A Chronological Journey Through Scripture
At Shoe Leather Gospel, we believe that understanding when the books of the Bible were written helps believers see the grand narrative of Scripture with greater clarity. Knowing the timeline deepens our confidence in God’s providential orchestration of redemptive history. Here’s a walk through the approximate dates of composition for each biblical book—rooted in conservative scholarship, harmonized with biblical events, and viewed through a faithful dispensational lens.
OLD TESTAMENT (Chronological Order)
| Book | Approximate Writing Date | Author |
|---|---|---|
| Genesis – Deuteronomy | 1445–1405 B.C. | Moses |
| Job | Unknown | Anonymous |
| Joshua | 1405–1385 B.C. | Joshua |
| Psalms | 1410–450 B.C. | Multiple Authors |
| Judges | ~1043 B.C. | Samuel |
| Ruth | 1030–1010 B.C. | Samuel (?) |
| 1 Samuel | c. 1000–970 B.C. | Samuel, Nathan, Gad |
| 2 Samuel | c. 970–931 B.C. | Nathan, Gad |
| Proverbs | 971–686 B.C. | Solomon primarily |
| Song of Solomon | 971–965 B.C. | Solomon |
| Ecclesiastes | 940–931 B.C. | Solomon |
| Obadiah | 850–840 B.C. | Obadiah |
| Joel | 835–796 B.C. | Joel |
| Jonah | ~775 B.C. | Jonah |
| Amos | ~750 B.C. | Amos |
| Hosea | 750–710 B.C. | Hosea |
| Micah | 735–710 B.C. | Micah |
| Isaiah | 700–681 B.C. | Isaiah |
| Nahum | ~650 B.C. | Nahum |
| Zephaniah | 635–625 B.C. | Zephaniah |
| Habakkuk | 615–605 B.C. | Habakkuk |
| Ezekiel | 590–570 B.C. | Ezekiel |
| Jeremiah | 586–570 B.C. | Jeremiah |
| Lamentations | 586 B.C. | Jeremiah |
| Daniel | 536–530 B.C. | Daniel |
| 1–2 Kings | 561–538 B.C. | Anonymous (compiled during exile) |
| Haggai | ~520 B.C. | Haggai |
| Zechariah | 480–470 B.C. | Zechariah |
| Ezra | 457–444 B.C. | Ezra |
| 1–2 Chronicles | 450–430 B.C. | Ezra (?) |
| Esther | 450–331 B.C. | Anonymous |
| Malachi | 433–424 B.C. | Malachi |
| Nehemiah | 424–400 B.C. | Ezra |
NEW TESTAMENT (Chronological Order)
| Book | Approximate Writing Date | Author |
|---|---|---|
| James | A.D. 44–49 | James |
| Galatians | A.D. 49–50 | Paul |
| Mark | A.D. 50–60 | Mark (written first, under Peter’s influence) |
| Matthew | A.D. 50–60 | Matthew (written concurrently with Mark, for a Jewish audience) |
| 1 Thessalonians | A.D. 51 | Paul |
| 2 Thessalonians | A.D. 51–52 | Paul |
| 1 Corinthians | A.D. 55 | Paul |
| 2 Corinthians | A.D. 55–56 | Paul |
| Romans | A.D. 56 | Paul |
| Ephesians | A.D. 60–61 | Paul (Prison Epistle — First Imprisonment) |
| Colossians | A.D. 60–61 | Paul (Prison Epistle — First Imprisonment) |
| Philemon | A.D. 60–61 | Paul (Prison Epistle — First Imprisonment) |
| Philippians | A.D. 61 | Paul (Prison Epistle — First Imprisonment) |
| Luke | A.D. 61 | Luke |
| Acts | A.D. 62 | Luke |
| 1 Timothy | A.D. 62–63 | Paul (after release, possibly from Corinth) |
| Titus | A.D. 62–63 | Paul (possibly from Corinth or Nicopolis) |
| 1 Peter | A.D. 64–65 | Peter |
| 2 Peter | A.D. 67–68 | Peter |
| 2 Timothy | A.D. 67 | Paul (from second imprisonment before execution) |
| Hebrews | A.D. 67–68 | Luke (scribed from Paul’s prison teachings — Second Imprisonment) |
| Jude | A.D. 68–70 | Jude |
| John | A.D. 80–90 | John |
| 1–3 John | A.D. 90–95 | John |
| Revelation | A.D. 94–96 | John (from Patmos) |
Why This Matters
Seeing the Bible as a progressive, Spirit-led unfolding of God’s redemptive plan gives us confidence. These books were not scattered ideas compiled centuries later—they were penned in real time, in real places, by real people, under divine inspiration (2 Peter 1:20–21).
Understanding when helps us better understand why and how the story unfolds—and invites us to live as faithful participants in that same story.
