how about boosting your bible study by knowing more about the books of the holy bible? Here you will find a suggested chronological order of the different books of the Bible, based on scholarly estimates. You will learn about the theories about the authorship of each book and when they were written. it will help you learn more about god’s word.
Note that this list is based on the Protestant Bible, so it does not include the deuterocanonical books.
You are reading: Books of the bible in chronological order
book #1: genesis
author: genesis is the first book in the list of the books of the bible in chronological sequence. it is also the first in the first major division of the Hebrew bible, called “torah”.
There is no author information on the book itself. Jewish and Christian tradition attributes the authorship of the Book of Genesis to Moses. he may have used other sources (including oral tradition) in writing or compiling this book, since the events took place long before he was born. For example, the creation of the world, Noah’s ark, the tower of Babel, and God’s sending Abram (later renamed Abraham) to Canaan—all of these well-known Bible stories happened centuries before the life of Moses.
internal evidence, especially from the new testament, also affirms moses’s authorship of genesis (acts 15:1) and the pentateuch (the first five books of the canon of scripture), usually referred to as the books of the law ( Luke 16:29, 24:27; John 1:45; 2 Corinthians 3:15). this is considered the strongest evidence in favor of mosaic authorship. this tradition is so strong that many writers use the expressions “the law of moses” or “the books of moses” when referring to the pentateuch.
some scholars who disagree with the authorship of moses developed a theory they called “the documentary hypothesis”. Based on the analysis of the biblical text, they identified four different sources that, according to them, were used by a later editor to compile the five books that we know today. Those sources are:
- source j: texts that refer to god by his covenant name (yahweh, translated as “the lord” in capital letters in most English bibles).
- source e: texts that refer to god as elohim (the more generic word “god”). Proponents of this theory believe that these texts were written before the events of the exodus, so the people did not yet know the revealed name of god (Exodus 3:15).
- source d: this is essentially the book of deuteronomy.
- source p: the priestly texts, especially Leviticus.
many modern scholars abandoned the documentary hypothesis and affirmed moses’s authorship of the pentateuch. they argue that there is no evidence for the existence of those four sources. they also say that the differences, repetition, and apparent contradictions within the five books of the pentateuch can be explained by the literary style of the ancient Near Eastern narratives.
when written: scholars who believe moses wrote the pentateuch date it to the period when israel wandered in the desert, between 1440 and 1400 b.c.
Scholars who defend the documentary hypothesis date the compilation of the Pentateuch as a single work to around 550 BC, during the Babylonian exile.
book #2: Exodus
author: the book is anonymous, but tradition and many scholars consider moses as the author of the exodus. see the genesis discussion above for more information on the authorship of the entire pentateuch. Exodus 3:15 is the first time God reveals his covenant name.
Exodus 17:14, 24:4, and 34:27 are considered internal evidence that Moses wrote sections or the entire book. Also, Joshua 8:31 refers to Exodus 20:25 as a command that was “written in the Book of the Law of Moses” (Joshua 8:31 KJV). the new testament also refers to texts found in the exodus as texts written by moses (mark 7:10, 12:26; luke 2:22-23).
when written: see the genesis discussion in this post for more information.
book #3: leviticus
author: the book does not identify its author, but tradition and most scholars agree that moses wrote leviticus. see the genesis discussion above for more information on the authorship of the entire pentateuch.
Although there is no direct indication that Moses wrote this book, it is clear that God gave him the commands that were recorded there (Leviticus 1:1; 4:1; 5:14; 6:1, 8, 19 ), 24; 7:22, 28; 26:46; 27:34). Paul also claimed Moses’ authorship of Leviticus in Romans 10:5.
when written: see the genesis discussion above for more information.
book #4: numbers
author: most scholars agree with the tradition that moses wrote the book of numbers. see the genesis discussion above for more information on the authorship of the entire pentateuch.
Numbers 33:1-2 indicate that Moses wrote at least part of it. Numbers 1:1, 3:5, 15:1, and other similar verses also indicate that Moses was the one who received most of the content of this book from God.
when written: see the genesis discussion above for more information.
book #5: deuteronomy
author: traditionally, moses is considered the author of deuteronomy. see the genesis discussion above for more information on the authorship of the entire pentateuch.
the verses in deuteronomy 31:9, 22, 24-25 indicate that moses wrote at least a major part of this book (his speech began in deuteronomy 1:5). in 2 kings 14:6, a quote from deuteronomy 24:16 is referenced as part of the “book of the law of moses” (2 kings 14:6 KJV).
new testament texts also affirmed the authorship of deuteronomy: matthew 19:7-8; Mark 10:3-5; acts 3:22-23, 7:37-38; Romans 10:19.
Most scholars agree that Moses wrote this book, and another unknown author added the introduction (Deuteronomy 1:1-5) and conclusion (chapter 34).
When Written: Scholars and tradition believe this was the last of the books of Moses, written just before the Israelites entered the Promised Land.
see the genesis discussion above for more information.
book #6: joshua
author: the book of joshua, despite its name, is anonymous. It is the first of the historical books of the Christian Bible and the first book of the second main division of the Hebrew Bible called Prophets. recounts the events as joshua leads israel to the promised land.
According to the tradition of the Jewish people, Joshua wrote it himself, except for the ending (Joshua 24:29-33). Most scholars agree that Joshua wrote at least some of it (Joshua 24:26).
