c70 - c80 CE
c80 – c90 CE
c90 – c120 CE
Mark’s Gospel
written
Gospel of Luke- Acts written
Gospel of John written and
re-edited
Jewish rabbis
gather at Jamnia
(Javneh) and
regroup after
destruction of
Temple to redefine
Judaism without
sacrifices, priests
and temple.
Christian sect of
Judaism expelled
from Judaism at
Council of Jamnia
for heresy.
Colossians ?
Old Testament books, called
"The Writings," were
established as part of Christian
canon: Psalms, Proverbs, Job,
Song of Songs, Ruth,
Lamentations, Ecclesiastes,
Esther, Daniel, Ezra, and
Chronicles. (90 CE)
Composition of the
"Catholic” Epistles: Hebrews,
I & 2 Peter, James, Jude, 1
John, 2 John, 3 John
2 Thessalonians ?
Ephesians ?
Letter to Titus? (100-150)
1 Timothy? (100-150)
2 Timothy? (100-150)
Book of Revelation probably
written (95 CE)
Gospel of Matthew written
(85-90 CE)
Gospel of Hebrews? (80-150)
Gospel of Egyptians (80-50)
c120 - c200 CE
c201 -400 CE
Julius Severus, formerly governor
of Britain, crushed a revolt in
Palestine. Final Diaspora
(dispersion) of the Jews occurs.
Shimeon Bar-Kokhba and Rabbi
Akiba Ben-Joseph led Jews in a
revolt against Roman rule. They
captured Jerusalem and created an
independent state of Israel.(132
CE) Many Jews believe that in BarKochba the Messiah had come at
last.
Festal Epistle of St. Athanasius
offered earliest known list of the
New Testament canon in its
current form. (367 CE)
St. Jerome completed the
Vulgate - a Latin translation of
both the Old and New
Testaments. This remains the
Latin Bible of the Roman
Catholic Church. (c 405 CE)
The Shepherd of Hermas was
written, describing a highly
developed system of bishops,
deacons, and priests.(140 CE)
Canon of Christian Bible closed c 395
CE
Council of Hippo 393 CE
3rd Council of Carthage (397 CE)
Four canonical gospels collected
together (c 150 CE)
However, in some parts of the
Church, a common canon was not
evident until the 7th century and not
even then, in the Eastern Church
The Protestant Reformation brought
on more questioning of the 27
books, so it could be argued that it
was not until the 16th century that
the matter was finally settled.
The Council of Trent declared
canonicity as being composed of
inspiration and continual use.
Gospel of Mary (120-180)
Gospel of the Saviour (120-180)
Gospel of Judas (130-180)
A New Testament Timeline- (which can only ever be approximate)
See: Early Christian Writings; Jerome Biblical Commentary Canonicity pp 1034-1054); Chronology of the New Testament and Christianity
c6 BCE - c30 CE
Life, preaching and death
of Yeshua the Nazarene (c
6 BCE- c 30 CE)
c30 – c48 CE
c49 - c63 CE
Followers of Jesus tell stories of his
actions and teaching
Oral Gospel/Passion Narrative (30-60
CE)
Followers of Jesus a sect of Judaism
2nd generation of followers of Jesus
tell stories of his life and teaching
Life and preaching of John
the Baptist
(c 8 BCE- c 28 CE)
Death of Stephen (first known
martyr) 31 CE
13 ? “Pauline” letters to Jesus
communities in Asia Minor (49- 60 CE)
Pontius Pilate governor of
Judea 26 CE- 36 CE
Conversion of Paul to the Jesus sect
34-35 CE
Caiaphas becomes High
Priest in Jerusalem (18-36
CE)
Followers of the Way spread across
the Empire
James, brother of Jesus, executed by
Herod Agrippa I (44 CE)
First recorded use of the term
Christian - in Antioch (47 CE)
1 Thessalonians (51)
2 Thessalonians 51 or 90’s
Galatians 54-57
Philippians 56-57
1 Corinthians 57
2 Corinthians 57
Romans 58
Nero persecutes Christians (54 CE)
Reign of Tiberius I Caesar
(14CE-37 CE)
Reign of King Herod (40
BCE-6 CE)
Followers of Jesus- Christians- still a
sect of Judaism
Debate and tension between sects of Sometimes violent dispute between
Judaism about Jesus
sects of Judaism over Jesus.
Peter to Rome? (55 CE)
Philemon 56-7 or 61-63
Colossians 61-63 or 70-80
Ephesians 61-63 or 95-100
c64 - c73 CE
2nd generation of followers of Jesus tell stories of
his life and teaching and that of early followers
Followers of Jesus – Christians- still a sect of
Judaism, though significant differences appearing
Sometimes violent dispute between sects of
Judaism over Jesus. Nero expels Jewish Christians
from Rome.
First primitive gospels appear- e.g.
Gospel of Peter (40-120CE)
Signs Gospel (50-90CE)
Gospel of Thomas? (50-120CE)
Mark’s gospel: First Narrative Gospel written c 70
Death of Peter and Paul (67 CE)
Letter to Titus 65 or 95-100CE
1 Timothy 65 or 95-100CE
2 Timothy 66-67 or 95-100CE
Jewish Revolt against Romans 66-70 CE
Qumram (Essenes) community destroyed by Rome
68 CE
Destruction of Temple by Romans , led by Titus (70
CE)
Council of Jerusalem decides on
membership by Gentiles (48-49 CE)
Lists of sayings and deeds of Jesus
begin to appear- Q Source (40-80CE)
Masada (outpost of Zealots) destroyed by Rome
73 CE