The Bible in time

1. Undated

   Before any date we can fix

   The beginnings

   Creation, the fall, the flood and Babel.

   Note Genesis gives ages and generations, but no years we can place on a calendar with certainty.

   • Genesis 1–11

2. 21st–17th c. BC

   c. 2000–1700 BC

   The patriarchs

   God calls Abraham; Isaac, Jacob and his twelve sons; Joseph brings the family to Egypt.

   Note Approximate: it depends on the date given to the exodus.

   • Genesis 12–50

3. 15th or 13th c. BC

   Exodus c. 1446 or c. 1260 BC

   Egypt and the wilderness

   Israel, enslaved in Egypt, goes out with Moses; the law at Sinai and forty years in the wilderness.

   Note Scholars differ: 1 Kings 6:1 puts the exodus 480 years before the temple (c. 1446 BC); others place it c. 1260 BC. Exodus 12:40 counts 430 years in Egypt.

   • Exodus
   • Leviticus
   • Numbers
   • Deuteronomy
   • Psalms 90probable

   Order of events · 138 chapters

   1. Exodus
   2. Leviticus
   3. Numbers
   4. Deuteronomy
   5. Psalms 90probable

4. 14th–11th c. BC

   c. 1400–1050 BC

   The land and the judges

   Joshua shares out the land; the judges rescue Israel again and again; Ruth in Bethlehem.

   Note With the late date of the exodus: 13th–11th c. BC.

   • Joshua
   • Judges
   • Ruth

   Order of events · 49 chapters

   1. Joshua
   2. Judges
   3. Ruth

5. 11th–10th c. BC

   c. 1050–930 BC

   Saul, David and Solomon

   Samuel anoints Saul and David; David reigns in Jerusalem; Solomon builds the temple.

   Note The kings' dates are approximate; scholars differ by a few years. The psalms go with what their titles tell.

   • 1 Samuel
   • Psalms (75)

     1. 3
     2. 4
     3. 5
     4. 6
     5. 7
     6. 8
     7. 9
     8. 11
     9. 12
     10. 13
     11. 14
     12. 15
     13. 16
     14. 17
     15. 18
     16. 19
     17. 20
     18. 21
     19. 22
     20. 23
     21. 24
     22. 25
     23. 26
     24. 27
     25. 28
     26. 29
     27. 30
     28. 31
     29. 32
     30. 34
     31. 35
     32. 36
     33. 37
     34. 38
     35. 39
     36. 40
     37. 41
     38. 51
     39. 52
     40. 53
     41. 54
     42. 55
     43. 56
     44. 57
     45. 58
     46. 59
     47. 60
     48. 61
     49. 62
     50. 63
     51. 64
     52. 65
     53. 68
     54. 69
     55. 70
     56. 72
     57. 86
     58. 101
     59. 103
     60. 108
     61. 109
     62. 110
     63. 122
     64. 124
     65. 127
     66. 131
     67. 133
     68. 138
     69. 139
     70. 140
     71. 141
     72. 142
     73. 143
     74. 144
     75. 145
   • 1 Chronicles 10–29
   • 2 Samuel
   • 1 Kings 1–11
   • 2 Chronicles 1–9
   • Proverbs 1–24
   • Song of Songsprobable
   • Ecclesiastesprobable

   Order of events · 214 chapters

   1. 1 Samuel 1–19
   2. Psalms 59
   3. 1 Samuel 20–21
   4. Psalms 56
   5. Psalms 34
   6. 1 Samuel 22
   7. Psalms 52
   8. Psalms 142
   9. 1 Samuel 23
   10. Psalms 54
   11. 1 Samuel 24
   12. Psalms 57
   13. 1 Samuel 25–31
   14. 1 Chronicles 10
   15. 2 Samuel 1–5
   16. 1 Chronicles 11–12
   17. 2 Samuel 6
   18. 1 Chronicles 13–16
   19. Other psalms of David (62)probable

