Bible Timeline

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A timeline of Biblical & Christian history
Major events in Bible times and world history,
A chronology of the Genesis genealogies,
Plus important dates affecting the church.
Make sure to read the article following this chart to understand how pre-Abraham dating was derived.

Circa Place and Event Era
4892 B.C. Adam & Eve Created (D:Heb/70/Sam)(B:Heb/Sam Genesis 5:3)
Creation/Fall
4762 B.C. Seth born (D:Heb/70/Sam)(B:Heb/Sam Genesis 5:6) .
4657 B.C. Enosh born (D:Heb/70/Sam)(B:Heb/Sam Genesis 5:9) .
4567 B.C. Cainan (alt. Kenan) born (D:Heb/70/Sam)(B:Heb/Sam Genesis 5:12) .
4497 B.C. Mahalalel born (D:Heb/70/Sam)(B:Heb/Sam Genesis 5:15) .
4432 B.C. Jared born (D:Heb/70)(B:Heb/70 Genesis 5:18) .
4270 B.C. Enoch born (D:Heb/70/Sam)(B:Heb/Sam Genesis 5:21) .
4205 B.C. Methuselah born (D:Heb/70)(B:Heb/70 Genesis 5:25) .
4018 B.C. Lamech born (D:Heb)(B:Heb Genesis 5:28) .
3962 B.C. Adam dies. (Genesis 5:4) .
3905 B.C. Enoch is taken by God. (Genesis 5:22-23) .
3836 B.C. Noah born (D:Heb/70)(B:Heb/70/Sam Genesis 5:32) .
3334 B.C. Shem born (D:Heb/70/Sam)(B:Heb/70/Sam Genesis 5:10) .
3236 B.C. Methuselah dies (Genesis 5:26-27). Worldwide Flood begins (Genesis 7:6, 11). .
3235 B.C. Flood Ends. (Genesis 8:13-14) Post-Flood
3234 B.C. Arphaxad born (D:Heb/Sam) (B:70/Sam Genesis 11:12) .
3099 B.C. Cainan born (D:70)(B:70 Genesis 11:13 Septuagint only) - Luke 3:36 2
Ancient Near East: Early Bronze Age.
3000 B.C. Sumerian Civilization begins to arise in Mesopotamia (until 2340 B.C.)
Egyptian Civilization begins to arise. Archaic Period. First king Narmer (also called Menes) Writing arises. Era of written history begins.
2969 B.C. Salah (alt. Shelah) born (D:Heb/Sam)(B:70/Sam Genesis 11:14) .
2888 B.C. Noah dies. (Genesis 9:28-29) .
2839 B.C. Eber born (D:70/Sam)(B:70/Sam Genesis 11:16) .
2734 B.C. Shem dies. (Genesis 11:11) .
2705 B.C. Peleg born (D:Heb/Sam)(B:70/Sam Genesis 11:18) Tower of Babel (Genesis 10:25)
2667-2648 B.C. (alt. 2628-2609 B.C.) Egypt - Reign of Djoser (Zoser), 3rd Dynasty. First stone pyramid: Step Pyramid at Saqqara.
Egyptian Old Kingdom
2613 B.C. Egypt - King Sneferu builder of first true pyramid. Dies 2589 B.C. .
2600 B.C. Indus Civilization begins to arise in India (until 1800 B.C.)
Minoan Civilization begins to arise on Crete (until 1450 B.C.) .
2575 B.C. Reu born (D:Heb/Sam)(B:70/Sam). Genesis 11:20 .
2589 B.C. Egypt - King Khufu (Cheops), Fourth Dynasty. Builder of the Great Pyramid. Dies 2566 B.C.
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2558 B.C. Egypt - King Khafre (Chephren), Fourth Dynasty. Builder of the second largest Giza Pyramid. Dies 2532 B.C.
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2532 B.C. Egypt - King Menkaure (Mykerinus), Fourth Dynasty. Builder of the smallest Giza Pyramid. Dies 2503 B.C.
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2443 B.C. Serug born (D:Heb/Sam)(B:70/Sam). Genesis 11:22 .
2340 B.C. Akkadian Empire replaces Sumerians in Mesopotamia (until 2100 B.C) .
2313 B.C. Nahor born (D:Heb/Sam)(B:Sam). Genesis 11:24 .
2300 B.C. England (Britain) - Best estimate (by archaeologists and scholars as of 2008) of when Stonehenge was built. .
2234 B.C. Terah born (D:Heb/70/Sam)(B:Heb/70/Sam). Genesis 11:26 .
2164 B.C. Ur of the Chaldeans - Abraham born .
2160 B.C. . Egyptian First Intermediate Period
2120 B.C. Egypt - Pharaoh Khety (Kheti) III rules Egypt (until 2070 B.C.)*
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2089 B.C. Abraham leaves for Promised Land from Haran (Genesis 12:4) .
. Abraham & Sarah in Egypt (Goshen, Memphis), return to P.L. (Genesis 12:10-31:1) .
2078 B.C. P.L. - Ishmael born to Abraham (Genesis 16:16) .
2065 B.C. P.L. - Sodom destroyed by fire (Genesis 17:1 & Chapters 18-19)
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2064 B.C. P.L. - Isaac born to Abraham (Genesis 18:14, 21:5) .
2030 B.C. . Egyptian Middle Kingdom
2004 B.C. P.L. - Jacob & Esau born to Isaac (Genesis 25:26) .
2000 B.C. Old Babylonian Empire arises (until 1600 B.C.) .
1989 B.C. P.L. - Abraham dies (Genesis 25:7) .
1950 B.C. . Ancient Near East: Middle Bronze Age
1915 B.C. P.L. - Joseph born to Jacob in his old age (Genesis 37:3) .
1897 B.C. P.L. - Joseph sold into slavery in Egypt (37:2-36)
Egypt - Senusert II becomes pharaoh of Egypt .