When Written: Scholars have suggested many possible dates, from the time of Joshua (probably around 1390 BCE) to the Persian period (5th and 4th centuries BCE).
some texts indicate that at least parts were written around the time of those events:
- Parts were written by eyewitnesses (Joshua 5:1, 6).
- Rahab was still alive (Joshua 6:25).
some other texts suggest a later date or additions:
- > an eyewitness would not need to cite a source (Joshua 10:13).
book #7: psalms
author: the book of psalms includes five collections of compositions by many authors. It is one of the most popular books in the entire Bible. in terms of literary genre, it is one of the poetry books in the holy book.
Most psalms are preceded by superscripts that give us information about them. According to those superscripts, we have the following authors: David (73 psalms), Asaph (12), the sons of Korah (11), Moses (1), Solomon (2), Heman (1), and Ethan (1) .
some scholars claim that these superscripts could be a later addition, but even the oldest known manuscripts have them.
an important thing that some scholars argue is that names in superscripts do not necessarily mean the name of the author. they can also indicate that the psalm was dedicated or inspired by someone. For example, the superscript in Psalm 72 refers to Solomon, but some interpreters claim that this psalm was actually written by David (see verse 20) as a brief prayer for Solomon.
when written: scholars estimate that the composition of all the psalms spanned nearly a thousand years, from the time of Moses (about 1400 B.C.) to the Babylonian captivity (Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 a.c.).
considering that the psalms of david constitute almost half of the book of psalms, most of its composition would have occurred during his lifetime and that of solomon, at the end of the 11th century and the 10th century b.c.
book #8: judges
author: the author of the book of judges is unknown. according to the tradition of the jewish people, it was written by the prophet and judge samuel.
when written: the date of writing of this book is also unknown. Scholars argue that the phrase “in those days there was no king in israel” (Judges 17:6, 18:1, 19:1) indicates that it was written after the establishment of the monarchy (10th century BC).
book #9: ruth
author: the book of ruth is anonymous. Jewish tradition attributes it to Samuel, but most scholars attribute it to an unknown author who lived during the monarchy period.
When Written: Scholars contend that the genealogy of David at the end and the literary style of this book indicate that it was written during the reign of Solomon (ca. 950 BC). they think the author was someone who worked on the royal court staff, possibly a scribe.
book #10: proverbs
author: proverbs is a book of common wisdom from the canon of scripture. It is a collection of writings by various authors, according to the biblical text itself:
- chapters 1 to 24: the proverbs of Solomon, son of David (Proverbs 1:1).
- chapters 25 to 29: the proverbs of Solomon compiled by the scribes of King Hezekiah (Proverbs 25:1).
- Chapter 30: The proverbs of Agur, son of Jakeh (Proverbs 30:1).
- Chapter 31: The proverbs of King Lemuel (Proverbs 31 :1).
Some modern scholars dispute Solomon’s authorship and argue that this book is a product of the post-exilic period. however, there is no reasonable evidence to support that theory.
when written: Solomon wrote his proverbs between 970 and 930 B.C. Hezekiah’s scribes compiled the additional proverbs between 729 and 686 B.C. there is no other mention of agur and lemuel anywhere else in the holy scriptures. scholars think that his proverbs may also have been compiled by Hezekiah’s scribes, or could have been a later addition.
If Solomon was not the author, scholars believe it was written in the 5th century BC
Book #11: Song of Songs or Song of Solomon
author: the first verse tells us that either Solomon wrote it, it was his, or it was written about him (Song of Solomon 1:1). The Bible tells us that Solomon wrote 1,005 songs (1 Kings 4:32), so it is reasonable to consider him the author of this book.
Some scholars dispute Solomon’s authorship and attribute it to an unknown author in the post-exilic period, but there is no strong evidence to support their claims.
when written: if solomon is indeed the author, then it was written around 950 b.c. if not, critics claim it was written in the 5th century BC
book #12: 1 samuel
author: the author of 1 and 2 samuel is unknown. both books were originally written as a single volume. they were divided into two parts by the translators of the Septuagint (a Greek translation of the Old Testament from the 2nd century BC).
according to jewish tradition, the prophet and judge samuel is the author of both books. however, he could not have written the events after his death (1 samuel 25:1). some scholars claim that he wrote the material up to that point, then the prophets nathan and gad completed the book. they base this statement on 1 Chronicles 29:29.
when written: the books of 1 and 2 samuel are history books that tell us about the establishment of the monarchy in israel, with david as its main character.
Scholars debate who wrote it and when it was written, but most agree that the entire book (1 and 2 Samuel) was completed during the reign of Solomon, around 950 B.C.
book #13: 2 samuel
Author: Although both 1 and 2 Samuel were traditionally attributed to the prophet and judge Samuel, the book of 2 Samuel contains events that took place after his death. This is why some scholars attribute 2 Samuel to the prophets Nathan and Gad (1 Chronicles 29:29).
when written: the books of 1 and 2 samuel were originally composed as a single volume. Most scholars think they were written during the period of the events they describe and concluded around the time of Solomon’s reign (around 950 BC).
book #14: ecclesiastes
author: the author of this book introduced himself as “the preacher, the son of david, king in jerusalem”, and also said: “i the preacher was king over israel in jerusalem” ( ecclesiastes 1:1,12 RV). note that “son of david” can also mean a descendant, not necessarily his son.
some scholars question solomon’s authorship because of the third person reference to “preacher” in ecclesiastes 12:9-14. however, other scholars claim that those verses could have been a later addition by a second author, who compiled the book. the work of a later compiler/editor may also explain the unique literary style of this book.
when written: if solomon wrote this book, he did so late in his life. that would have been around 940 B.C.