       1. 4
       2. 5
       3. 6
       4. 7
       5. 8
       6. 9
       7. 11
       8. 12
       9. 13
       10. 14
       11. 15
       12. 16
       13. 17
       14. 19
       15. 20
       16. 21
       17. 22
       18. 23
       19. 24
       20. 25
       21. 26
       22. 27
       23. 28
       24. 29
       25. 30
       26. 31
       27. 32
       28. 35
       29. 36
       30. 37
       31. 38
       32. 39
       33. 40
       34. 41
       35. 53
       36. 55
       37. 58
       38. 61
       39. 62
       40. 63
       41. 64
       42. 65
       43. 68
       44. 69
       45. 70
       46. 86
       47. 101
       48. 103
       49. 108
       50. 109
       51. 110
       52. 122
       53. 124
       54. 131
       55. 133
       56. 138
       57. 139
       58. 140
       59. 141
       60. 143
       61. 144
       62. 145
   20. 2 Samuel 7
   21. 1 Chronicles 17
   22. 2 Samuel 8
   23. Psalms 60
   24. 2 Samuel 9–10
   25. 1 Chronicles 18–19
   26. 2 Samuel 11–12
   27. Psalms 51
   28. 1 Chronicles 20
   29. 2 Samuel 13–15
   30. Psalms 3
   31. 2 Samuel 16–22
   32. Psalms 18
   33. 2 Samuel 23–24
   34. 1 Chronicles 21–29
   35. 1 Kings 1–3
   36. 2 Chronicles 1
   37. Psalms of Solomon (2)probable

       1. 72
       2. 127
   38. Proverbs 1–24
   39. Song of Songsprobable
   40. Ecclesiastesprobable
   41. 1 Kings 4–8
   42. 2 Chronicles 2–7
   43. 1 Kings 9–10
   44. 2 Chronicles 8–9
   45. 1 Kings 11

6. 10th–9th c. BC

   c. 930–790 BC

   The kingdom divides

   Israel in the north and Judah in the south, each with its kings; Elijah and Elisha.

   • 1 Kings 12–22
   • 2 Chronicles 10–25
   • 2 Kings 1–14

   Order of events · 41 chapters

   1. 1 Kings 12–14
   2. 2 Chronicles 10–12
   3. 1 Kings 15
   4. 2 Chronicles 13–16
   5. 1 Kings 16–22
   6. 2 Chronicles 17–20
   7. 2 Kings 1–12
   8. 2 Chronicles 21–24
   9. 2 Kings 13–14
   10. 2 Chronicles 25

7. 8th c. BC

   c. 790–722 BC

   Prophets in Israel and Judah

   Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah and Micah call the people to return; Samaria falls to Assyria in 722 BC.

   • Jonah
   • Amos
   • Hosea
   • 2 Kings 15–17
   • 2 Chronicles 26–28
   • Isaiah 1–35
   • Micah

   Order of events · 75 chapters

   1. Jonah
   2. Amos
   3. Hosea
   4. 2 Kings 15
   5. 2 Chronicles 26–27
   6. 2 Kings 16
   7. 2 Chronicles 28
   8. Isaiah 1–35
   9. Micah
   10. 2 Kings 17

8. 8th–7th c. BC

   c. 715–609 BC

   Judah alone: from Hezekiah to Josiah

   God saves Jerusalem from Assyria; Manasseh turns away; Josiah finds the book of the law.

   • 2 Kings 18–23
   • Isaiah 36–66
   • 2 Chronicles 29–35
   • Proverbs 25–29
   • Nahumprobable
   • Zephaniah

   Order of events · 55 chapters

   1. 2 Kings 18–20
   2. Isaiah 36–39
   3. 2 Chronicles 29–32
   4. Proverbs 25–29
   5. Isaiah 40–66probable
   6. 2 Kings 21
   7. 2 Chronicles 33
   8. Nahumprobable
   9. 2 Kings 22–23
   10. 2 Chronicles 34–35
   11. Zephaniah

9. 7th–6th c. BC

   c. 627–586 BC

   Jeremiah and the fall of Jerusalem

   Jeremiah warns for forty years; Babylon destroys Jerusalem and the temple in 586 BC.

   Note Some date the fall to 587 BC.