1884 B.C. P.L. - Isaac dies (Genesis 35:28-29).
Egypt - Joseph enters service of pharaoh (Genesis 41:46) .
1878 B.C. Egypt - Senusret III (alt. Sesostris III) pharaoh of Egypt until 1840 B.C. .
1873 B.C. Jacob moves family to the Land of Goshen in Egypt (Genesis 47:28) .
1860 B.C. Egypt - Amenemhet III becomes co-regent with father Senusret III. .
1857 B.C. Egypt - Jacob dies, embalmed, buried in P.L. (Genesis 47:28, 50:1) .
1840 B.C. Egypt - Senusret III dies. Amenemhet III alone is pharaoh
Nation of Israel enslaved in Egypt (Genesis 15:13, Acts 7:6) .
1814 B.C. Egypt - Amenemhet IV is pharaoh .
1806 B.C. Egypt - Sobekneferu (alt Neferusobek, Sobeknefru) becomes first known female pharaoh of Egypt. She was wife of Amenemhet IV (also his sister and daughter of Pharaoh Amenemhat III) .
1805 B.C. Egypt - Joseph dies 110 yro, embalmed, in coffin (Genesis 50:26) .
1802 B.C. Egypt - Sobekneferu dies as last of 12th Dynasty and Middle Kingdom. A new pharaoh arises that doesn't know Joseph (Exodus 1:6-9). Likely the very next dynasty, which had many competing and short lived rulers, or perhaps the later Hyksos. .
1783 B.C. Egypt - Period of the Hyksos rulers - capital city at Avaris Egyptian Second Intermediate Period
1600 B.C. Hittite Empire arises (until 1193 B.C.)
Mycenaean civilization arises in Greece .
1570 B.C. Egypt - Pharaoh Ahmose I & wife Nefertiri (alt. Nefertari) - 18th Dynasty begins. He defeats Hyksos by taking Avaris Egyptian New Kingdom
1550 B.C. . Ancient Near East: Late Bronze Age I
1546 B.C. Egypt - Pharaoh Amenhotep I (alt. Amenophis I), son of Ahmose & Nefertiri. Founded Karnak temple at Luxor. .
1526 B.C. Egypt - Pharaoh Thutmose I (alt. Tuthmosis I) & wife Ahmose .
1522 B.C. Moses born in Egypt (Deuteronomy 34:7). Rescue most likely by Hatshepsut, daughter of Thutmose I and Ahmose. .
1514 B.C. Egypt - Pharaoh Thutmose II (alt. Tuthmosis II) .
1504 B.C. Egypt - Pharaoh Thutmose III and Queen Hatshepsut rule Egypt (co-regency, though power rests with her). .
1482 B.C. Moses flees to Midian (Acts 7:23) to escape the wrath of Thutmose III (Exodus 2:11-15). Pharaoh Thutmose III rules Egypt alone, subsequently destroying most traces of Hatshepsut. .
1450 B.C. Egypt - Pharaoh Amenhotep II (alt. Amenophis II). He was not the oldest son of Thutmose III. Bloodthirsty; liked hand to hand combat, led troops into battle with howls of rage. .
1442 B.C. Egypt - Moses returns and confronts Amenhotep II (Exodus 4:18-5:1). Exodus of Israel begins (1 Kings 6:1; Exodus 12:40-41) ***. Scripture does not state that Pharaoh was killed at this time (read about it here)..
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. Sinai (Marah, Elim, Rephidim, Mount Sinai, etc.) - Israel in wilderness 40 years (Exodus 16:35). A timeline of stops on the Exodus is here.
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1424 B.C. Egypt - Pharaoh Thutmose IV (alt. Tuthmosis IV) reigns, son of Amenhotep II and lesser wife Tiaa. He was not the oldest son. Had dream at the sphinx that he would rule - recorded on stele there. .
1414 B.C. Egypt - Pharaoh Amenhotep III (alt. Amenophis III). The clossi of Memnon are all that remains of his temple near Thebes. .
1402 B.C. Israel - Moses dies at Mount Nebo at 120 yro (Deuteronomy 34:7). .
1401 B.C. Israel - Conquests of Joshua in Promised Land begin. Battle of Jericho. .
1400 B.C. . Ancient Near East: Late Bronze Age II
1378 B.C. Egypt - Pharaoh Amenhotep IV & queen Nefertiti. Changes his name to Akhenaten. Worships one god, Aten, the disk of the rising son. Bans worship of other gods. Makes new capital city of Akhenaten. .
1361 B.C. Egypt - Pharaoh Smenkhkare. .
1360 B.C. Egypt - Queen Neferneferuaten is Pharaoh. She may have been the daughter of Akhenaten and/or wife of Smenkhkare. .
1358 B.C. Egypt - Boy king, 8 or 9 years old, Pharaoh Tutankhamen (alt. Tutankhamun) rules until 1349 B.C. Changed his name from Tutankhaten and restored worship of other gods especially Amen at Karnak temple. .
1350 B.C. Israel - (this date is plus or minus 10 years and cannot be conclusively derived from Scriptures. Consider Numbers 11:28, Joshua 24:9, and Judges 2:8-10) Period of the Judges in Israel

1301 B.C. Egypt - Pharaoh Rameses II rules Egypt. This third king of the 19th dynasty is often incorrectly identified as the Pharaoh of the exodus. .
