Timeline of Christianity

Timeline of Christianity (1AD-Present)

The purpose of this chronology is to give a detailed account of Christianity from 1AD to the present. (Question marks on dates and information indicate approximate dates)

Contents

1 Life of Jesus

2 Early Christianity

3 Gospels written

4 Early church

5 End of the Roman Empire

6 Post-Roman Empire

7 Middle Ages

8 Renaissance and Reformation

9 Modern era

10 Sources

Life of Jesus

1 AD First year in Christian calendar (a.d. = anno Domini)
6 Herod Archelaus deposed by Augustus; Samaria, Judea and Idumea annexed as province Iudaea under direct Roman administration.
6-? Quirinius becomes Legate (Governor) of Syria, 1st Roman tax census of Iudaea
6-9 Coponius is Roman Prefect of Iudaea (Samaria, Judea, and Idumea)
7-26 Brief period of peace, free of revolt and bloodshed in Iudaea & Galilee
9-12? M. Ambivius is Roman Prefect of Iudaea (Samaria, Judea, and Idumea)
12?-15 Annius Rufus is Roman Prefect of Iudaea (Samaria, Judea, and Idumea)
14-37 Tiberius I is emperor of Rome, b. 42BC
25? Assumption (Testament) of Moses, original Hebrew extant Latin (Apocrypha)
26-36 Pontius Pilate is Roman Prefect of Iudaea (Samaria, Judea, and Idumea)
27-29? John the Baptist begins ministry (Luke 3,1-2) (15th year of Tiberius)
27-34? Jesus baptized by John the Baptist (Mk1:4-11)
33-34? John the Baptist arrested and killed by Herod Antipas (Luke 3,19-20)
33-36? Jesus' ministry
36? Jesus crucified, Friday, Nisan 14th, March 30th, [Ref: John, Unauthorized Version/Fox] Last Supper would have been Thursday evening. (7Apr30 & 3Apr33 possible Fri/14/Nisan crucifixion dates)
36? Jesus resurrected, appears to disciples

Early Christianity

The period from around 36 to about 65 is the period of oral tradition in Christianity. Between the time of Jesus and the time the first gospel (Mark) is written, original Christians disperse throughout Judea and Samaria (Acts 8,1ff), Peter leads the new Christian Church, moves the Church headquarters to Rome

36?-67 Leaders of the early Church include Peter, Paul, and James
36?-37 Paul of Tarsus has Stephen martyred and the Jerusalem church destroyed
37 Paul of Tarsus is converted (Acts 9)
37-41 Gaius Caligula is emperor of Rome, declared himself god
37-41? Marullus is Roman Prefect of Iudaea (Samaria, Judea, and Idumea)
40 Paul goes to Jerusalem to consult with Peter (Gal 1, 18-20)
41-54 Claudius emperor of Rome
44 James, brother of John, executed by Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12, 1-3)
47-48 Paul and Barnabas on Cyprus (Acts 13, 4-12)
48-49 Council of Jerusalem, 1st Christian Council, presided over by james, doctrine regarding circumcision and dietary law is agreed to by apostles and presbyters, written in a letter addressed to "the brothers of Gentile origin in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia" (Acts 15)
48-57? Paul writes Galatians
49-50 Paul in Corinth (Acts 18)
50? Peshitta translation begun, Hebrew OT->Syriac Aramaic, (Greek NT in 400)
50? Ascension of Isaiah, original written in Hebrew (Ethiopic Bible)
51-52 Paul writes 1 Thessalonians
51-52 ? Paul writes 2 Thes
53-62 Paul writes Philippians
56 Paul writes 1 Corinthians
57 Paul writes Epistle to the Romans
57 Paul writes 2 Corinthians
57 Paul's last visit to Jerusalem [Acts21]
58 Paul arrested, imprisoned in Caesarea [Acts25:4]
60 Paul imprisoned in Rome (Acts 28,16)
61-63? Paul? writes Ephesians
61-63 Paul writes Philemon
61-63 Paul writes Colossians
61-63? Paul? writes 1,2 Timothy, Titus, known as "pastoral epistles"
62? James written by leader of Jerusalem community? (Gal 2,9?), "catholic" epistle
62 Paul martyred for treason in Rome
62 {Being therefore this kind of person [i.e., a heartless Sadducee], Ananus, thinking that he had a favorable opportunity because Festus had died and Albinus was still on his way, called a meeting [literally, "sanhedrin"] of judges and brought into it the brother of Jesus-who-is-called-Messiah, James by name, and some others. He made the accusation that they had transgressed the law, and he handed them over to be stoned.} [JA20.9.1,Marginal Jew,p.57]
64 Great fire of Rome, started by Nero and blamed on Christians: "Therefore to squelch the rumor, Nero created scapegoats and subjected to the most refined tortures those whom the common people called 'Christians,' [a group] hated for their abominable crimes. Their name comes from Christ, who, during the reign of Tiberius, had been executed by the procurator Pontius Pilate. Suppressed for the moment, the deadly superstition broke out again, not only in Judea, the land which originated this evil, but also in the city of Rome, where all sorts of horrendous and shameful practices from every part of the world converge and are fervently cultivated." (Tacitus, Annals 15.44; Marginal Jew; Meier; p.89-90)
64-95? 1 Peter written in Rome, perhaps by Peter the apostle, "catholic" epistle

