The Bible was not written all at once, from beginning to end, nor by a single author. The books that comprise it were produced over the course of more than a thousand years through a process of oral transmission, writing, compilation, and recognition by the community of believers.
Understanding the chronology of the Bible helps us better appreciate the historical and religious context in which the biblical texts came into being and, consequently, to interpret their message more deeply.
The Bible: A Library of Books
The Bible is a collection of writings belonging to different literary genres, composed at different times and in a wide variety of historical contexts.
In the case of the Old Testament, many traditions had already begun to be committed to writing before the Exile of Judah in Babylon. However, it was during the Babylonian Exile, beginning in 586 BC, and after the Jewish people’s return to Jerusalem in 539/538 BC, that many of these books acquired the form in which we know them today.
The writings of the New Testament began to be composed only a few decades after the death and Resurrection of Jesus. Some of Saint Paul’s letters are the earliest surviving Christian writings and date from approximately AD 50 or 51, while some of the latest books may have been written as late as the beginning of the second century.
From Book to Canon
The formation of the Bible did not end with the writing of its texts. Over time, Jewish and Christian communities came to recognize which books were to be regarded as inspired by God and therefore included in Sacred Scripture. This process of discernment gave rise to the different biblical canons.
The Composition and Compiling of the Bible – Bible Portico
Timeline of the Formation of the Bible
The following timeline summarizes some of the principal milestones in the writing, transmission, and recognition of the biblical books.
640–609 BC: The “Book of the Law”
During the reign of Josiah in Judah, the so-called Book of the Law was discovered.
This event demonstrates that written traditions already existed before the Babylonian Exile.
500–300 BC: The Final Composition of Many Biblical Books
During the Babylonian Exile and the subsequent return to Judea, many books of the Old Testament reached their final literary form.
c. 445–398 BC: Ezra Reads the Law to the People
Nehemiah gathers the people of Jerusalem, and Ezra the scribe publicly proclaims the Book of the Law of Moses.
c. 250 BC–AD 100: The Septuagint
The Hebrew Scriptures are translated into Greek in what becomes known as the Septuagint, or Version of the Seventy. This collection also includes books originally composed in Greek and becomes the basis of the Catholic canon of the Old Testament.
190–180 BC: The Composition of Sirach
The Book of Sirach, also known as Ecclesiasticus, is composed. Several decades later, it is translated into Greek. Its prologue already refers to “the Law, the Prophets, and the other books.”
c. AD 50–51: The Earliest New Testament Writings
Saint Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians is generally regarded as the earliest writing of the New Testament.
c. AD 70–90: Discussions on the Hebrew Canon
Rabbinic discussions take place at Jamnia, later influencing the definition of the Tanakh, or Hebrew Bible.
c. AD 180–200: Awareness of a Christian Canon
Christian writers such as Saint Irenaeus of Lyons and Origen bear witness to the Church’s recognition of four—and only four—Gospels.
AD 367: The First Complete List of the New Testament
Saint Athanasius of Alexandria includes, for the first time, the exact list of New Testament books as it is known today.
AD 382: The Latin Vulgate
Saint Jerome begins translating the Vulgate, the Latin version of the Bible that would profoundly shape Western Christianity.
AD 393: The Council of Hippo
The provincial Council of Hippo enumerates the canon of the Catholic Church, later reaffirmed at the Councils of Florence and Trent.
AD 500–1500: The Masoretes
The Masoretic rabbis add vowel signs and textual notes to the Hebrew text in order to preserve its correct reading and pronunciation.
AD 1455: The Gutenberg Bible
The invention of the printing press makes possible the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, one of the most important works in the history of the book.
AD 1517: The Protestant Reformation
Martin Luther publishes his Ninety-five Theses. The Reformers advocate a return to the Hebrew Scriptures and limit the Old Testament canon to the Tanakh.
AD 1546: The Council of Trent
The Council of Trent officially defines the complete list of books that constitute the canon of the Catholic Bible.
AD 1611: The King James Bible
The King James Bible is published, becoming one of the most influential Bible translations in the English language.
A History Handed Down Through the Centuries
The formation of the Bible was a process that spanned centuries, languages, and cultures. Oral traditions, manuscripts, translations, and the discernment of believing communities all contributed to preserving and transmitting the texts that now form part of Sacred Scripture.
Understanding this history helps us not only to know the Bible more deeply, but also to place the events of salvation history within their historical and geographical context. At the Saxum Visitor Center, these processes are presented through maps, timelines, and interactive resources that offer visitors a richer understanding of the biblical world.
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