1235 B.C. Egypt - Pharaoh Merneptah, son of Ramesses II, rules until 1225. The Merneptah victory stele of 1230 B.C. lists Israel **
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1200 B.C. . Ancient Near East: Iron Age I
1194-1184 B.C. Trojan War (later legends appears based in the actual destruction of Troy VIIa at this time) .
1170 B.C. Assyrian Empire arises (until 612 B.C.) .
1100 B.C. Israel - Jephthah is Judge (Judges 11:26)
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1070 B.C. . Egyptian Third Intermediate Period
1041 B.C. Israel - Saul becomes first king (Acts 13:21), anointed by Samuel the last judge and prophet.
Period of the Monarchy in Israel
. Israel - David kills Goliath at the Valley of Elah.
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. Israel - David hides from Saul at En Gedi.
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1001 B.C. Israel - King Saul dies, body hung at Beth Shan. David becomes king .
1000 B.C. . Ancient Near East: Iron Age II
961 B.C. Israel - Solomon becomes king .
958 B.C. Israel - First temple, built by Solomon (1 Kings 6:1; 2 Chronicles 3:2) .
922 B.C. Israel (North) - Jeroboam rules north. Begins worship of golden calf at Dan and Bethel.
Divided kingdom in Israel
922 B.C. Judah (South) - Rehoboam, son of Solomon, rules south. .
918 B.C. Pharaoh Shishak (Sheshonq I, 22nd Dynasty) sacks Jerusalem (1 Kings 14:25) and other Israeli fortified cities including Arad and Megiddo.
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915 B.C. Judah (S) - Rehoboam dies, Abijah rules only next two years .
913 B.C. Judah (S) - Asa is king .
885 B.C. Israel (N) - Omri is king. Neo-Assyrian Empire (911-612 B.C.)
874 B.C. Israel (N) - Omri dies, Ahab is king .
873 B.C. Judah (S) - Asa dies, Jehoshaphat is king .
. Israel - Elijah and confrontation with prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:18-39) .
853 B.C. Israel (N) - Ahab dies .
849 B.C. Judah (S) - Jehoshaphat dies .
846 B.C. Mesha Stele (Moabite Stone) created by Mesha, king of Moab. Celebrating victory over Israel (re 2 Kings 3). .
793 B.C. Israel (N) - Jeroboam II is king .
792 B.C. Judah (S) - Uzziah is king (10 years or more as co-regent with Amaziah) .
. Judah (N) - Jonah receives call to Ninevah. Flees via ship from Joppa. Swallowed by fish. Goes to Ninevah. (2 Kings 14:25)
First Olympic Games 776 B.C.
753 B.C. Israel (N) - Jeroboam II dies .
743 B.C. Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III attacks Damascus and subsequently northern Israel, including Hazor (as late as 732 B.C.)
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741 B.C. Judah (S) - Uzziah dies (2 Kings 15:2). Year of Isaiah's vision. (Isaiah 6:1) .
735 B.C. Judah (S) - Ahaz becomes co-regent with Jotham, his father. .
732 B.C. Judah (S) - Ahaz is king. .
722 B.C. Israel (N) - Kingdom falls to Assyria. Exile .
716 B.C. Judah (S) - Ahaz dies (2 Kings 16:2). Hezekiah is king. .
705 B.C. Judah (S) - Rebels against Assyrian king Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:7) .
701 B.C. Judah (S) - Hezekiah builds water tunnel (2 Kings 20:20)
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687 B.C. Judah (S) - Hezekiah dies (2 Kings 18:2). Manasseh is king .
648 B.C. Persian Empire arises (until 330 B.C.) .
642 B.C. Judah (S) - Manasseh dies. .
640 B.C. Judah (S) - Josiah is king. (2 Kings 22:1) .
612 B.C. New Babylonian Empire arises (until 539 B.C.). Ninevah falls to Babylon. Neo-Babylonian Empire (626-539 B.C.)
609 B.C. Judah (S) - Josiah dies fighting Egyptian Pharaoh Neco at Megiddo. (2 Chronicles 34:1)
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605 B.C. Judah (S) - Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon takes hostages (See Daniel 1:1, this included Daniel. His dream interpretation revealed kingdoms to come.)
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597 B.C. Judah (S) - Jehoiakim deposed by Nebuchadnezzar, Jehoiachin has very brief and wicked reign before suffering the same fate. .
588 B.C. Judah (S) - Siege of Jerusalem (Jeremiah is prophet, circa 645-575 B.C.) .
587/586 B.C. Judah (S) - Kingdom falls to Babylon. Exile to Babylon (2 Kings 25:8-21) .
539/538 B.C. Babylon - Falls to Persia Persian Empire [Achaemenid Empire] (550-330 BC)
537 B.C. Persian king Cyrus decrees temple to be rebuilt. (Ezra 6:2-5) .
534 B.C. Israel - Work on the temple stops .
525 B.C. Persia conquers Egypt. .
521 B.C. Darius the Mede rules over Persian Empire .
520 B.C. Israel - Work on the temple resumes under King Darius, spurred by Haggai and Zechariah (Ezra 5:1 - 6:14) .
515 B.C. Israel - Temple completed and dedicated in 6th year of Darius (Ezra 6:15) .
486 B.C. Xerxes rules over Persian Empire from Susa (Esther 1:2) .
483 B.C. Xerxes banishes Queen Vashti (Esther 1:2-21) .
478 B.C. Esther becomes queen of Persian Empire, wife of Xerxes (Esther 2:16-17) .
465 B.C. Artaxerxes I rules over Persian Empire .
458 B.C. Israel - Ezra brings more exiles back from Babylon. (Ezra 7:11-26) .
447-432 B.C. Greece - Parthenon was built in Athens.
