Bible Timeline · About 1440 BC to AD 95

When Was Each Book of the Bible Written?

The Bible was written over about 1,500 years, from Moses in the wilderness about 1440 BC to John on Patmos about AD 95. This page lists all 66 books in the order they were most likely written, with the author and date The Owner's Manual gives, plus the main scholarly view in one line.

Read it in the Bible: 2 Timothy 3:16 2 Peter 1:20-21 Luke 24:44 Hebrews 1:1-2

The 66 books of the Bible were written by about 40 authors over roughly 1,500 years, from about 1440 BC to about AD 95. Kings, shepherds, prophets, a doctor, fishermen and a tax collector all had a part. Below are all 66 books in the order they were most likely written, using the authors and dates from The Owner’s Manual book introductions. The traditional date comes first, then the other main view in one honest line.

For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21

How Do We Know When the Books Were Written?

Some books date themselves to the day, like Haggai and Ezekiel. Others name no author or king, so dates come from clues inside the book, church and Jewish tradition, and history. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16 that all Scripture is breathed out by God, but he does not tell us the calendar year of each book. Where dates are debated, both views are shown. Every Old Testament book except Esther was found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, many in copies made before Jesus was born, so even the latest dates are still centuries before Christ.

When Was the Old Testament Written?

Moses and the Wilderness

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers: Moses, by Jewish and Christian tradition, about 1440 to 1400 BC. Many scholars say they reached final form around 500 BC.
Deuteronomy: Moses, about 1406 BC, with his death added later. Many scholars say mostly the 600s BC, in Josiah’s day. Those who date the Exodus to the 1200s BC move all five books later too.
Job: author not named; the Talmud says Moses. Date not known: tradition says the days of Moses or Solomon; many scholars say 600 to 400 BC.
Psalms: David wrote 73, with Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses and others. Written over about 1,000 years, from Moses, about 1400 BC, to after the exile, about 500 BC.

The Judges and the Kingdom

Joshua: the Talmud says Joshua, with later additions. Events from about 1406 BC, or the 1200s BC. Many scholars say finished in the 600s or 500s BC.
Judges: the Talmud says Samuel, written once Israel had kings. Many scholars say 600s or 500s BC.
Ruth: the Talmud says Samuel; written in David’s time or later. Many scholars say the 500s or 400s BC.
1 and 2 Samuel: the Talmud says Samuel, finished by Gad and Nathan. Covers about 1100 to 970 BC.
Proverbs: mostly Solomon, about 970 to 930 BC, with sayings copied by Hezekiah’s men about 700 BC.
Song of Solomon: tradition says Solomon, about 970 to 930 BC. Many scholars say 500 to 300 BC.
Ecclesiastes: tradition says Solomon, about 950 to 930 BC. Many scholars say 450 to 250 BC.

The Prophets Before the Exile

Joel: Joel son of Pethuel. Not dated; suggestions run from about 830 to 350 BC.
Jonah: tradition says Jonah, who lived about 793 to 753 BC. Many scholars date the writing later.
Amos: Amos the shepherd, about 760 to 750 BC.
Hosea: Hosea, about 750 to 715 BC.
Isaiah: Isaiah son of Amoz, about 740 to 680 BC. Some scholars date chapters 40 to 66 about 540 BC or later.
Micah: Micah of Moresheth, about 735 to 700 BC.
Nahum: Nahum, between 663 and 612 BC.
Zephaniah: Zephaniah, 640 to 609 BC, likely before 622 BC.
Jeremiah: Jeremiah with his helper Baruch, about 627 to 580 BC.
Habakkuk: Habakkuk, most likely 609 to 597 BC.

The Exile and the Return

Ezekiel: Ezekiel the priest, about 593 to 571 BC.
Lamentations: tradition says Jeremiah, about 586 to 550 BC.
Obadiah: Obadiah, most think soon after 586 BC; some say about 845 BC.
Daniel: Daniel, in the 500s BC, events from 605 to 536 BC. Critical scholars say about 167 to 164 BC.
1 and 2 Kings: the Talmud says Jeremiah. Finished during the exile, after 562 BC.
Haggai: Haggai, 520 BC.
Zechariah: Zechariah, chapters 1 to 8 from 520 to 518 BC; chapters 9 to 14 undated.
Esther: the Talmud says the Men of the Great Assembly, in the 400s BC. Others say the 300s BC or later.
Malachi: Malachi, about 460 to 430 BC.
Ezra: the Talmud says Ezra, about 440 to 400 BC.
Nehemiah: Nehemiah’s own memoir, about 430 to 400 BC.
1 and 2 Chronicles: the Talmud says Ezra, about 450 BC. Many scholars say 400 to 250 BC.