   • Jeremiah 1–39
   • Habakkukprobable
   • 2 Kings 24–25
   • 2 Chronicles 36
   • Lamentationsprobable

   Order of events · 50 chapters

   1. Jeremiah 1–20
   2. Habakkukprobable
   3. 2 Kings 24
   4. Jeremiah 21–39
   5. 2 Kings 25
   6. 2 Chronicles 36
   7. Lamentationsprobable

10. 6th c. BC

    586–539 BC

    The exile

    Judah lives in Babylon; Ezekiel and Daniel; Babylon falls to the Persians in 539 BC.

    • Jeremiah 40–52
    • Ezekiel
    • Obadiah 1probable
    • Daniel
    • Psalms 137probable

    Order of events · 75 chapters

    1. Jeremiah 40–52
    2. Ezekiel
    3. Obadiah 1probable
    4. Daniel
    5. Psalms 137probable

11. 6th c. BC

    538–516 BC

    The return and the temple

    Cyrus lets the Jews go home; with Haggai and Zechariah they rebuild the temple.

    • 1 Chronicles 1–9probable
    • Ezra 1–6
    • Haggai
    • Zechariah
    • Psalms 126probable

    Order of events · 32 chapters

    1. 1 Chronicles 1–9probable
    2. Ezra 1–5
    3. Haggai
    4. Zechariah
    5. Ezra 6
    6. Psalms 126probable

12. 5th c. BC

    c. 480–430 BC

    Esther, Ezra and Nehemiah

    Esther in Persia; Ezra teaches the law; Nehemiah raises the wall; Malachi closes the prophets.

    • Estherprobable
    • Ezra 7–10
    • Nehemiah
    • Malachiprobable

    Order of events · 31 chapters

    1. Estherprobable
    2. Ezra 7–10
    3. Nehemiah
    4. Malachiprobable

13. 4th–1st c. BC

    c. 430–5 BC

    Between the testaments

    About four hundred years with no new books in this Bible. Persia, then Greece and later Rome rule the land.

14. 1st c. BC – 1st c. AD

    c. 6 BC – AD 30 (or 33)

    Jesus

    The birth, teaching, miracles, death and resurrection of Jesus, in the four gospels.

    Note Jesus is born before Herod's death (Matthew 2); the year of the cross is debated: AD 30 or 33. Approximate order within the era.

    • Luke
    • Matthew
    • Mark
    • John

    Order of events · 89 chapters

    1. Luke 1
    2. Matthew 1
    3. Luke 2
    4. Matthew 2–3
    5. Mark 1
    6. Luke 3
    7. Matthew 4
    8. Luke 4
    9. John 1–4
    10. Luke 5
    11. Mark 2–3
    12. John 5
    13. Matthew 5–7
    14. Luke 6–7
    15. Matthew 8–9
    16. Mark 4–5
    17. Luke 8
    18. Matthew 10–13
    19. Mark 6
    20. Matthew 14
    21. John 6
    22. Mark 7
    23. Matthew 15–16
    24. Mark 8
    25. Luke 9
    26. Matthew 17
    27. Mark 9
    28. Matthew 18
    29. John 7–10
    30. Luke 10–18
    31. John 11
    32. Matthew 19
    33. Mark 10
    34. Matthew 20
    35. Luke 19
    36. Matthew 21
    37. Mark 11
    38. John 12
    39. Matthew 22
    40. Mark 12
    41. Luke 20
    42. Matthew 23–24
    43. Mark 13
    44. Luke 21
    45. Matthew 25–26
    46. Mark 14
    47. Luke 22
    48. John 13–18
    49. Matthew 27
    50. Mark 15
    51. Luke 23
    52. John 19
    53. Matthew 28
    54. Mark 16
    55. Luke 24
    56. John 20–21

15. 1st c. AD

    c. AD 30–57

    The church spreads

    Pentecost in Jerusalem; Paul travels and writes to the churches he founds.

    • Acts 1–20
    • Galatiansprobable
    • 1 Thessaloniansprobable
    • 2 Thessaloniansprobable
    • 1 Corinthians
    • 2 Corinthians
    • Romans

    Order of events · 79 chapters

    1. Acts 1–14
    2. Galatiansprobable
    3. Acts 15–17
    4. 1 Thessaloniansprobable
    5. 2 Thessaloniansprobable
    6. Acts 18–19
    7. 1 Corinthians
    8. Acts 20
    9. 2 Corinthians
    10. Romans

16. 1st c. AD

    c. AD 57–95

    Paul in chains and the last letters

    Paul, a prisoner, reaches Rome and writes from there; Peter writes to scattered believers; John receives the Revelation.