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446 B.C. Israel - Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem to rebuild walls. (Nehemiah 2) .
. Nabateans control Edomite territory - based in Petra (Selah)
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420 B.C. Israel - Last Old Testament Prophet writes... Malachi .
336 B.C. Alexander the Great rules - Alexander's Empire (until 323 B.C.) Greek Empire
333 B.C. Alexander the Great defeats Darius III (Persian Empire) in Battleof Issus .
332 B.C. Egypt - Alexander the Great rules. Also controls region of Israel but allows some self rule. Ancient Near East: Hellenistic Period
305 B.C. Egypt - Ptolemy I rules (until 285 B.C.) Ptolemaic dynasty (Hellenistic) rule Egypt (until 30 B.C.).
283 B.C. Septuagint Translation of Scriptures from Hebrew to Greek begins .
167 B.C. Israel - Seleucid King, Antiochus IV, desecrates the temple and sacrifices a pig. Maccabean revolt begins led by three sons of the priest Mattathias: Judas, Jonathan, and Simon Seleucid Empire (Hellenistic) successor state of Alexander the Great. (323 to 60 B.C.) Eclipse Ptolemies in power 217 B.C.
166 B.C. Israel - Hasmonean Period Hasmonean Dynasty (166-37 B.C.)
165 B.C. Israel - Temple is rededicated and temple sacrifices restored .
160 B.C. Israel - (Hasmonean) Judas Maccabee (alt. Maccabaeus) dies. .
152 B.C. Israel - (Hasmonean ruler) Jonathan .
142 B.C. Israel - (Hasmonean ruler) Simon Thassis .
134 B.C. Israel - (Hasmonean ruler) John Hyracanus .
104 B.C. Israel - (Hasmonean ruler) Aristobulus I .
103 B.C. Israel - (Hasmonean ruler) Alexander Jannaeus .
76 B.C. Israel - (Hasmonean ruler) Alexandra Salome (queen!) .
67 B.C. Israel - (Hasmonean ruler) Aristobulus II .
63 B.C. Israel - Roman general Pompey conquers Jerusalem.
(Hasmonean ruler) Hyrcanus II appeals to Rome, is reinstated as High Priest and Ethnarch. Much power fell to his adviser Antipater the Idumaean. Roman period begins (Israel is a protectorate of Rome)
51 B.C. Egypt - Cleopatra rules (until 30 B.C.) .
47 B.C. Israel - Herod "the Great", second son of Antipater the Idumaean, is Governor of Galilee (for Rome) .
44 B.C. Rome - Julius Caesar was assassinated on the Ides (15) of March .
40 B.C. Israel - (Hasmonean ruler) Antigonus. Last real Hasmonean ruler. Seized Jerusalem with Parthian support. Sent his uncle Hyrcanus II to Babylon in chains (after mutilating his ears, rendering him ineligible for office of High Priest). .
37 B.C. Israel - Herod "the Great" becomes king of the Jews (client king of Rome). Herod hands over Antigonus to Rome for execution. Herodian Dynasty (37 B.C.-100 A.D.)
36 B.C. Israel - (Hasmonean) Aristobulus III is only High Priest. Herod has him drowned at Jericho, fearing his potential threat and lineage to govern. .
27 B.C. Rome - Caesar Augustus emperor of Rome Roman Empire (27 B.C.-476 A.D. Fall of Western Empire)
20 B.C. Israel - King Herod begins work on rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem .
5 B.C.
Israel - Birth of Jesus. (Possibly late 6 B.C.)
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4 B.C. Israel - Herod "the Great" dies in the Spring. .
9 A.D. Jesus goes up to Jerusalem from Nazareth, for the Passover, with his parents (Luke 2:41-51) .
14 A.D. Rome - Caesar Augustus dies. Tiberius rules 14-37 A.D. .
16 A.D. Israel [Map] - City of Tiberius founded.
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18 A.D. Israel [Map] - Joseph Caiaphas becomes high priest (until 36 or early 37 A.D.). .
26 A.D. Israel [Map] - Pontius Pilate appointed governor of Judea (until 36 A.D.) .
28 A.D. Israel - John the Baptist began his ministry (Luke 3:1-2). Also the year of the first ministry Passover of Jesus in Jerusalem (John 2:13). .
29 A.D. Israel - Herod Antipas begins affair with his brother Philip's wife, leading to divorce of his wife (daughter of the Nabatean king Aretas IV), subsequently marries Herodias, his brother's wife and niece. .
30 A.D. Israel - Jesus celebrates the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) in Jerusalem; winter (early December); see John 10:22. Feast remembers events of 165 B.C. .
31 A.D.
Israel [Map] - Jesus in Garden of Gethsemane; trials before Caiaphas, Herod, Pilate; Death, Burial, Resurrection during Passover. .
35 A.D. Saul of Tarsus (later the Apostle Paul) meets Jesus on the road to Damascus.
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49 A.D. Church Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) - Agreed that a Gentile did not have to become a Jew, or be circumcised, in order to be a Christian. .
51 A.D. Greece - Paul preaches on Mars Hill in Athens
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52 A.D. Israel - Herod Agrippa II given northeastern Galilee. Given limited say in Jerusalem regarding the temple. Had palace in Jerusalem and subsequently another at Caesarea Philippi (calling it Neronias after Nero). .