Scholars who reject Solomon’s authorship, or at least argue for a later editor, consider it a post-exilic text, written up to 200 B.C.
book #15: work
author: the author of the workbook is unknown. Moses is traditionally considered the author, but there is no evidence to support this.
Most scholars debate whether this book was produced by one or more authors. the difference in style in narration and speeches has led scholars to conclude that a late author wrote this book using pre-existing material, probably passed down through oral tradition.
when written: scholars estimate, based on a careful study of the text, that the events narrated in job occurred during the patriarchal period (second millennium BC).
They estimate that this book was written sometime between Solomon’s reign (10th century BC) and the post-exilic period (5th century BC).
book #16: jonah
author: the book tells the story of the prophet jonah, son of amittai (jonah 1:1), the most popular among the minor prophets. Most scholars agree that Jonah wrote the book himself or was the author’s primary source. since the book was written in the third person, the argument is stronger in favor of an unknown author.
when it is written: a prophet named jonah, son of amittai, was active in israel during the reign of jeroboam ii, between 793/92 and 753 b.c., according to 2 kings 14:25. If Jonah is the author, he probably wrote the book around that time.
Scholars who think the author of this book is unknown place its composition around the 5th or 4th century B.C. based on linguistic features.
book #17: amos
author: this book records the prophecies of amos (amos 1:1). whether he wrote it himself or another unknown author cannot be determined with certainty.
when it is written: the prophet amos was active during the reigns of king uzziah in judah, and king jeroboam ii in israel (amos 1:1), between 760 and 750 b.c. scholars estimate that amos or a scribe wrote the book within that time period.
book #18: hosea
Author: Scholars cannot determine if the prophet Hosea wrote the book that records his prophecies himself (Hosea 1:1-2) or if it was done by an unknown author.
when it is written: the prophet hosea was active during the reigns of uziah, jotham, ahaz and hezekiah, kings of judah, and jeroboam ii, king of israel (hosea 1:1). scholars estimate the years of this ministry between 755 and 715 B.C. the book was probably written at the end of that time period, after the fall of samaria (the capital of the northern kingdom) in 722 b.c.
book #19: joel
author: this book records the prophecies of joel, son of petuel (joel 1:1). however, this information is not enough to determine with certainty who he was and whether he wrote the book himself.
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when written: the book does not contain any reference to kings or any other datable events, so it is not possible to date it with certainty. The most common suggestion by scholars is that it was written between the fall of Samaria (the capital of the Northern Kingdom) in 722 BC. and the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC
Book #20: Micah
Author: Most scholars agree that the prophet Micah himself wrote parts of the book, specifically the judgment prophecies. consider the prophecies of hope (Micah 2:12-13; 4:1-5:9; 7:8-20) a later addition.
When it is written: The prophet Micah was active during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah (Micah 1:1), between 750 and 686 BC. Scholars estimate that Micah wrote the prophecies about him around 700 B.C. they also think that any later additions would have been made in the early 7th century BC. because he was quoted by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:18) around 608 BC
book #21: isaiah
Author: The book mentions only one author, the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz (Isaiah 1:1, 2:1, 13:1). Jewish and Christian traditions agree with that.
however, many scholars have raised objections to the single author theory. claim that differences in style and content in some parts of the book led them to identify at least three different authors:
- It is believed that the prophet Isaiah himself wrote chapters 1 to 39.
- A second author, an anonymous prophet, would have written chapters 40 to 55.
- a third author, another anonymous prophet, supposedly wrote chapters 56 to 66.
Scholars who agree that Isaiah wrote the entire book present many reasons for maintaining the traditional position of single authorship. These are some of the arguments of it:
- An author’s style can change due to various reasons, such as age, new experiences, purpose, audience, etc. also, isaiah could have used a disciple for the later chapters.
- there are some expressions used throughout the book that point to a single author. For example, Isaiah refers to God as “the Holy One of Israel” 12 times in chapters 1-39 and 14 times in chapters 40-66. outside of isaiah, it is only used 6 times in the entire old testament. there are 25 other hebrew words or expressions used throughout the book of isaiah that are not used anywhere else in the old testament.
- several quotes in the new testament attribute them to the prophet isaiah. Matthew 3:3 (quoting Isaiah 40:3), Matthew 4:14-16 (quoting Isaiah 9:1-2), Romans 9:27-29 (quoting Isaiah 10:22-23 and 1:9) and Romans 10:20-21 (quoting Isaiah 65:1,2), all of these texts assign Isaiah citations from the entire book, including chapters 40-66.
- The book does not identify any another author. furthermore, there is no record anywhere else about other authors. given that isaiah is one of the main prophets of the old testament, this silence regarding other authors cannot be ignored.
