Biblical Timeline
Timeline

History on a single line.

From creation to the new creation — the key events of redemption history in order.

Beginnings

UndatedCreation

God creates the heavens and the earth and makes humanity in His image.

UndatedThe Fall

Sin enters the world — and God promises a Redeemer.

UndatedThe Flood

Judgment and mercy: Noah's family is saved in the ark.

UndatedTower of Babel

Human pride is scattered and the nations are formed.

Patriarchs

c. 2091 BCCall of Abraham

God promises Abraham a land, a nation and blessing for all peoples.

c. 2066 BCBirth of Isaac

The child of promise is born to Abraham and Sarah.

c. 1898 BCJoseph sold into Egypt

What his brothers meant for evil, God meant for good.

c. 1876 BCJacob's family moves to Egypt

Israel settles in Goshen.

Exodus & Conquest

c. 1446 BCThe Exodus

God delivers Israel from Egypt through the Passover and the Red Sea.

c. 1446 BCThe Law at Sinai

God makes a covenant with Israel and gives the Ten Commandments.

c. 1406 BCConquest of Canaan

Joshua leads Israel into the Promised Land.

Judges

c. 1375 BCPeriod of the Judges

Cycles of sin and deliverance under Deborah, Gideon, Samson and others.

c. 1100 BCRuth and Boaz

A Moabite widow enters the line of David.

Kingdom

c. 1050 BCSaul becomes king

Israel asks for a king like the nations.

c. 1010 BCDavid becomes king

God promises David an everlasting throne.

c. 966 BCSolomon builds the Temple

The glory of the Lord fills the house of God.

Divided Kingdom

c. 931 BCThe kingdom divides

Israel (north) and Judah (south) split under Jeroboam and Rehoboam.

c. 860 BCElijah on Mount Carmel

Fire falls from heaven: 'The Lord, He is God!'

c. 740 BCIsaiah's vision

Isaiah sees the Lord high and lifted up.

c. 722 BCFall of Samaria

Assyria conquers the northern kingdom.

c. 701 BCJerusalem delivered from Assyria

God defends Jerusalem in the days of Hezekiah.

Exile & Return

c. 605 BCDaniel taken to Babylon

The first deportation of Judah.

c. 586 BCJerusalem and the Temple destroyed

Babylon burns the Temple; Judah goes into exile.

c. 539 BCCyrus' decree

Persia conquers Babylon and the exiles may return.

c. 516 BCSecond Temple completed

The rebuilt Temple is dedicated with joy.

c. 478 BCEsther becomes queen

God preserves His people in Persia.

c. 458 BCEzra returns to teach the Law

Reform and renewal in Jerusalem.

c. 445 BCNehemiah rebuilds the walls

The walls are finished in fifty-two days.

c. 430 BCMalachi — last Old Testament prophet

A promise of the messenger who will prepare the way.

Life of Christ

c. 5 BCBirth of Jesus

The Word becomes flesh in Bethlehem.

AD 27Baptism of Jesus

The Spirit descends and the Father speaks.

AD 28Sermon on the Mount

Jesus teaches the ethics of the Kingdom.

AD 30Crucifixion

'It is finished.' Christ dies for sins.

AD 30Resurrection

He is risen! The tomb is empty.

AD 30Road to Emmaus

Jesus opens the Scriptures to two disciples.

Early Church

AD 30Ascension and Pentecost

The Spirit is poured out and the church is born.

AD 34Conversion of Paul

The persecutor becomes an apostle.

AD 46Paul's first missionary journey

The gospel goes to Cyprus and Galatia.

AD 49Council of Jerusalem

Gentiles are saved by grace, without circumcision.

AD 50The gospel reaches Europe

Paul's vision of the man of Macedonia.

AD 60Paul arrives in Rome

He preaches the Kingdom 'with all confidence'.

AD 70Destruction of Jerusalem

The Temple falls, as Jesus foretold.

AD 95Revelation on Patmos

John sees the risen Christ and the new creation.

Dates are approximate and follow a traditional chronology; scholars differ on many of them.