54 A.D. Rome - Nero becomes emperor .
58 A.D. Israel - Paul imprisoned at Caesarea Maritima
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60 A.D. Israel - Paul before Festus and Agrippa II, appeals to Caesar (Acts 24:27) .
62 A.D. Israel - James, brother of Jesus, martyred in Jerusalem by the High Priest Ananias .
64 A.D. Rome - Rome Burns (accidental fire) .
66 A.D. Israel - First Jewish revolt begins. Vespasian sent to quell rebellion. .
67 A.D. Israel - Christians abandon Jerusalem and flee to Pella of the Decapolis as a refuge.
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68 A.D. Rome - Nero dies. After uncertainty Vespasian becomes Emperor (69-79 A.D.) .
69 A.D. Rome - Paul beheaded in Rome (traditional sources). .
70 A.D. Israel - Temple destroyed by Titus (August 10th or 9th of Av). Jerusalem surrenders after six month siege, much of Jerusalem destroyed. Almost 100 thousand Jews sold into slavery by Romans. .
73 A.D. Israel - Masada falls. 967 Jewish Zealots commit mass suicide. Two women, five children only survivors who hid in a cistern. .
78 A.D. Rome - Peter martyred (traditional sources) .
79 A.D. Rome - Titus becomes Emperor (79-81 A.D.) .
81 A.D. Rome - Domitian becomes Emperor (81-96 A.D.) Major Persecution of Christians (81-96 A.D.)
95 A.D. Apostle John banished to Patmos. Last living apostle. Writes Revelation, speaks of Armageddon. Dies circa 100 A.D.
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98 A.D. Timothy stoned to death at Ephesus (traditional sources) .
100 A.D. Israel - Herod Agrippa II dies. Last ruling descendant of Herod the Great .
108 A.D. Church leader Polycarp (born 69 A.D.) writes his letter to the Philippians. .
130 A.D. Emperor Hadrian (117-138 A.D.) rebuilds Jerusalem and renames it Aelia Capitolina Roman Empire at largest extent in 117 A.D.
132 A.D. Israel - Second Jewish revolt/Bar Kokhba Revolt - (132-135 A.D.) .
155 A.D. Polycarp burned at the stake in Smyrna .
312 A.D. Constantine (the Great, 272-337), emperor of Eastern Empire, kills emperor of Western Empire. Professes conversion to Christianity after seeing a vision. .
313 A.D. Constantine issues Edict of Milan granting legal status to Christians and restoring property. Roman Christian Era
325 A.D. Eusebius of Caesarea finishes his Church History (lived 275 - 339 A.D.).
First Council of Nicea formulates the Nicene Creed. Included churches from the east and west - condemned Arian heresy. .
336 A.D. First calendar to show date of Christmas on December 25th in western church (first certain celebration not until 354 A.D.) .
367 A.D. Athanasius of Alexandria (lived circa 296-373 A.D.), in his festal letter, listed the books of the New Testament; the 27 books still recognized today. Using an old Jewish grouping method he also lists 22 books of the Old Testament which correspond to our 39 of today. He notes some of the apocryphal books but makes sure to emphasize they are not Scriptures, though important. .
381 A.D. First Council of Constantinople - included churches from the east and west. Condemned heresy of Macedonius and reaffirmed doctrine of the trinity.
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387 A.D. Augustine of Hippo (354 - 430 A.D), is baptized having converted to Christianity. Becomes leading church theologian. Opposes Pelagius. .
393 A.D. Synod of Hippo (modern Annaba, Algeria) - specifically listed their recognized books of Scriptures (matching our 27 books of the NT and all 39 of the OT, plus a few of the so-called OT apocrypha). Numerous synods and councils were held at Hippo. Last Ancient Olympic Games
395 A.D. Roman Empire divides again between the east and west. Western (Latin) church based in Rome, eastern church (Orthodox) based in Constantinople .
397 A.D. Synod of Carthage (Tunisia; 397 A.D.). Matching the synod of Hippo in 393 A.D., it again specifically listed recognized books of Scriptures. As with the synods of Hippo, some of the synods at Carthage were also called councils; for example that of 418 was called "a council of Africa" by Augustine. .
405 A.D. Jerome Eusebius Hieronymus (347-420 A.D.), working at Bethlehem, completes his Vulgate translation of the Bible into Latin. .
418 A.D. Pelagius (354-420 A.D.), a British monk, is excommunicated. He denied original sin, claiming men could do good on their own. This Council of Carthage affirmed sixteen previous synods at Carthage, one at Milevis, and one at Hippo. It denounced the Pelagian heresy on original sin, the human nature, and grace; specifically adopting the opposing view espoused by Augustine. Additionally it (and the synods of 419 & 424) protested the Roman church's increasing claims of judicial jurisdiction and supremacy over the African church. .
431 A.D. Council of Ephesus - included churches from the east and west. Condemned Nestorianism and reaffirmed that Christ was one person who was fully human and fully God. Also condemned Pelagius and affirmed the Council of Carthage in 418 A.D. .
440 A.D. Earliest date for the Athanasian Creed. Written by an anonymous author in Gaul (not St. Athanasius as traditionally claimed). .
451 A.D. Council of Chalcedon (in Thessalonica) issues the Chalcedonian Creed - included churches of the east and west. Condemned Monophysitism, the teaching that Christ had only one nature and affirmed that Christ was both God and man. .
476 A.D. Western Roman Empire falls to barbarian armies. Roman Catholic church remains as primary authority in the west. .
