Chronological Plan
Chronological Timeline Plan
Key stories from Creation to Revelation in chronological order. Dates are approximate and follow traditional biblical chronology.
Version
Before Time
Before creation, before history, before anything was made, God was. The Word already existed, the Lamb was already foreordained, and grace was already given in Christ before time began.
Eternity Past
Wisdom Present with God Before CreationProverbs 8:22-31
In the Beginning was the WordJohn 1:1-18
The Election of God's PeopleEphesians 1:3-14
Christ Foreordained as the Lamb1 Peter 1:13-21
Grace Given in Christ Before Time Began2 Timothy 1:8-14
Old Testament
The Old Testament opens at creation and closes with the Hebrew prophets, spanning four thousand years of history across law, poetry, wisdom, and prophecy. These books tell the story of God's covenant with Israel and his promises of a coming Redeemer.
Before 2500 BC
The Corruption of MankindGenesis 6
The Great FloodGenesis 7
The Flood RecedesGenesis 8
The Covenant of the RainbowGenesis 9
The Table of NationsGenesis 10
Before 2100 BC
Job's Suffering and FaithJob 1-42
The Tower of BabelGenesis 11
2091 to 2006 BC
The Call of AbramGenesis 12
Abram and Lot Divide the LandGenesis 13
God's Covenant with AbramGenesis 15
Hagar and IshmaelGenesis 16
The Covenant of CircumcisionGenesis 17
The Destruction of Sodom and GomorrahGenesis 19
The Birth of IsaacGenesis 21
The Testing of AbrahamGenesis 22
2030 to 1898 BC
The Death and Burial of SarahGenesis 23
Isaac and RebekahGenesis 24
The Birth of Jacob and EsauGenesis 25
Jacob and the Stolen BlessingGenesis 27
Jacob's Dream at BethelGenesis 28
Jacob and RachelGenesis 29
Jacob's Return to CanaanGenesis 32
Joseph Sold into EgyptGenesis 37
Joseph in Potiphar's HouseGenesis 39
Joseph and Pharaoh's DreamGenesis 41
1875 BC
Famine in CanaanGenesis 42
The Brothers Return with BenjaminGenesis 43
Benjamin and the Silver CupGenesis 44
Joseph Made Known to His BrothersGenesis 45
Jacob's Family Descends to EgyptGenesis 46
1859 to 1806 BC
1800 to 1539 BC
1525 to 1446 BC
The Birth of MosesExodus 2
Moses in MidianExodus 2
The Burning BushExodus 3
The Ten Plagues of EgyptExodus 7-12
The PassoverExodus 12
The Exodus from EgyptExodus 13-14
The Parting of the Red SeaExodus 14
The Ten CommandmentsExodus 20
The Golden CalfExodus 32
1445 BC
The Dedication of the TabernacleExodus 40
The Law of Sacrifices and OfferingsLeviticus 1-7
Israel's Census in the WildernessNumbers 1
The Psalm of MosesPsalm 90
1407 to 1406 BC
Water from the Rock at MeribahNumbers 20
The Death of AaronNumbers 20
The Bronze SnakeNumbers 21
Balaam and the AngelNumbers 22
Moses' Farewell DiscoursesDeuteronomy 1-30
The Death of MosesDeuteronomy 34
The Crossing of the JordanJoshua 3
The Fall of JerichoJoshua 6
1374 to 1235 BC
The Conquest of Jerusalem and HebronJudges 1
Israel's Pattern of ApostasyJudges 2
Othniel: The First JudgeJudges 3
Ehud and the MoabitesJudges 3
Deborah and BarakJudges 4-5
1169 to 1100 BC
Gideon and the MidianitesJudges 6-8
Naomi, Ruth and BoazRuth 1-4
