have a MacArthur Study Bible but seldom use it because I am suspect of lens through which he interprets scripture. Thank you.

A406 : by Tony Garland

Your concern is valid: like any study Bible or commentary, the MacArthur Study Bible (MSB) will show bias toward the theological interpretations of its editors. As you mentioned, the MSB is slanted toward a reformed view of soteriology (salvation) including an emphasis on the lordship of Christ as determinative of one's true salvation experience along with support for limited atonement.

We can discern the MSB support for limited atonement in the notes pertaining to the word world as it occurs in both John 1:29 and John 3:16. See if you can spot the tell-tale sign of a limited atonement bias in the notes which follow (I’ve added emphasis to help 😊).

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

The Son's mission is bound up in the supreme love of God for the evil, sinful "world" of humanity...¹

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)

. . . In this context "world" has the connotation of humanity in general, but not specifically every person.²

In both passages, the notes place the word world in quotes — your first tip-off that the interpreter is not going to take the word at face value, but substitute an alternative meaning—here a subset of the world: only the elect, those who exercise faith.

Another example, this time of a slant toward lordship salvation, is found in the MSB study notes concerning Jesus' teaching of the True Vine (John 15:1-8).

Despite Jesus' clear statement, 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit . . . (John 15:2), the MSB is convinced that branches that do not bear fruit cannot be believers and their burning must refer to eternal destiny in hell.

6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:6)

The imagery here is one of destruction (cf. Matt. 3:10–12; 5:22; 13:40–42, 50; 25:41; Mark 9:43–49; Luke 3:17; 2 Thess. 1:7–9; Rev. 20:10–15). It pictures the judgment awaiting all those who were never saved.³

Contrast the view of the MSB with that of the Ryrie Study Bible:

they are burned. This refers to the works of the believer. The Christian who does not abide in Christ cannot do what pleases God: therefore, his works will be burned at the judgment seat of Christ, though he himself will be saved (1Cor. 3:11-15).⁴

Yet another example of both the lordship salvation and limited atonement tendency of the MSB can be found in the interpretation of the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price.

44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Mat. 13:44-46)

Predictably, in the MSB, the believer is the one who must perform.

These two parables (Mat.13:44-46) have identical meanings. Both picture salvation as something hidden from most people . . . but so valuable that people who have it revealed to them are willing to give up all they have to possess it.⁵

Lordship salvation constantly emphasizes what a person must do in order to qualify as a true believer or disciple.⁶ And limited atonement can't afford to have God be the One purchasing the field—because the field clearly represents the world—without quotes! 😉 [The field is the world . . . (Mat. 13:37)].

Here the lordship and limited atonment biases ignore the clear contextual indicators to conclude that the man is a believer who is so serious about pursuing salvation he is willing to pay a huge price! Never mind that everywhere else in the Bible, it is God who does the purchasing of the believer because the believer has nothing to offer toward the price of salvation (Ps. 49:7; Isa. 55:1).

Even Ryrie promotes the view, although he at least mentions the possibility of an alternate interpretation.⁷

Another possible interpretation equates the man with Christ (as in v. 37) who sacrifices His all to purchase His people.⁸

For a more fruitful explanation than the MSB or Ryrie provide, consider the following presentation: The Private Parables^a by Steve Lewis

In summary, we must all take care to be in God's Word directly and to discern the biases present in any study aid or teaching we come in contact with. In the case of study Bibles, it has been my experience that new believers are generally not much affected by theological subtleties present in the study notes—until they grow deeper in their understanding of Scripture. By then, our expectation is that they will have grown in discernment so as to be able to detect biases and departures from their own reading of Scripture. Of course, this is an inexact science, but in my view, it isn't a reason to throw any reputable Study Bible out, including The MacArthur Study Bible—which in other ways has much to commend it.