494 A.D. St. Valentine's Day set as February 14th by the Roman Catholic pope Gelasius I. .
550 A.D. Byzantine Empire at greatest extent .
553 A.D. Second Council of Constantinople - included churches of the east and a few from the west (only 6 bishops). Condemned the teachings of Nestorius again (as did the council in 431 A.D.), reafirmed decisions of earlier councils. .
610 A.D. Muhammad (alt. Mohammed, 570-632 A.D.) claims to receive revelations from God (Allah) - basis of Qur'an (alt. Koran). Beginning of Islam which believes the Bible has been corrupted.
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1054 A.D. Patriarch of Constantinople and Pope of Rome excommunicate each other. Beginning of Great Schism of Eastern (Orthodox) and Western (Roman Catholic) Churches.
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1096-1099 A.D. First Roman Catholic Crusade against Muslim invaders in the east, includes massacre of Jews in Europe and plundering of Jerusalem and burning of Jews in Jerusalem in a synagogue. .
1187 A.D. Roman Catholic Crusaders defeated by Saladin (died 1193 A.D.) at the Battle of Hattin, enables Muslims to retake Jerusalem .
1199 A.D. Roman Catholic Inquisition started by Pope Innocent III (expanded by Pope Gregory IX in 1233, plus use of torture to get confessions by Pope Innocent IV in 1252). .
1227 A.D. Chapter divisons added to Bible, for the first time, by professor Stephen Langton of the University of Paris. .
1380 A.D. Early reformer John Wycliffe (1328-1384 A.D.) begins first English translation of the Bible. Roman church declared him a heretic in 1380 and again in 1382. His followers become known as Lollards .
1415 A.D. Early reformer Jon Hus (1373-1415) burned at stake by Roman Catholic church for holding to the authority of the Bible over even the Pope. .
1438 A.D. Johann Gutenberg (1398-1468) invents the printing press -- creates the first Bible printed with movable type in Germany in 1455 A.D. Paves the way for cheap Bibles for all. .
1453 A.D. Byzantine (Eastern) Empire falls. Constantinople conquered by Ottoman Turks. .
1455 A.D. Johann Gutenberg (1398-1468), inventor of the printing press, creates the first Bible printed with movable type. Paves the way for cheap Bibles for all. .
1517 A.D. Martin Luther (1483-1546) posts his 95 Theses on October 31st, which sparked the Protestant Reformation. Protestant Era
1518 A.D. Swiss Reformation begins under Ulrich Zwingli. .
1525-34 A.D. William Tyndale translates New Testament from Greek text of Erasmus (1466) .
1536 A.D. John Calvin publishes first edition of his Institutes of the Christian Religion. Some of his teachings later become known as Calvinism.
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1545-1563 A.D. Council of Trent formulates official Roman Catholic church doctrine in response to the Protestant Reformation and to oppose the Five Reformation Solas.
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1551 A.D. Printer Robert Stephanus numbered the verses of the NT, while riding on horseback from Paris to Lyons. .
1582 A.D. Gregorian calendar introduced in all Roman Catholic countries. Slowly becomes most widely used calendar. .
1720-1760 A.D. Great Awakening revivals in American colonies. Jonathan Edwards preaches his sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God."
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1738 A.D. Methodist Church founded by John Wesley (1703-1791) and George Whitefield (1714-1770). .
1830 A.D. Mormon "church" (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) established by Joseph Smith (1805-1844), author of the Book of Mormon. .
1871 A.D. Jehovah's Witnesses founded by Charles Taze Russell (started forerunner of The Watchtower magazine in 1879). .
1962-1965 A.D. The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, commonly called Vatican II, was held. Many thought this council was proof that the Roman Catholic Church could (and was) changing.
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Chart End Notes:
This chart was created by Brent MacDonald, (c)2006-2008, utilizing well attested dates from archaeology/history combined with calculated dates based upon Scriptures. Holding a high view of Scriptures and the timeframes referenced therein, this provides an early date for the Exodus and even the life of Abraham, regardless of some modern scholarship that revises these dates later by a few hundred years. Lesser disputes exist regarding some of these dates, potentially revising them by a year or two or slightly more, due to the imprecise nature of the science of dating historical events. First and last years of the reigns of some rulers are problematic, as they may include only a partial year, or overlap with a subsequent or successive ruler.
Historical dates prior to Abraham (note double bar dividing the table) may have to be revised, especially those based on archaeology. The article following establishes how dating was derived for pre-Abraham ancestors. Even early Egyptian dates, often presented as quite reliable, are highly speculative and based on lists with legendary and overlapping elements. Lack of written records has often led to utilizing problematic dating methods, including radiometric dating, for pre-historic periods. Evolutionary bias also tends to exaggerate prehistorical evidences. The Biblical text and genealogies certainly point to a very young age for all of earth's history.
* (First Intermediate Period, 9th and 10th Dynasties: Khety III wrote his son and successor Merekare [Merikare] that he should make peace with Thebes, defend the borders as well as dominate the Asiatics and "do not reduce nobles in their possessions.")
** This was around the time, or just following the time of Gideon's death. A few decades later, following a period of trouble from the Philistines and Ammonites (Judges 10:7), God's list of kingdoms that he used to oppress Israel (to cause them to turn back to Him) included Egypt in the list before the Ammonites and Philistines. This was likely a reference to the expedition of Merneptah which would have still been remembered by those living at that time.
*** While we did not arrive at an exact match with Coffman's date for the exodus (by four years), this comment on a 15th century B.C. dating for the exodus is notable. His notes on the inaccuracy of dating Pharaohs is likewise very true. A perusal of seven scholars on one particular 18th dynasty pharaoh resulted in five differing sets of dates.
