The Bible in time
Every passage on BibleWay is placed in an era and, where the text or history allows, given a date. Dates before Christ are marked BC. Many early dates are debated, so each one says how firm it is. The strip below is not to scale: it gives every era room to breathe.
c. 2100 BC1000 BC500 BCAD 1AD 100
BeginningsNo fixed dateCreation, the fall, the flood and Babel — before dated history.54 passagesThe patriarchs2100 BC – 1700 BCAbraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph.297 passagesEgypt & the Exodus1700 BC – 1400 BCIsrael in Egypt, the Exodus, Sinai and the wilderness.608 passagesConquest & the judges1400 BC – 1050 BCEntering the land under Joshua, then the era of the judges.245 passagesUnited kingdom (Saul, David, Solomon)1050 BC – 930 BCSaul, David and Solomon; the temple is built.619 passagesDivided kingdom (Israel & Judah)930 BC – 722 BCIsrael in the north, Judah in the south; the prophets begin.352 passagesJudah alone (Assyria to Babylon)722 BC – 586 BCAfter Assyria ends Israel, Judah faces Babylon.554 passagesExile in Babylon586 BC – 538 BCJerusalem falls and the people live in Babylon.252 passagesReturn & rebuilding (Persian period)538 BC – 400 BCReturn under Persian rule; the temple and walls are rebuilt.234 passagesLife of Jesus5 BC – AD 33The birth, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus.532 passagesThe early churchAD 33 – AD 70Acts and the letters of the first generation.603 passagesLate apostolic ageAD 70 – AD 100The last of the apostolic writings.112 passagesTimeless / undatedNo fixed dateSayings, songs and poems with no fixed setting.466 passages