- one of the reasons why some critical scholars question isaiah’s authorship of the chapters 40-48 is the accuracy of future predictions about the Babylonian exile. Although these predictions are accurate, there is no evidence in the text that the author was familiar with life in Babylon. this suggests that the author did not experience the Babylonian captivity but wrote about it through the divine inspiration of the holy spirit.
These are some of the reasons many scholars agree that the prophet Isaiah wrote the entire book.
When Written: Many scholars believe that Isaiah was the sole author of the entire book. they believe he wrote chapters 1-39 shortly after 701 B.C. (when the Assyrian army was destroyed – see Isaiah 37). they also believe he wrote chapters 40-66 near the end of his life, around 681 B.C.
Those who defend the theory of the three authors affirm that the second author would have written chapters 40-55 in the sixth century BC, and the third author would have been a post-exilic prophet, who wrote chapters 56-66 around 400 BC.
book #22: nahum
author: this book contains the prophecies of nahum, the elkoshite (nahum 1:1). there is no other evidence to confirm or deny its authorship.
when written: the book anticipates the fall of nineveh, which occurred in 612 b.c. mentions the destruction of thebes in egypt (nahum 3:8-10), which occurred in 663 b.c. therefore, scholars estimate that it was written around 630 B.C.
book #23: zephaniah
author: the book contains the prophecies of zephaniah, son of cushi (zephaniah 1:1). Due to his prominent social position, he probably wrote the book himself.
when written: the prophet zephaniah was active during the reign of josiah (zephaniah 1:1), which took place from 640 to 609 b.c. scholars estimate that he wrote this book after the book of the law (2 kings 22) was found, around 622 BC, but before the king’s reform, in 628 BC
book #24: habakuk
Author: Due to a lack of further information, scholars assume that Habakkuk wrote this book himself (Habakkuk 1:1, 3:1).
when it is written: Habakkuk predicted the Babylonian invasion (Habakkuk 1:6), so many scholars date this book after the reign of Josiah (640-609 B.C.), at the beginning of the Jehoiakim (609 BC). -598 BC), between 612 and 605 BC. Other scholars date it to around 630 B.C., before Josiah’s reform began.
book #25: jeremiah
Author: The vast majority of scholars agree that the prophet Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah (Jeremiah 1:1), wrote the book that bears his name. he dictated the prophecies from him to baruch, the scribe (jeremiah 36:4), who wrote them down.
when written: scholars estimate that the contents of the book cover the ministry of jeremiah from 626 to 580 b.c. furthermore, scholars agree that chapter 52 was added later, possibly by baruch, after jehoiakim’s release, around 561-560 b.c.
book #26: daniel
Author: In the Christian Bible, the book of Daniel falls between the Major and Minor Prophets. the vast majority of scholars classify him as a major prophet. In the Hebrew Bible, it is in the main division called the writings, not the prophets. Daniel is mainly known for being thrown into the lions’ den for refusing to suspend his daily prayer to God, one of the most popular Bible passages among people today.
The author of the book introduces himself as Daniel (Daniel 7:28; 8:1,15; 9:2; 10:2). Jesus quoted from this book and attributed it to the prophet Daniel (Matthew 24:15-16).
some scholars question the authorship of the visions because they refer to daniel in the third person (daniel 7:1, 10:1). Those scholars think those texts could have been written by someone closer to Daniel.
when written: the events of the book span between 605 B.C. (Daniel 1:1) and 536 B.C. (Daniel 10:1). therefore, most scholars think the book was completed in 530 B.C.
book #27: ezekiel
author: the book records the visions of ezekiel, the priest (ezekiel 1:3). the use of first person pronouns from the first verse suggests that Ezekiel himself is the author.
some scholars have questioned its authorship, claiming that it is a post-exilic work, but the vast majority consider these claims unfounded.
When Written: Unlike other prophetic books, the author records the dates of Ezekiel’s prophecies. Based on those dates, scholars determined that the book contains historical records from 593 to 571 B.C., covering 22 years of Ezekiel’s ministry.
book #28: lamentations
author: this book is anonymous. The Septuagint and Jewish tradition attribute it to Jeremiah because of 2 Chronicles 35:25. However, that verse refers to the death of Josiah, not the fall of Jerusalem, which is the subject of lamentations in this book. but since no author is identified, jeremiah is considered a viable option.
when written: most scholars think the book was written by an eyewitness to the destruction of jerusalem in 586 b.c., and probably wrote it soon after, no later than 575 BC
book #29: Obadiah
author: there is no information about the author other than his name (obadiah 1:1). this is not the same person mentioned in 1 Kings 18:3-16. Abbeys, meaning “servant of the lord,” was a common name in Old Testament times, making it more difficult to identify this author.
when written: the book does not mention the name of any king which would help determine the date of its writing. scholars think abbeys 1:11-17 indicates that a great calamity had just befallen jerusalem. they say it was most likely the destruction of jerusalem in 586 b.c. if so, this book was probably written soon after, no later than 553 B.C.
book #30: 1 kings
author: the author of 1 and 2 kings is unknown. both books were originally written as a single volume. they were divided into two parts by the Septuagint translators.
According to Jewish tradition, 1 and 2 Kings were written by Jeremiah, but most scholars discount this possibility. they believe that 1 and 2 kings were written/compiled by an unknown exiled Judahite.
when it is written: together, 1 and 2 kings make up a history book that tells us about the kings of israel, from the death of king david to the fall of jerusalem and the babylonian captivity.