Abimelech's ConspiracyJudges 9
The Birth and Dedication of Samuel1 Samuel 1
1097 to 1070 BC
Jephthah's VowJudges 11
The Rise of Philistine OppressionJudges 13
Samson's Marriage and RiddleJudges 14
Samson and DelilahJudges 16
The Battle of Shiloh1 Samuel 4
The Philistines Take the Ark1 Samuel 4
The Philistines Return the Ark1 Samuel 6
1043 to 1024 BC
The Anointing of Saul1 Samuel 10
Saul's Victory over Ammon1 Samuel 11
Saul's War against the Philistines1 Samuel 13
Saul's Disobedience and Rejection1 Samuel 15
The Anointing of David1 Samuel 16
David and Goliath1 Samuel 17
1015 to 1010 BC
David and Jonathan1 Samuel 18
Saul's Pursuit of David1 Samuel 19
Jonathan's Warning and Farewell1 Samuel 20
David Spares Saul's Life1 Samuel 24
The Death of Samuel1 Samuel 25
The Deaths of Saul and Jonathan1 Samuel 31
David's Lament for Saul and Jonathan2 Samuel 1
David Crowned King of Judah2 Samuel 2
1008 to 1003 BC
The Civil War between Judah and Israel2 Samuel 2-3
David Crowned King of All Israel2 Samuel 5
1002 to 998 BC
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem2 Samuel 6
The Davidic Covenant2 Samuel 7
David's Victories over the Philistines2 Samuel 8
997 to 995 BC
David and Mephibosheth2 Samuel 9
David's Campaigns against Ammon and Aram2 Samuel 10
993 to 970 BC
David and Bathsheba2 Samuel 11
Nathan's Rebuke and David's Repentance2 Samuel 12
The Birth of Solomon2 Samuel 12
Absalom's Conspiracy2 Samuel 15
Absalom's Death2 Samuel 18
David's Song of Deliverance2 Samuel 22
David's Last Song2 Samuel 23
David's Census and the Resulting Plague2 Samuel 24
967 to 959 BC
950 to 931 BC
The Proverbs of SolomonProverbs 1-29
The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon1 Kings 10
Solomon's Apostasy1 Kings 11
EcclesiastesEcclesiastes 1-12
Solomon's Song of SongsSong of Solomon 1-8
The Death of Solomon1 Kings 11
The Kingdom is Divided1 Kings 12
930 to 913 BC
The Division of the Kingdom under Rehoboam1 Kings 12
Rehoboam's Reign over Judah1 Kings 14
Asa's Reforms in Judah1 Kings 15
909 to 874 BC
Asa's Reforms2 Chronicles 14-16
The Wicked Reign of Ahab1 Kings 16
869 to 863 BC
Jehoshaphat Succeeds Asa1 Kings 22
Elijah Announces the Drought1 Kings 17
Elijah Fed by Ravens1 Kings 17
The Widow at Zarephath1 Kings 17
Elijah on Mount Carmel1 Kings 18
858 to 841 BC
Elijah's Flight from Jezebel1 Kings 19
The Calling of Elisha1 Kings 19
Naboth's Vineyard1 Kings 21
Elijah Taken up to Heaven2 Kings 2
Elisha Succeeds Elijah2 Kings 2
Elisha's Miracles and Ministry2 Kings 4-6
Jehu's Purge and Reign2 Kings 9
The Destruction of Baal Worship2 Kings 10
The Coronation of Joash2 Kings 11
835 to 812 BC
Joash's Early Faithfulness2 Kings 12
The Word of the Lord to JoelJoel 1-3
Joash Restores the Temple2 Kings 12
796 to 790 BC
Amaziah's Good Reign2 Kings 14
Uzziah Reigns in Judah2 Kings 15
766 to 753 BC
750 to 742 BC
Jotham Succeeds Uzziah2 Kings 15
The Wicked Reign of Ahaz2 Kings 16
739 to 730 BC
725 to 722 BC
Isaiah's Oracles against the NationsIsaiah 13-23
Isaiah's Vision of the Day of the LordIsaiah 24
