A chronology is now appropriate in order to present a sequence of events both biblical and extra-biblical which effect the canon of the Bible, both Old Testament and New Testament. It is said that no two scripture scholars will agree on one apostolic chronology. Hence what is presented here is acceptable to some but not universally. It serves to give points of reference for the events that took place and their consequences.
| EVENT | DATE | WORK |
| Preaching of John the Baptist | 27 | |
| Outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church | 30 | |
| Stephen is stoned to death. | 36/37 | |
| The conversion of Paul | ||
| Paul's first missionary journey | 45/49 | |
| Council of Jerusalem | 50 | |
| Paul's second missionary journey | 50/52 | |
| 51 | 1 and 2 Thessalonians written | |
| Paul's third missionary journey | 53/58 | |
| 54-57 | Galatians written | |
| 57 | 1 and 2 Corinthians written | |
| 58 | Romans written | |
| The voyage to Rome | 59/60 | |
| Paul's first Roman imprisonment | 61-63 | Philemon written |
| Colossians written | ||
| Ephesians written | ||
| Philippians written | ||
| James written | ||
| 65 | Mark written | |
| 1 Timothy written | ||
| Titus written | ||
| The Apostle James is martyred | ||
| Paul taken to Rome | 63/64 | |
| Peter in Rome | 64 | 1 Peter written |
| Paul's second imprisonment and death | 67 | 2 Timothy written |
| Peter's death; Linus is Bishop of Rome | Hebrews written | |
| The destruction of Jerusalem | 68-70 | |
| 70s | Matthew written; | |
| Luke and Acts written | ||
| Anacletus is Bishop of Rome | 78 | |
| 70s/90s | Jude written | |
| 90s | John written | |
| 1, 2, and 3 John written | ||
| Revelation written | ||
| Clement is Bishop of Rome | 92-101 | 1 Clement written |
| John's death at Ephesus | 98 |
END OF THE APOSTOLIC AGE
| EVENT | DATE | WORK |
| Council of Rabbis at Jamnia | 99-100 | Palestinian Canon in Hebrew |
| First Christian Canon of the Old Testament | c. 100 | Alexandrian Canon in Greek |
| 100-125 | 2 Peter written | |
| Didache written | ||
| Melito, Bishop of Sardis | c. 170 | Produced the first known Christian attempt at an Old Testament canon. His list uses the Septuagint order of books but contains only the Old Testament protocanonicals minus Esther. |
| Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons | 185 | Developed a New Testament Canon (without 3 John, James or 2 Peter) |
| c. 200 | Muratorian Fragment contained a canon similar to Trent | |
| Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea | c. 325 | History of the Church written; referred to James, Jude,2 Peter, and 2 and 3 John as "disputed, yet similar to most." |
| Council of Laodicea | c. 360 | List of books similar to Trent's canon. |
| Pope Damasus | 382 | Decree listing the books of Trent's canon. |
| Council of Rome | 382 | Prompted Pope Damasus' Decree. |
| Council of Hippo (North Africa) | 393 | Approved a list of OT and NT Canon (same as later Trent) |
| Council of Carthage (North Africa) | 397 | Approved a list of OT and NT Canon (same as later Trent) |
| Exuperius, Bishop of Toulouse | 405 | Wrote to Pope Innocent I requesting a list of canonical books. Pope Innocent listed the Trent canon. |
By Paul Flanagan and Robert Schihl.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture texts are taken from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament, © 1986, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
Email comments to pdflan@mindspring.com
Last Updated: January 3, 1997