All scholars admit that all Egyptian dates should be viewed as plus or minus 50 years. Further proof of the early Exodus in 1446 B.C. is found in the Tel el-Amarna letters, in which there is a letter written from Palestine to Amenhotep III, complaining that the Hebrews were taking over the land; and that is calculated to have been in the year 1391 B.C., the date when Amenhotep III succeeded Tuthmosis IV as Pharaoh! If the critics are correct in dating the Exodus two hundred years after it actually happened, how were the Hebrews in Palestine in 1391 B.C.? This is by no means all of the rapidly expanding evidence of the accuracy of the early date for the Exodus, but we consider this far more than enough to establish it as certain. (Article on 1 Kings 6:1, Coffman's Bible Commentary, Copyright © 1971-1993 by ACU Press, Abilene Christian University. All rights reserved.)

Dating the Genealogies of Genesis
Many have undertaken the task of trying to date the genealogies of Genesis and to provide correlation with the events of our calendar, B.C. of course.1 Bishop James Ussher's timeline is perhaps the most famous to our generation. This highly educated Anglican Archbishop (1625-1656 A.D.) had a chronology drawing upon the recorded births and subsequent age of reproduction shown in Scriptures, working back to the creation of Adam and Eve, with a date of 4004 B.C. Ussher was aware of the numeric discrepancies between the Masoretic (often called Hebrew) manuscripts, the Samaritan Pentateuch and the Septuagint. For the purposes of his chronology he chose to follow exclusively the Masoretic, which was the basis of a majority of Latin and English manuscripts of his day.
I have not followed exclusively the Masoretic (Hebrew) dating. Before castigating me as a liberal, heretic, or a disputer of Scriptures, please take a moment to understand why. Up front I will reaffirm my belief that Scriptures are infallible and inerrant as written down. This being said, God knowing that His word would be transmitted by fallible humans, out of necessity being translated into diverse languages; He has safeguarded His word throughout. Though the words are changed in spelling and phraseology they still communicate clearly His eternal message of salvation. A few errors have crept in accidentally, some by omission, others by repetition, more by an incorrect character changing the spelling of a word into another. Yet in all known occurrences most may be corrected by examining the multitudes of manuscripts available. A few, especially those listing Hebrew numbers, have equally viable alternative possibilities making such a correction difficult. Again, it must be emphasized that not one of these variants affects any doctrine of Scriptures - God's word can and has been proclaimed from them all. The Bible of the Eastern Church still utilizes a manuscript foundation based in the Septuagint, whereas much of the western church derives from the Masoretic.
When Jerome began to revise the Old Latin text, which had been a translation of the Septuagint, he checked the Septuagint against the Hebrew that was then available. He unilaterally decided that the Hebrew text was in his view better in testifying to Christ. Therefore he broke with hundreds of years of tradition and translated the Old Testament of his new Latin text (later called the Vulgate) from Hebrew rather than Greek (circa 390-405 A.D.). His choice was severely criticized by other contemporaries including the notable church leader, Augustine.
By the time that English translations first came into being, most were based on the Latin manuscripts then available, and later, the original manuscripts underlying them. It is only in the last century that many translations have worked to incorporate the best of all manuscript branches into their translations. Of course, we now have far more manuscripts available for comparison than anytime in history.
It should be noted that many verses found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, particularly those written in Aramaic, the common language of Jesus' day, correspond more closely with the Septuagint than the Masoretic (but, again, remember than the vast majority of these variants are extremely minor grammatical changes, spelling differences or missing words that do not affect the overall meaning of the sentences or paragraphs). This also corresponds to the Old Testament quotations incorporated in our New Testament. A majority of these citations follow the Septuagint phraseology.
All this has been said to show that the Septuagint should not be lightly dismissed, even as the Masoretic text should be likewise consulted. Both represent valid manuscript families that have been used through the church in history - God's Word!
So why would I even consider the Samaritan text? Mostly as a tie breaker. It's true that the Samaritans altered their text intentionally for sectarian reasons hundreds of years B.C. and only embraced the Pentateuch as being the totality of Scriptures. Yet the only aspect which appears willfully altered is text necessary to make their Mount Gerizim the place to worship God and not Jerusalem. The remainder of the text they had no reason or incentive to modify.
For reference, this is the approximate dating of the oldest Old Testament manuscript families we have available...
Masoretic - The oldest known substantial portions of this text date to the 9th century A.D. and the oldest complete copy, the Aleppo Codex, to the 10th century A.D. Smaller fragments testify that this document was carefully transmitted by the Jews from a standardized text dating to around 135 A.D. Additionally a number of Dead Sea Scroll fragments (circa 100 B.C. to 70 A.D.) testify to identical phraseology, showing that the later standardized text had ancient roots.
Septuagint - The Sinaiticus (circa 330-350 A.D.) and Vaticanus (circa 310-350 A.D.) are the most complete manuscripts available. Numerous early fragments and citations are known. The Septuagint was translated between the 3rd and 1st centuries B.C. by the Jews for use in the Greek speaking world. It was widely used by the Jews until after the destruction of the temple, when renewed impetus to utilize a Hebrew only text was mandated to unify the Jews and in the face of widespread usage of the Greek by Christians.
Samaritan - In 1616 A.D. a copy was purchased from a Samaritan community in Damascus and taken to Europe. This document resurrected this manuscript family from virtual oblivion. The oldest copy in possession of the sect appears to date to about 1200 A.D. It was carefully copied by the sect from at least the 5th century B.C. and certainly earlier than 100 B.C. It was known and cited by early church fathers from Eusebius of Caesarea to Jerome.
With all of the above in mind, this became my rule for assessing dating.