There is evidence in the text that parts of both books were written before their final edition. for example, 1 kings 8:8 speaks of the temple as if it was still there when the text was written, but the temple was destroyed in 2 kings 25:8-17. three external sources were cited (1 Kings 11:41; 14:19, 29). scholars also believe that the author also used the books of jeremiah and isaiah as sources.
the end of the second book indicates that 1 and 2 kings were written/compiled after jehoiakim’s release from prison in 562 b.c. (2 Kings 25:27-30), but before the end of the Babylonian exile in 538 BC
book #31: 2 kings
author: refer to the discussion of the book of 1 kings, above.
when written: refers to the discussion of the book of 1 kings, above.
book #32: haggai
Author: Most scholars agree that the prophet Haggai wrote this book (Haggai 1:1).
when written: haggai dated his prophecies, which he delivered between august and december 520 b.c. These dates show us a special relationship between the book of Haggai and the book of Zechariah: these prophets were active in the same time period. on one occasion, they prophesied on alternate months of the same year.
book #33: zechariah
author: the book contains the prophecies of zechariah, son of berekiah (zechariah 1:1). many scholars agree with the tradition that he is the author of this book.
However, since the 17th century, scholars have argued that he only wrote the first eight chapters. they state that chapters 9 to 11 were written later by a second author, and chapters 12 to 14 were written by a third author, both unknown. opinion among modern scholars is divided.
when written: the first eight chapters were dated: the messages were delivered between 520 and 518 B.C. Most scholars think that Zechariah wrote the rest of the book later in his life, between 500 and 470 BC. Those who think that two other authors wrote the last six chapters estimate that the book was completed around 160 B.C.
book #34: 1 chronicles
author: the books of 1 and 2 chronicles are anonymous. According to tradition, the priest Ezra wrote Chronicles (the division into two books came much later), Ezra and Nehemiah. most scholars agree with that view. they claim that there are similarities in vocabulary, themes, and concerns between those books. They also point out how the Book of Ezra seems to pick up where 2 Chronicles left off (compare 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 with Ezra 1:1-4).
Scholars who disagree with this view state that there are many distinctions between ezra-nehemiah and chronicles. however, those distinctions can easily be explained by the fact that the author of 1 and 2 Chronicles may have used a variety of external written sources to compile the books. he may have quoted those original sources word for word rather than rewriting them to match his style.
when written: most scholars date 1 and 2 chronicles to the second half of the 5th century BC, which coincides with the lifetime of Ezra.
book #35: 2 chronicles
author: refer to the discussion of the book of 1 chronicles, above.
when written: refers to the discussion of the book of 1 chronicles, above.
book #36: ezra
author: the hebrew bible treats ezra and nehemiah as one book. origin (d. 185-253) was the first writer to separate them, calling them 1 ezra and 2 ezra.
ezra’s book is anonymous. contains some first-person narratives (ezra 7:27-28; 8:15-34; 9:1-15), suggesting autobiographical content. Traditionally, the priest Ezra is considered the author of both books.
when written: scholars date the book of ezra to sometime after 440 b.c.
book #37: nehemiah
author: the book of nehemiah records the “words of nehemiah the son of hakaliah” (nehemiah 1:1 rv). It contains first-person narratives, but traditionally the priest Ezra is considered the author of this book, not Nehemiah. in the hebrew bible, ezra and nehemiah are one volume called ezra.
when written: scholars date the book of nehemiah to sometime after 430 B.C.
book #38: esther
author: the book does not mention any author. scholars can only state that the author is a Jew familiar with Persian customs, but he is unknown.
When Written: Most scholars agree that the book was written sometime after 460 B.C., when the events of the book occurred, and before 350 B.C., when greece conquered the persian empire.
book #39: malachi
author: There are two main theories regarding the identification of the author of this book:
- Some scholars think that the word “malachi” in Malachi 1:1, meaning “my messenger,” is not a proper name. therefore, it does not designate a specific prophet but rather an unknown “messenger.”
- Other scholars argue that the grammatical construction in Malachi 1:1 indicates that Malachi was the proper name of the prophet.
When Written: Based on clues in the text, scholars place Malachi during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, between 450 and 430 B.C.
book #40: galatians
author: the author introduces himself as the apostle paul (galatians 1:1). This author shares many personal experiences that do not allow to dispute Paul’s authorship.
when written: academics present three possibilities:
- Most scholars say that Paul wrote this letter to the southern Galatians while he was in Antioch in Syria in A.D. 20. 48-49. in this case, galatians would be paul’s oldest letter, the first in chronological sequence of writing.
- other scholars claim that paul was in antioch in syria or corinth, and wrote the letter to the southern galatians between the year 5 d.c. 51 and 53.
- Another group of scholars believes that Paul wrote this letter to the northern Galatians in A.D. 53-57.
book #41: 1 thessalonians
Author: Although Silas and Timothy are mentioned as co-senders in 1 Thessalonians 1:1, most scholars identify Paul as the primary author due to his writing style and usage. from the pronoun “i” in 1 Thessalonians 2:18, 3:5, and 5:27. Early church writers also support Paul’s authorship, such as Marcion in A.D. 140.