Hoshea: The Last King of Israel2 Kings 17
The Fall of the Northern Kingdom2 Kings 17
721 to 712 BC
Foreign Peoples Resettled in Samaria2 Kings 17
Hezekiah's Good Reign2 Kings 18
Hezekiah's Great Passover2 Chronicles 30
Hezekiah's Illness and Healing2 Kings 20
711 to 697 BC
Isaiah's Vision of Captivity and RestorationIsaiah 40-66
Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem2 Kings 18-19
Hezekiah's Prayer2 Kings 19
The Vision of NahumNahum 1-3
687 to 640 BC
Manasseh's Wicked Reign2 Kings 21
Josiah's Good Reign2 Kings 22
638 to 627 BC
The Word of the Lord to ZephaniahZephaniah 1-3
The Call of JeremiahJeremiah 1
Jeremiah's Early Oracles against JudahJeremiah 2-3
625 to 621 BC
The Oracle to HabakkukHabakkuk 1-3
Josiah's Temple Restoration2 Kings 22
The Discovery of the Book of the Law2 Kings 22
Josiah's Great Passover2 Kings 23
609 to 605 BC
Jehoiakim's Wicked Reign2 Kings 23-24
Jeremiah's Temple SermonJeremiah 11
Daniel's Faithfulness in BabylonDaniel 1
604 to 597 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of the Great StatueDaniel 2
Jehoiakim's Rebellion against Babylon2 Kings 24
The Exile of Jehoiachin2 Kings 24
Zedekiah Reigns in Judah2 Kings 24
594 to 588 BC
Ezekiel's Calling and Vision at ChebarEzekiel 1-3
Ezekiel's Sign of the Coming SiegeEzekiel 4-5
Ezekiel's First Temple VisionEzekiel 8-10
Ezekiel's Oracles against JerusalemEzekiel 12-13
The Siege of Jerusalem BeginsJeremiah 39
586 to 585 BC
The Fall of Jerusalem2 Kings 25
Jeremiah's LamentationsLamentations 1-5
Ezekiel Pronounces Judgment on TyreEzekiel 26-28
Ezekiel the WatchmanEzekiel 33
The Valley of Dry BonesEzekiel 37
582 to 573 BC
The Fiery FurnaceDaniel 3
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of the Great TreeDaniel 4
Ezekiel's Second Temple VisionEzekiel 40-48
c. 553 BC
Daniel's Vision of Four BeastsDaniel 7
539 to 515 BC
Belshazzar's Feast and the Writing on the WallDaniel 5
Daniel in the Lions' DenDaniel 6
Daniel's Prayer and the Seventy WeeksDaniel 9
The Proclamation of CyrusEzra 1
The Exiles Return to JerusalemEzra 2
Temple Work BeginsEzra 3
Opposition to the Temple RebuildingEzra 4
The Word of the Lord by HaggaiHaggai 1-2
The Word of the Lord to ZechariahZechariah 1-14
Darius Decrees the Temple RebuiltEzra 6
The Completion and Dedication of the TempleEzra 6
483 to 472 BC
458 to 430 BC
Ezra's Return to JerusalemEzra 7-8
Ezra's Prayer about IntermarriageEzra 9
Nehemiah's Prayer for the ExilesNehemiah 1
Nehemiah Sent to Rebuild JerusalemNehemiah 2
The Wall of Jerusalem RebuiltNehemiah 3-6
Ezra Reads the LawNehemiah 8
The Great Assembly and National RepentanceNehemiah 9
Nehemiah's Final ReformsNehemiah 13
The Word of the Lord by MalachiMalachi 1-4
The Silent Years
For roughly 400 years between Malachi and the birth of John the Baptist, no prophet spoke in Israel. The Old Testament canon was complete, but God was silent. During this time, world empires rose and fell, Greek culture spread across the known world, and a succession of foreign powers ruled over Judea, all setting the stage for the arrival of the Messiah.