    Note Revelation: c. AD 95 by most; others place it before AD 70.

    • Acts 21–28
    • Ephesiansprobable
    • Philippiansprobable
    • Colossiansprobable
    • Philemon 1probable
    • 1 Timothyprobable
    • Titusprobable
    • 2 Timothyprobable
    • 1 Peterprobable
    • 2 Peterprobable
    • Revelationprobable

    Order of events · 66 chapters

    1. Acts 21–28
    2. Ephesiansprobable
    3. Philippiansprobable
    4. Colossiansprobable
    5. Philemon 1probable
    6. 1 Timothyprobable
    7. Titusprobable
    8. 2 Timothyprobable
    9. 1 Peterprobable
    10. 2 Peterprobable
    11. Revelationprobable

17. Undated

    The text does not say when

    No time given

    Books and psalms whose text does not say when they were written.

    • Jobprobable
    • Joelprobable
    • Hebrewsprobable
    • Jamesprobable
    • 1 Johnprobable
    • 2 John 1probable
    • 3 John 1probable
    • Jude 1probable
    • Proverbs 30–31probable
    • Psalms (72)probable

      1. 1
      2. 2
      3. 10
      4. 33
      5. 42
      6. 43
      7. 44
      8. 45
      9. 46
      10. 47
      11. 48
      12. 49
      13. 50
      14. 66
      15. 67
      16. 71
      17. 73
      18. 74
      19. 75
      20. 76
      21. 77
      22. 78
      23. 79
      24. 80
      25. 81
      26. 82
      27. 83
      28. 84
      29. 85
      30. 87
      31. 88
      32. 89
      33. 91
      34. 92
      35. 93
      36. 94
      37. 95
      38. 96
      39. 97
      40. 98
      41. 99
      42. 100
      43. 102
      44. 104
      45. 105
      46. 106
      47. 107
      48. 111
      49. 112
      50. 113
      51. 114
      52. 115
      53. 116
      54. 117
      55. 118
      56. 119
      57. 120
      58. 121
      59. 123
      60. 125
      61. 128
      62. 129
      63. 130
      64. 132
      65. 134
      66. 135
      67. 136
      68. 146
      69. 147
      70. 148
      71. 149
      72. 150

    Order of events · 145 chapters

    1. Jobprobable
    2. Joelprobable
    3. Hebrewsprobable
    4. Jamesprobable
    5. 1 Johnprobable
    6. 2 John 1probable
    7. 3 John 1probable
    8. Jude 1probable
    9. Proverbs 30–31probable
    10. Psalms (72)probable

        1. 1
        2. 2
        3. 10
        4. 33
        5. 42
        6. 43
        7. 44
        8. 45
        9. 46
        10. 47
        11. 48
        12. 49
        13. 50
        14. 66
        15. 67
        16. 71
        17. 73
        18. 74
        19. 75
        20. 76
        21. 77
        22. 78
        23. 79
        24. 80
        25. 81
        26. 82
        27. 83
        28. 84
        29. 85
        30. 87
        31. 88
        32. 89
        33. 91
        34. 92
        35. 93
        36. 94
        37. 95
        38. 96
        39. 97
        40. 98
        41. 99
        42. 100
        43. 102
        44. 104
        45. 105
        46. 106
        47. 107
        48. 111
        49. 112
        50. 113
        51. 114
        52. 115
        53. 116
        54. 117
        55. 118
        56. 119
        57. 120
        58. 121
        59. 123
        60. 125
        61. 128
        62. 129
        63. 130
        64. 132
        65. 134
        66. 135
        67. 136
        68. 146
        69. 147
        70. 148
        71. 149
        72. 150

The dates are approximate: they come from what the text itself tells (for example, 1 Kings 6:1 and the years of each king) tied to dates all history accepts, such as the fall of Samaria (722 BC) and of Jerusalem (586 BC). Where scholars differ, we say so without taking sides. Each chapter appears once; the books that do not say when they were written go at the end, under “No time given”.