When Written: Most scholars date this letter to between 50 and 52, during Paul’s ministry in Corinth.
book #42: 2 Thessalonians
author: the senders of 2 thessalonians are paul, silas and timothy. however, paul’s authorship is more debated.
some scholars point to differences in vocabulary, literary style, and theology compared to the first and other letters of paul.
Those who confirm Paul’s authorship argue that these differences are not substantial enough to refute the Pauline source.
when written: scholars think this letter was written shortly after the first. so, they estimate that it was written between a.d. 51 and 52.
book #43: 1 corinthians
Author: The Apostle Paul is the author of this letter, and Sosthenes is the co-sender (1 Corinthians 1:1). Paul’s authorship is confirmed by early church fathers, such as Clement of Rome (96 AD).
when written: most scholars date this letter to A.D. 54-55, based on the chronology of Paul’s travels in Acts. he wrote this letter while he was in Ephesus (1 corinthians 16:8).
book #44: 2 corinthians
author: the apostle paul is the author of this letter, and timothy is the co-sender (2 corinthians 1:1). paul’s authorship is not disputed.
however, many contemporary scholars argue that this epistle was not originally written as a single letter, but was compiled from several smaller letters.
When Written: Scholars believe this letter was written around AD 10. 55.
book #45: romans
author: the apostle paul is the author of this letter (romans 1:1). there has been no serious dispute about it.
when written: Although some scholars disagree, most of them date this letter around the year A.D. 57.
book #46: mark
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author: although the book does not identify the author, christian tradition and scholars agree that it was written by john mark (acts 12:12, 25; 15:37, colossians 4 : 10), or simply mark, its Greek name.
The most significant evidence comes from the writings of an early church father, Papias (circa AD 125). He quoted another church father, John the Elder (circa AD 90), who claimed that Mark was a close associate of Peter (1 Peter 5:13), from whom he received the teachings he used as a source for this book.
When Written: Most scholars think Mark wrote this Gospel while Peter was still alive, and date it to sometime between the end of A.D. 50s and early 60s.
book #47: james
author: the author identifies himself as “james, servant of god and of the lord jesus christ” (james 1:1 rv). there are some famous people named james in the new testament:
- son of Zebedee and brother of John, one of the twelve (Mark 1:19, 3:17).
- son of Alphaeus, one of the twelve (Mark 3:17) . 18).
- the father or brother of Judas (Luke 6:16, Acts 1:13).
- the brother of Jesus (Galatians 1:19).
According to scholars, Zebedee’s son is unlikely to be the author of this epistle because he died too soon, around 44 AD. (Acts 12:2).
Scholars contend that due to the simple introduction and implied authority of the author, it is likely that he was a known leader. the best combination between these key characters is the brother of jesus. He was one of the leaders of the Jerusalem church (Acts 12:17, 15:13, 21:18), and probably the same person mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:7, Galatians 2:9, and Jude 1:1. /p>
when written: most scholars date this letter to early a.d. 1960s Some scholars, however, claim that clues in the text indicate an earlier date, possibly before 2000 AD. 50. agree that this was the first of the general letters of the new testament to be written.
book #48: Ephesians
author: most scholars agree that the apostle paul is the author of this letter. He identifies himself as the author (Ephesians 1:1 and 3:1), and mentions personal experiences that coincide with known episodes in Paul’s life (Ephesians 3:1-13, 4:1, 6:19-20).
Those who disagree with the Pauline authorship refer mainly to his style of writing, which they argue is different from other known letters of Paul.
when written: scholars believe that paul wrote the letter between d. 60 and 62, during his imprisonment in Rome (Ephesians 3:1; 4:1; 6:20). Those who disagree with Paul’s authorship date the letter to between A.D. 70 and 90.
book #49: Philippians
Author: There is little dispute over the authorship of the Apostle Paul (Philippians 1:1).
Some scholars argue that this letter was a composition of several letters that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, but most disagree with that theory.
Also, some scholars, such as h. Koester questions the origin of the “hymn” in Philippians 2:5-11, claiming that it could be an earlier writing that Paul quoted.
when written: there is not much information that can help establish a precise date when paul wrote this letter. we know he was in prison (Philippians 1:13), so there are a few options, depending on where he was when he wrote it:
- rome: between a.d. 60 and 62.
- Ephesus: between a.d. 54 and 57.
- Corinth: around A.D. 50.
- cesarean section: between a.d. 57 and 60.
Most scholars agree that the reference to “Caesar’s house” (Philippians 4:22 KJV) indicates that Paul was most likely in Rome, although Caesarea is also a possibility.
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Book #50: Colossians
author: the apostle paul is identified as the author of this letter (colossians 1:1, 1:23, 4:18), and timothy is the co-sender (colossians 1:1 ).
Some contemporary scholars claim that the language and some aspects of the theology do not match Paul’s other letters.
Other scholars are in favor of Paul’s authorship. They also argue that this letter is too short to show that Paul did not write it based solely on differences in style.
When Written: Most scholars think that Paul wrote this letter while he was imprisoned, most likely in Rome (caesarean section is another possibility), around AD 10. 60.
book #51: philemon
author: there is a consensus among contemporary scholars that the apostle paul wrote this letter (philemon 1:1). Paul cites Timothy as a co-sender (Philemon 1:1).
when written: paul wrote this letter during his imprisonment (philemon 1:1), probably in rome. so most scholars estimate it was around a.d. 60.
book #52: matthew
author: although there is no information about the author in this book, early church writers are unanimous in attributing it to matthew, also called levi, one of the 12 apostles (matthew 9: 9 – 13).
