Bible timeline
The Bible’s story runs through ten eras, from the patriarchs around 2000 BC to the early church in the first century AD. Dates are approximate.
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Creation and the early world · Undated
Genesis 1–11
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The patriarchs · about 2000–1700 BC
Genesis 12–50, Job
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Exodus and wilderness · about 1446–1406 BC or 1260–1220 BC
Exodus to Deuteronomy Scholars hold an earlier and a later date for the exodus.
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Conquest and judges · about 1400–1050 BC
Joshua, Judges, Ruth
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The united kingdom · about 1050–930 BC
1 Samuel to 1 Kings 11, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs
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The divided kingdom · 930–586 BC
1 Kings 12 to 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, most prophets
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Exile in Babylon · 586–538 BC
Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel
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Return and rebuilding · 538–about 430 BC
Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
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The life of Jesus · about 4 BC–AD 30/33
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
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The early church · about AD 30–95
Acts, the letters, Revelation
Questions
How long a time does the Bible cover?
From creation (undated) through the patriarchs around 2000 BC to the end of the first century AD, when the last New Testament books were written.
When was the Bible written?
Over roughly a thousand years: the oldest parts of the Old Testament are commonly dated before 1000 BC and the latest New Testament books to about AD 90–95.
Are the dates certain?
No. Dates before the divided kingdom are approximate, and some (like the exodus) have two widely held dates. From the fall of Samaria (722 BC) and Jerusalem (586 BC) on, dates are firmer.