When Was the New Testament Written?

The First Letters

James: James the brother of Jesus, about AD 45 to 50, maybe the first New Testament book. Some say about AD 60.
Galatians: Paul, about AD 48 to 49. Others say AD 53 to 57.
1 and 2 Thessalonians: Paul, from Corinth, about AD 50 to 51.
1 Corinthians: Paul, from Ephesus, about AD 53 to 55.
2 Corinthians: Paul, from Macedonia, about AD 55 to 57.
Romans: Paul, from Corinth, about AD 56 to 57.

The Gospels, Acts and the Prison Letters

Mark: John Mark, writing down Peter’s preaching, the AD 50s or 60s. Others say AD 65 to 70.
Matthew: Matthew the tax collector, the AD 50s or 60s. Others say AD 70 to 90.
Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon: Paul, in prison, most likely Rome, about AD 60 to 62.
Luke: Luke the doctor, about AD 60 to 62. Others say AD 75 to 90.
Acts: Luke, about AD 62. Others say AD 80 to 90.

The Last Years of Peter and Paul

1 Timothy and Titus: Paul, between his two Roman arrests, about AD 62 to 65. Most critical scholars say a follower, AD 90 to 130.
1 Peter: Peter, from Rome, about AD 62 to 64. Critical scholars say AD 70 to 95.
Hebrews: author unknown, most likely AD 60 to 69. Some say AD 80 to 90.
2 Timothy: Paul, in chains in Rome, about AD 64 to 67.
2 Peter: Peter, about AD 64 to 68. Critical scholars say AD 80 to 150.
Jude: Jude, brother of James and of Jesus, about AD 50 to 80. Some say AD 80 to 120.

The Books of John

John: John the apostle, about AD 85 to 95. A few say before AD 70.
1, 2 and 3 John: John, from Ephesus, about AD 85 to 95.
Revelation: John, on Patmos, about AD 95. Some say AD 68.

What About the Apocrypha?

Between Malachi and Matthew lie about 400 years with no new prophet. Jewish writers in those years produced books often called the Apocrypha. Most were written in the last two centuries BC, though dates are approximate:

Tobit and Sirach: about 180 BC.
Judith: about 150 BC.
1 Esdras, Baruch, and the additions to Esther and Daniel: about 165 to 100 BC.
1 and 2 Maccabees: about 125 to 100 BC.
Wisdom of Solomon: about 100 BC to AD 40.
3 Maccabees and the Prayer of Manasseh: first century BC.
4 Maccabees and 2 Esdras: first century AD, 2 Esdras after AD 70.

Catholic and Orthodox Christians include many of these in their Old Testament and call them deuterocanonical. Protestants follow the Hebrew Bible and treat them as helpful history, not Scripture. Martin Luther printed them between the Testaments in his 1534 German Bible with a note that they are not held equal to Holy Scripture, but are useful and good to read.

Why the Dates Matter for You Today

One library, written over fifteen centuries, tells one story that leads to Jesus. He said the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms were all about Him, Luke 24:44. And the whole New Testament was written within a lifetime of the cross.

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Questions People Ask

What is the oldest book of the Bible?

By tradition, the five books of Moses, Genesis through Deuteronomy, are the oldest, written about 1440 to 1400 BC. Some believe Job is older, since the Talmud says Moses wrote it and its story may come from Abraham's time. Many scholars date these books much later.

What was the last book of the Bible written?

Revelation is usually considered the last, written by John on Patmos about AD 95, near the end of Domitian's reign. Some scholars date it about AD 68. The Gospel of John and the letters of John date from about AD 85 to 95.

What is the first book of the New Testament written?

The Owner's Manual says James, about AD 45 to 50, may be the first. Many others give that title to Galatians, about AD 48 to 49, or 1 Thessalonians, about AD 50 to 51.

How long did it take to write the Bible?

About 1,500 years, from Moses about 1440 BC to John about AD 95, by around 40 authors. The Old Testament took about 1,000 years and the New Testament about 50 years.

Are the Apocrypha books part of the Bible?

Catholic and Orthodox Bibles include many of them as deuterocanonical books. Protestant Bibles follow the Hebrew canon and leave them out of the Old Testament. Luther placed them between the Testaments as useful and good to read, but not equal to Scripture.

Sources

← John on Patmos: The Book of Revelation Church History →

See the whole Bible Timeline