Because of the similarities between the Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke, they are called the Synoptic Gospels. academics have come up with a few theories to try to explain these similarities.
the most common theory among scholars is that matthew and luke used mark and an unknown source called “q” (from the german word quelle, meaning “source”) as primary sources to write their own gospels. however, there is no evidence for the existence of this “q” source.
That theory has led some modern scholars to doubt Matthew’s authorship. Among other reasons, they question why Matthew, an eyewitness, would use a source from someone who was not an eyewitness.
Those who defend the authorship of Matthew claim that Matthew may have used the Gospel of Mark because of the authority of Peter behind it.
when written: there has been much debate about the dating of the gospel of matthew. Some scholars suggest that it was written in the 1950s or 1960s, before the fall of Jerusalem in AD. 70. others claim it was later, between a.d. 70 and 80.
book #53: luke
Author: This book is anonymous, but evidence from early church writers and early manuscripts identifies Luke as the author. The Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts are considered to be a two-volume document that Luke wrote to record the life of Jesus, the early church, and the life of Paul. The openings at Luke 1:1-4 and Acts 1:1-2 make it clear that the same author wrote both books.
Although Luke was not an eyewitness, he makes it clear in the first four verses of this book that he had done a careful investigation of the facts, and used eyewitness accounts in his investigation (Luke 1:1-4).
Modern scholars believe that Luke used the Gospel of Mark and an unknown source called “Q” in his work (see the Gospel of Matthew discussion above for more on this theory and the Synoptic Gospels). this theory is questioned due to the lack of external evidence.
When Written: Most scholars agree that Luke wrote his Gospel when Mark’s was already in circulation. They believe that Luke began writing his Gospel after Paul was imprisoned but before his sentencing in Rome. based on those assumptions, they date the gospel of luke to the year a.d. 61-62.
book #54: acts of the apostles
author: considering the type of literature, this is the only historical book in the new testament. It is an anonymous book, but all known evidence from the early church, dating back to the second century, points to Luke as the author of the Book of Acts. Few scholars question this tradition. luke was a physician (colossians 4:14), indicating that he was well educated, and a companion of the apostle paul (2 timothy 4:11, philemon 1:24). based on the “we” passages in Acts (16:9-17, 20:5-15, 21:1-18, 27:1-28:16), where the author includes himself in the narrative, Scholars conclude that he was Paul’s partner, which is another argument for Luke’s authorship.
when written: the possible dates for the writing of this book range from d. 62, when the last recorded event took place, in the middle of the 2nd century, which is the date of the first known mention of the book.
Most scholars favor an early script, around A.D. 62, because the book does not mention Paul’s martyrdom (between 64 and 67 AD) or the severe persecution that began under Emperor Nero in 6 AD. 64.
book #55: 1 peter
author: the author is identified as peter, apostle of jesus christ (1 peter 1:1). the evidence from early church writers is strong that the apostle peter did write it. The author mentions that Silas helped him write the letter (1 Peter 5:12).
When Written: Most scholars think Peter wrote this letter shortly before his martyrdom under Emperor Nero (AD 64-68), but not before his arrival to Rome in the early 1960s. So a reasonable date is around A.D. 62 and 63.
book #56: titus
author: Church tradition identifies the apostle Paul as the author of this letter (Titus 1:1). Some modern scholars have disputed Paul’s authorship, but others say the arguments are not strong enough.
When Written: Most scholars believe that Paul wrote this letter after his release from imprisonment in Rome, around the same time he wrote 1 Timothy, between 10 A.D. 63 and 65.
book #57: 1 timothy
Author: Christian tradition and modern scholars affirm that the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to his disciple Timothy (1 Timothy 1:1-2).
Some contemporary scholars question the authorship of all the pastoral letters (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus) based on the style of writing. Most scholars contend that the evidence raised by critics is not sufficient to cast doubt on Paul’s authorship.
when written: there is no significant evidence in the letter as to when it was written. Most scholars think that Paul wrote it after his release from prison in Rome, between d. 63 and 65.
book #58: 2 timothy
author: As with 1 Timothy, tradition has it that the apostle Paul wrote this letter to his disciple Timothy (2 Timothy 1:1-2) as he contemplated his death (2 Timothy 4 : 6-8).
Contemporary scholars dispute Pauline’s authorship based on the style of the letter, but other scholars say there is insufficient evidence to doubt Pauline’s authorship.
when written: eusebius dated paul’s martyrdom to the year a.d. 67. So scholars estimate that Paul wrote this letter about a year before that, in A.D. 66.
some modern scholars claim that paul was executed between d. 64 and 65, so he would have written the letter shortly before.
book #59: 2 peter
author: the author of this letter introduces himself as “simon peter, servant and apostle of jesus christ” (2 peter 1:1 rv). however, there is no confirmation from the early church on this. This letter was not associated with Peter until the time of the origin (185-253 AD).
some scholars question the authorship of peter, especially because of the difference in style compared to 1 peter. Those who defend the authorship of Peter argue that the differences can be explained by the fact that Silas is not mentioned here as an assistant in the writing of the letter, which may have influenced the style of the first letter.
when written: peter was martyred around a.d. 64-68, under Emperor Nero. therefore, scholars estimate that the letter was written shortly before his death, around A.D. 65.
book #60: Hebrews
author: Hebrews is an anonymous letter. Tradition says that it was written by Paul, but the vast majority of modern scholars reject this theory. Among other reasons against Pauline authorship, Hebrews 2:3 indicates that the author received the gospel from someone else, while Paul claimed that he had received it from the Lord himself (Galatians 1:11-17).