332 BC
Alexander the Great Conquers Persia and Israel
Greek Language and Culture Spread Across the Known World
323 BC
Alexander's Empire Divided Among His Generals
Judea Falls Under Ptolemaic Rule (Egypt)
c. 250 BC
The Septuagint Produced in Alexandria
Hebrew Scriptures Translated into Greek for the Jewish Diaspora
198 BC
Seleucid Rule Begins: Antiochus III Defeats the Ptolemies
Judea Now Under Syrian Greek Control
167 BC
Antiochus IV Epiphanes Desecrates the Temple
He Outlaws Jewish Worship and Sacrifices a Pig on the Altar
The Maccabean Revolt Begins Under Mattathias and His Sons
164 BC
Judas Maccabeus Defeats the Seleucids and Recaptures Jerusalem
The Temple Is Cleansed and Rededicated
The Feast of Hanukkah Originates from This Event
140 to 63 BC
The Hasmonean Dynasty Rules an Independent Judea
Growing Factions: Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes Emerge
63 BC
Roman General Pompey Conquers Jerusalem
Judea Becomes a Client State of Rome
37 BC
Herod the Great Appointed King of Judea by the Roman Senate
20 BC
Herod Begins a Massive Expansion of the Temple in Jerusalem
The Roman Empire at Peace: Roads, Trade, and a Common Language Connect the World
New Testament
The New Testament picks up four hundred years after Malachi with the arrival of John the Baptist and the ministry of Jesus. It records the Crucifixion and Resurrection, the birth of the church at Pentecost, and the apostolic letters sent to congregations across the Roman world.
6 to 4 BC
8 AD
The Boy Jesus at the TempleLuke 2
26 to 27 AD
28 to 29 AD
The Galilean MinistryMatthew 9
The Pool of BethesdaJohn 5
Lord of the SabbathMatthew 12
The Sending of the TwelveMatthew 10
The Beheading of John the BaptistMatthew 14
The Feeding of the Five ThousandMatthew 14
Peter's Confession of ChristMatthew 16
The TransfigurationMatthew 17
The Sending of the Seventy TwoLuke 10
The Woman Caught in AdulteryJohn 8
The Good ShepherdJohn 10
Jesus and the Father Are OneJohn 10
30 AD
The Raising of LazarusJohn 11
The Triumphal EntryMatthew 21
The Olivet DiscourseMatthew 24
The Last SupperMatthew 26
The Farewell DiscourseJohn 14
Jesus the True VineJohn 15
Jesus Promises the Holy SpiritJohn 16
The High Priestly PrayerJohn 17:1-26
The Betrayal and Arrest of JesusMatthew 26
The Trial of JesusMatthew 27
The CrucifixionMatthew 27
The ResurrectionMatthew 28
The AscensionActs 1
The Holy Spirit Comes at PentecostActs 2
Peter's Healing and Sermon at the TempleActs 3
Peter and John Arrested and ReleasedActs 4
The Deaths of Ananias and SapphiraActs 5
31 AD
34 AD
The Road to DamascusActs 9
37 AD
Peter and CorneliusActs 10
42 to 45 AD
48 AD
Paul's Missionary Journeys
Paul's First Missionary JourneyActs 13-14
Paul Preaches in Pisidian AntiochActs 13
Paul and Barnabas in Lystra and DerbeActs 14
The Council at JerusalemActs 15
49 AD
51 to 52 AD
Paul in CorinthActs 18
Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians1 Thessalonians 1-5
Paul's Second Letter to the Thessalonians2 Thessalonians 1-3
54 AD
Paul in EphesusActs 19
Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians1 Corinthians 1-16
Paul's Letter to the GalatiansGalatians 1-6
57 AD
Paul in Macedonia and GreeceActs 20
Paul's Letter to the RomansRomans 1-16
Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians2 Corinthians 1-13
59 to 62 AD
Paul Returns to JerusalemActs 21
Paul Imprisoned in CaesareaActs 24
Paul Before AgrippaActs 26
Paul Sails for RomeActs 27
The ShipwreckActs 27
Paul Ashore at MaltaActs 28
Paul Preaches at RomeActs 28
Paul's Letter to the EphesiansEphesians 1-6
Paul's Letter to the PhilippiansPhilippians 1-4
Paul's Letter to the ColossiansColossians 1-4
Paul's Letter to PhilemonPhilemon 1
63 to 68 AD
Paul's First Letter to Timothy1 Timothy 1-6
Peter's First Letter1 Peter 1-5
Paul's Letter to TitusTitus 1-3
Paul's Second Letter to Timothy2 Timothy 1-4
Peter's Second Letter2 Peter 1-3
The Letter to the HebrewsHebrews 1-13
Jude's LetterJude 1
90 to 95 AD
John's First Letter1 John 1-5
John's Second Letter2 John 1
John's Third Letter3 John 1
John's Revelation on PatmosRevelation 1-22