Biblical Chronology
Books arranged by the timeline of events, not canonical order
Patriarchal Era
~2000-1800 BC • Creation through the patriarchs
Job may contain the oldest events described in Scripture
Exodus & Wilderness
~1446-1406 BC • Deliverance from Egypt and the Law
Conquest & Judges
~1406-1050 BC • Entering the Promised Land and the period of judges
United Kingdom
~1050-930 BC • Reign of Saul, David, and Solomon
1 Kings covers both Solomon's reign and the divided kingdom
Divided Kingdom
~930-586 BC • Israel and Judah split, prophets call for repentance
Chronicles parallels Samuel and Kings; prophets ministered during this period
Exile
~586-539 BC • Judah in Babylonian captivity
Post-Exile Return
~539-400 BC • Return to Jerusalem and rebuilding the temple
Esther occurs during the exile period in Persia
Intertestamental Period
~400 BC - 4 BC • 400 years of silence between the testaments
No biblical books written during this period
No biblical books from this period
Life of Jesus
~4 BC - 30 AD • The Gospels - parallel accounts of Jesus' ministry
Early Church
~30-95 AD • The apostolic age and spread of Christianity
Letters ordered roughly by date of writing; Revelation written last (~95 AD)