Many names have been suggested over the centuries, including Luke, Barnabas, Clement of Rome, Apollo, Priscilla, Silas, Epaphras, Timothy. however, there is no strong evidence in favor of either.
when written: scholars believe that hebrews was written before the fall of jerusalem in a.d. 70. then suggest a.d. 60 to 70 as the probable date of its writing.
book #61: jude
author: the author of judas introduced himself as “judas, servant of jesus christ and brother of james” (judas 1:1 rv). In the Christian Bible, the only Judas (or Judas) brother of James was the brother of the Lord (Mark 6:3). this conclusion is consistent with the tradition of the early church.
when written: some scholars claim that 2 peter borrowed the contents of this letter. if so, then it must have been written before 2 peter. therefore, scholars date this letter to no later than d. 68. Of course, the loan could have happened the other way around.
book #62: john
author: the author of this gospel is not named, but we know that he was a disciple of jesus and a witness of the events he narrated. He also called himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:20 KJV). according to ancient church tradition, the author is the apostle john, son of zebedee.
When Written: Although this is one of the earliest books of the New Testament, most scholars believe it was one of the last books written. suggest a late date, around A.D. 85, after the other three gospels and most of the epistles were already written. other scholars claim that john did not use the other gospels, so he could have written it much earlier. these scholars suggest a date before the fall of jerusalem (70 a.d.), as early as the 1950s. all things considered, the scholars’ estimates range from a.d. 55 to 95.
book #63: 1 john
author: the author is not identified. There are many similarities between this letter and the Gospel of John that have led scholars to conclude that they were both written by the same author. some scholars have pointed out some differences between them, but the similarities far outweigh them. Also, in 1 John 1:1-3, the author states that he was an eyewitness to Jesus’ ministry. He claimed that he had heard, seen with his own eyes and touched Jesus.
early church fathers such as irenaeus, clement of alexandria, tertullian and origin claim that the apostle john wrote the letters we know as 1, 2 and 3 john. Based on this and other evidence, most scholars also agree with the Apostle John’s authorship of the three letters.
When Written: Since none of John’s three letters have any indication of when they were written, scholars date them based on some textual clues. for example, the author refers to his readers as “children”, indicating that he is an old man. the book of 1 john confronts an early form of gnosticism, a second-century heresy.
Based on these and other clues, scholars estimate that John’s three letters were written in the late first century, between 10 A.D. 85 and 95.
book #64: 2 john
author: the author identifies himself simply as “the elder” (2 john 1:1 RV). According to tradition, this letter was written by the Apostle John. Scholars see no reason to doubt John’s authorship, considering the similarities of this letter to 1 John and the Gospel of John. see the discussion in 1 juan above for more information.
when written: this letter was probably written at the same time as 1 john. see the discussion in 1 juan above for more information.
book #65: 3 john
author: as in 2 juan, the author introduces himself as “the elder” (3 juan 1:1 RV). according to christian tradition, this third letter was also written by the apostle john. Due to similarities with 1 and 2 John, scholars agree on John’s authorship. see the discussion in 1 juan above for more information.
This is the shortest book in the Bible, it contains only 219 words in the original Greek language.
When Written: This letter was probably written at the same time as 1 and 2 John. see the discussion in 1 juan above for more information.
book #66: revelation
author: the book of revelation is often associated with the second coming of christ and the end times. in terms of literary genre, it is the only book of prophecy in the new testament.
The author of the book is identified simply as “his servant John” (Revelation 1:1 KJV). according to church tradition, it was the apostle john who wrote this book.
In the third century, a bishop named Dionysius compared the style and language of the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation, and concluded that they were not written by the same author. So, he attributed the revelation to another John, called “the elder”.
However, other early church writers such as Justin, Irenaeus, and Polycarp claimed that the Apostle John was in fact the author of this book. this is the widely accepted position today.
when it was written: the book of revelation was the last book written in the entire bible. most scholars date it a.d. 95-96 based on a quote from Irenaeus (from “Against Heresies,” 5.30.3), an early church father, who said that John received this vision toward the end of Domitian’s reign.
conclusion
Take some time to study this Bible timeline. Among other Bible reading plans, a chronological Bible reading is the best way to understand the historical order of known Bible passages and the entire Bible story. You can use the information in this article during your Bible reading to deepen the word of the Lord and grow in the knowledge of God through the Holy Spirit.
references
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- a revision of the old testament, second edition, by andrew e. hill & J. h. walton.
- an introduction to the new testament, second edition, by d. a. Carson & Douglas J. Moo.
- NIV Archaeological Study Bible, by Duane Garrett and Walter C. kaiser jr.
- niv study bible by kenneth barker.
- niv zondervan study bible by d. a. carson.