Here is a timeline that is helpful for placing scripture into a historical perspective. For our journey through Mark, the time periods of the First Century BCE and the First Century CE are helpful to keep in mind.
BCE = Before Common Era (formerly BC)
CE = Common Era (formerly AD)
26th Century BCE (2549-2526) - Great Pyramids at Giza constructed
18th Century BCE (1797-1750) - Hammurabi’s Law Code
17th Century BCE - Israel’s Patriarchs; Abraham, Isaac, Jacob
13th Century BCE - The Exodus; this date is in question
13th - 12th Centuries BCE - Israel settles “Promised Land”
11th Century BCE (1027-1005) - Saul is king of Israel
10th Century BCE (998-965) - David is king of Israel
10th Century BCE (965-931/30) - Solomon king of Israel
10th Century BCE - estimated date of the Yahwist, “J” source, of the Pentateuch
The second creation story - Genesis 2:4b-25
7th Century BCE (622) - Discovery of Law book in Temple (Deuteronomy)
6th Century BCE
March 16, 597; First capture of Jerusalem by Babylon, beginning of Babylonian exile
July 19, 586; Second capture of Jerusalem by Babylon
Estimated date of writing of Second Isaiah (Isaiah 40-55)
Estimated writing of Priestly, “P” source of the Pentateuch,
The First Creation story, Genesis 1:1-2:4a
539 - Fall of Babylon, Return of the Jews to Jerusalem
4th Century BCE (356-323) - Alexander the Great
2nd Century BCE (167-164) - Estimated date of the writing of Daniel, reflecting on the 6th century events of Babylonian exile
1st Century BCE
March 15, 44 - Caesar killed by Brutus - “Ides of March”
30BCE - 14 CE - The reign of Caesar Augustus
4BCE - The estimated birth of Jesus of Nazareth
1st Century CE
30-33 CE - estimate death of Jesus
45 - 64 - Ministry and letters of Paul
66 - 70 - estimated writing of Mark’s Gospel
70 - Fall of the Temple of Jerusalem
80-90 - estimated writing of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke
90 - 100 - estimated writing of Gospel of John
BCE = Before Common Era (formerly BC)
CE = Common Era (formerly AD)
26th Century BCE (2549-2526) - Great Pyramids at Giza constructed
18th Century BCE (1797-1750) - Hammurabi’s Law Code
17th Century BCE - Israel’s Patriarchs; Abraham, Isaac, Jacob
13th Century BCE - The Exodus; this date is in question
13th - 12th Centuries BCE - Israel settles “Promised Land”
11th Century BCE (1027-1005) - Saul is king of Israel
10th Century BCE (998-965) - David is king of Israel
10th Century BCE (965-931/30) - Solomon king of Israel
10th Century BCE - estimated date of the Yahwist, “J” source, of the Pentateuch
The second creation story - Genesis 2:4b-25
7th Century BCE (622) - Discovery of Law book in Temple (Deuteronomy)
6th Century BCE
March 16, 597; First capture of Jerusalem by Babylon, beginning of Babylonian exile
July 19, 586; Second capture of Jerusalem by Babylon
Estimated date of writing of Second Isaiah (Isaiah 40-55)
Estimated writing of Priestly, “P” source of the Pentateuch,
The First Creation story, Genesis 1:1-2:4a
539 - Fall of Babylon, Return of the Jews to Jerusalem
4th Century BCE (356-323) - Alexander the Great
2nd Century BCE (167-164) - Estimated date of the writing of Daniel, reflecting on the 6th century events of Babylonian exile
1st Century BCE
March 15, 44 - Caesar killed by Brutus - “Ides of March”
30BCE - 14 CE - The reign of Caesar Augustus
4BCE - The estimated birth of Jesus of Nazareth
1st Century CE
30-33 CE - estimate death of Jesus
45 - 64 - Ministry and letters of Paul
66 - 70 - estimated writing of Mark’s Gospel
70 - Fall of the Temple of Jerusalem
80-90 - estimated writing of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke
90 - 100 - estimated writing of Gospel of John
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