The Bible as Literature: The New Testament
BEN53001 聖經文學：新約
A Time line of Bible History
Below is a list of some historical events that are important to the study of the Bible and its prophecies. Use this as a general orientation for main events and books in the Bible.
2100 BC (about 4100 years ago)
God promises Abraham many descendants
Abraham lived around 2100 BC in what is now Iraq. God told him to move to Canaan, which later became Israel. He has two sons, Ishmael through Hagar, and Isaac through his wife Sara.
2000 BC (about 4000 years ago)
Jacob ( Israel ) is born
Jacob and Esau, twin sons of Isaac, are born in Canaan. God changes Jacob's name to Israel. He has 12 sons, for whom the 12 Tribes of Israel are named. His favorite son is Joseph.
1900 BC (about 3900 years ago)
Joseph sold into slavery
Joseph's brothers sell him into slavery. Joseph ends up in Egypt, where he rises to power as a trusted assistant of a pharaoh. This prepares the way for his family to escape a famine and live in Egypt in the land of Goshen.
1340 BC (about 3500 years ago)
Exodus begins
After 400 years, the Jews have prospered but also become enslaved by Egypt. Led by Moses, they escape Egypt (the Passover) and head toward the land of Canaan. The Israelites wander in the desert for 40 years before reaching the border of Canaan (the promised land).
1300 BC (about 3500 years ago)
Israel begins establishing itself as a country
After Moses dies, Joshua leads the Jews into Canaan and begins conquering the land, establishing the nation of Israel.
1250 BC (about 3400 years ago)
Israel is ruled by judges, not kings
For about 200 years, Israel is ruled by judges rather than a king. The people think of God as their King. Judges settle disputes and lead victories against enemies.
1050 BC (about 3000 years ago)
Saul becomes Israel 's first king
The Israelites wish to have a king like their neighbors and by so doing, they reject God as their king. Saul becomes first king and reigns about 40 years.
1010 BC (about 3000 years ago)
David becomes King of Israel
David becomes king and reigns for 40 years. He is the best king, and his reign marks the golden age of Israel. David is often praised for having a heart that seeks God. He frequently sins, but then repents. He expands the size of Israel.
970 BC (about 3000 years ago)
Solomon becomes king, builds Temple
Solomon becomes king and reigns for about 40 years. Solomon builds the Temple (completed around 960 BC). But, Solomon eventually turns away from God and worships false gods.
926 BC (about 2900 years ago)
Israel becomes a divided kingdom
Shortly after the reign of Solomon, Israel becomes a divided kingdom. The southern kingdom, called Judah , includes the city of Jerusalem and the Temple. The northern kingdom continues to be called Israel. The two often war with each other.
721 BC (about 2700 years ago)
Assyrians conquer northern kingdom of Israel
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel in about 720 BC. They force many Jews (10 of the 12 Tribes of Israel) out of Israel and bring in foreigners. History loses track of these 10 tribes.
612 BC (about 2600 years ago)
Babylon conquers Nineveh (Assyrian Empire)
The Assyrian Empire's capital city, Nineveh, is attacked by coalition of Babylonians, Scynthians and Medes. As explained by the prophet Nahum, Nineveh is destroyed because of the Assyrian Empire's treatment of Jews and others.
605 BC (about 2600 years ago)
Babylon exerts influence over Judah
Under king Nebuchadnezzar The Babylonian Empire, seeks to expand and begins forcing Judah to submit. Nebuchadnezzar takes many Jews as captives to Babylon to ensure Judah 's obedience.
597 BC (about 2600 years ago)
Babylon attacks Judah
Babylon attacks Judah and takes more Jews as captives to Babylon. Ezekiel , one of the captives, becomes a prophet of God. Ezekiel explains that God is allows Babylon to punish Judah because the people have been unfaithful to God.
586 BC (about 2600 years ago)
Babylon destroys Jerusalem and Temple
Babylon attacks Judah again. This time, the Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and the Temple that Solomon had built. More Jews are taken as captives to Babylon.
539 BC (about 2500 years ago)
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon
After the death of Nebuchadnezzar, Neo-Babylonian Empire begins to lose power. It was conquered in about 539 BC by Cyrus the Great. Cyrus was king of the Medo-Persian Empire.
538 BC (about 2500 years ago)
Cyrus releases Jews from Babylonian Captivity
Cyrus offers the Jews their freedom to leave Babylon and return to Judah. Cyrus' kingdom rules over Judah and many other parts of the Middle East, but Cyrus allows people more cultural and religious freedom than did the Babylonian Empire.
536 BC (about 2500 years ago)
Work begins to rebuild Temple
Some of the Jews in Babylon return to Judah and begin work in about 536 BC to rebuild the Temple.
516 BC (about 2500 years ago)
Second Temple is dedicated
The Temple is consecrated for worship, 70 years after the Babylonians had destroyed it in 586 BC. But this temple is not as impressive as Solomon's.
333 BC (about 2300 years ago)
Greeks begin rule over land of Israel
The Greeks, under the leadership of Alexander the Great, defeat Persian armies in Macedonia in 333 BC. This marks the end of the Persian Empire; the Grecian Empire expands.
331 BC (about 2300 years ago)
Alexander conquers Tyre (Phoenician Empire)
Alexander wars against the island fortress of the Phoenician city of Tyre. He takes rubble from the mainland of Tyre and builds a walkway to the island. Alexander's forces then conquer the island fortress, bringing an end to the Phoenician Empire.
250 BC (about 2300 years ago)
The Old Testament is translated into Greek
A Greek ruler has the Jews translate the first five books of the Old Testament into the Greek language. (Some scholars say this translation included other books from the Old Testament, not just the first five). The translation is called the Septuagint .
175 BC (about 2200 years ago)
Greek ruler Antiochus Epiphanes torments the Jews
Greek ruler Antiochus Epiphanes rules Syria from about 175 BC to about 164 BC. He reigns over Judah and tries to destroy the Jewish religion and copies of the Torah (the first five books of the modern Bible). He also defiles the Temple.
166 BC to 63 BC (about 2200 years ago)
Jews have independence
Maccabean revolt opens way for Jewish independence in Jerusalem and the surrounding area. The revolt is led by Mattathias and his five sons, Judas (Maccabeus), Jonathan, Simon, John and Eleazar. The era of independence runs from about 166-63 BC.
63 BC (about 2100 years ago)
Romans take over land of Israel
After the death of Alexander the Great, his empire was divided up among four generals. This weakens the empire. Meanwhile, the Roman Empire is becoming increasingly powerful. The Roman general named Pompey takes control of Jerusalem.
about 5 BC (about 2000 years ago)
Jesus is born
Jesus is born in Bethlehem. Micah prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem about 700 years before (see Micah 5:2).
about 25 AD (about 2000 years ago)
Jesus begins His ministry
Jesus begins His ministry. He is about 30 years old.
about 28 AD (about 2000 years ago)
Jesus is crucified
Jesus is accused of being an anti-government rebel. He is sent to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, to be crucified.
70 AD (about 1900 years ago)
Romans destroy Jerusalem and Temple
In 70 AD, the Roman Army, under Titus, destroys Jerusalem and the Temple , to suppress an uprising of the Jews. According to the historian Josephus, about 1.1 million Jews were killed. Others were taken as slaves.
First century AD (about 1900 years ago)
The "Bible" is canonized
During the first century of this era, the New Testament, which describes the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, is put together. The writing of the Bible (the Old Testament and the New Testament) comes to an end. It began during the time of Moses, about 3400 years ago. Jesus becomes, and remains, the final subject of the Bible.
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