1) All three manuscript families in agreement = use it.
2) Any two agreed = use it.
3) All three don't agree = use the Masoretic (Hebrew)
The exception to rule #3 came with one occurrence. Here the Masoretic and Samaritan both omit the entire person. Only the Septuagint references that individual, yet because the New Testament refers to this person (obviously referencing a Septuagint genealogy), my assumption is that the Septuagint has to be correct in this place, even though it is alone in its witness.2
The result becomes a workable timeline, providing enough time for known civilizations that had to have existed before Abraham's time and yet after the worldwide flood. People that should be dead before a worldwide flood are shown to be so (... incorrect dating leading to the flood could have a person other than Noah and his family living past the flood). Is this timeline perfect and something to be dogmatic over? Not likely. My rule number 3 is quite arbitrary and could have gone toward another manuscript family in a few occurrences. This would expand the timeline even further, though not by more than a few hundred years.
UNDERSTANDING MY PRE-ABRAHAM TIMELINE
On my timeline I have marked which manuscript families agree for each individual in regards to their death (ie. D: ) and their age when they begot an heir (ie. B: ). Heb=Masoretic/Hebrew; 70 = Septuagint; Sam=Samaritan.
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Footnotes
1. Contrast time differences of using different manuscript families and methodologies. My method, as described in this article, is noted by BJM.
From Creation to Flood
• 1656 years (Masoretic)
• 2262 years (Septuagint)
• 1307 years (Samaritan)
• 1656 years (BJM)
• 2242 years (Eusebius of Caesarea, Chronicle, 3rd century A.D.)
From Flood to birth of Abraham
• 352 years (Masoretic)
• 1232 years (Septuagint)
• 1002 years (Samaritan)
• 1072 years (BJM)
• 942 years (Eusebius of Caesarea, Chronicle, 3rd century A.D.)
Total of Creation to birth of Abraham
• 2008 years (Masoretic)
• 3494 years (Septuagint)
• 2309 years (Samaritan)
• 2728 years (BJM)
• 3184 years (Eusebius of Caesarea, Chronicle, 3rd century A.D.)
Julius Africanus (circa 170-240 A.D.), an early church writer who also compared texts available to him, preferred dates based on the Septuagint.
Noted Jewish historian Josephus, writing in the late first century, following the destruction of the temple, wrote in his Antiquities of the Jews; "That history (of the Jews) embraces a period of five thousand years, and was written by me in Greek on the basis of our sacred books." Subtracting (from 5000) the years between A.D. 70 until Abraham's birth (2086 by Eusebius), or (2233 by BJM), leaves Josephus having creation about 2914 years or 2767 years before the birth of Abraham.
All early dating charts and references that I have found tend toward the longer numbers of the Septuagint manuscripts. For the period of the flood to Abraham, I could find no early dating that comes anywhere close to the shorter Masoretic time frames.
I can across another quite late source* that reflects the longer dating of the Septuagint as well. Russian Bible scholars by 1613 A.D. had calculated that creation took place in 5509 B.C. This number would imply usage of purely Septuagint sources in their determination. (* cited by Lindsey Hughes, The Romanovs, p.14).
2. Notice the difference between manuscript families...
Genesis 10:24 (Masoretic and Samaritan) Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah the father of Eber.
Genesis 10:24 (Septuagint) Arphaxad was the father of Cainan, and Cainan was the father of Shelah, and Shelah the father of Eber.
Again...
Genesis 11:12-13 (Masoretic and Samaritan) When Arphaxad had lived 35 years, he became the father of Shelah. 13 And after he became the father of Shelah, Arphaxad lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.
Genesis 11:12-13 (Septuagint) When Arphaxad had lived 135 years, he became the father of Cainan. 13 And after he became the father of Cainan, Arphaxad lived 400 years and had other sons and daughters, and then he died. When Cainan had lived 130 years, he became the father of Shelah. And after he became the father of Shelah, Cainan lived 330 years and had other sons and daughters.
Then consider this almost universally attested New Testament passage...
Luke 3:35-36 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, (NIV)
On the authority of the New Testament, I have no choice but to accept the Septuagint in regards to Cainan, as well as the dating pertaining to him.
The alternate viewpoint on Cainan is that his appearance in Luke is a scribal copying error, duplicating his name from a later line ending (Luke 3:37). Evidence in support of this claim is relatively minimal but worth considering:
1. The other Old Testament Bible passages that mirror this genealogy don't have the name (i.e. 1 Chronicles 1:18, 24; Genesis 10:24).
2. No Hebrew manuscripts show the name in Genesis 11:12-13.
3. First century historian Josephus doesn't list the name in his list as found in his Antiquities of the Jews (1.6.4-5). He was likely working from a copy of the Septuagint.
4. The Samaritan Pentateuch (as noted), along with other early translations (into Aramaic and Syriac), as well as the later Vulgate (into Latin, circa 405 A.D.), all don't have the name in Genesis 11:12-13
5. The oldest known copy of Luke (circa 175-225 A.D.), the Bodmer Papyrus XIV-XV (P75), do not show the name in Luke.
Early translations of Luke (including into Syriac and Coptic) do have the name and it becomes hard to judge the multitudes of manuscripts having it, in all languages, by a single manuscript (P75) even though it is admittedly very early. The extra biblical work, The Book of Jubilees (8:1-5), written circa 135-105 B.C., does list Cainan, showing a very early understanding that the name was known. Until more evidence is found, I believe the passage in Luke is better attested as being proper. This opinion is shared by multitudes of translators as the Luke passage continues to be included (without footnote) in all major English translations.


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