Gospels written

65-160 is the period in which the four gospels, Acts, Revelation, and remaining epistles are written - Peter is martyred before 1st Gospel is written, there are seven Popes before last epistle is completed

65? Q document written, (German:Quelle, meaning "source") a hypothetical Greek text thought by many critical scholars to have been used in writing of Matthew and Luke
65-150 Didache: Instructions of the Apostles written
65-150 Dialogue of the Savior, Gospel of Peter
65-150 Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 1224 fragments: pub. 1914
65-150 Gospel of Thomas written, perhaps based on Q, pub. 1959, Greek originals: Papyrus Ox. 1,654-5
65-175 Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 840 fragments: pub. 1908
65-175 Papyrus Egerton 2 (Unknown Gospel) fragments: pub. 1935/87, in Greek from Palestine, one of the oldest extant Christian texts (~175)
65-250 Papyrus Fayum (P. Vindob. G. 2325) fragments: pub. 1887
65-350 "Jewish-Christian Gospels": 7 fragments of Gospel of the Ebionites and 7 fragments of Gospel of the Hebrews in Greek; 36 fragments of Gospel of the Nazarenes in Aramaic; [Ref: NT Apocrypha, W. Schneemelcher, vol. 1]
66-70 Roman-Jewish War: final destruction of Second Temple (Herod's Temple)
67 Peter martyred, crucified upside down in Rome
67-78 Pope Linus, 2nd Pope, succeeds Peter (Linus mentioned in 2 Tm 4,21)
67 General Vespasian of Rome conquers Galilee
68 Nero commits suicide, resurrects as "Nero redivivus", Rev's 666? (see 81)
68 Galba emperor of Rome (6/68-1/69)
68 Qumran (Essenes?) community destroyed by Rome, site of Dead Sea Scrolls found in 1949
69 Flavian Dynasty of Rome (Vespian, Titus, Domitian)
69-79 Vespian emperor of Rome, quells unrest in Rome and Jerusalem
70 Collapse of Jewish self-government in Judea and destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem
70 Gospel according to Mark written in Rome, by Peter's interpreter? (1 Peter 5,13), original ending apparently lost, endings added c 400
70? "Signs Gospel" written, hypothetical Greek text used in Gospel of John to prove Jesus is the Messiah
70-640 Sanhedrin (High Court) period of Judaism, rise of house of Hillel
75-90 Gospel according to Luke written, based on Mark and Q
75-90 Acts of the Apostles written, same author as Gospel according to Luke
79-81 Titus emperor of Rome, eldest son of Vespasian
79-91 Pope Anacletus, 3rd Pope, known as "blameless" (as in Titus 1,7?)
80-85 Gospel according to Matthew written, based on Mark and Q, most popular in early Church
81-96 Domitian emperor of Rome, son of Vespasian, "Nero redivivus?" (see 68)
81-96 Revelation written, by John (son of Zebedee) and/or a disciple of his
90-100 1 John written, by author(s) of 4th gospel, "catholic" epistle
90-100 2,3 John written, by "elder", disciple of John (son of Zebedee)?, "catholic" epistle
90-100 Gospel according to John written
90? Josephus claims exactly 22 Jewish (OT) books: 5 Law, 13 History, 4 Hymns
91-101 Pope Clement I, 4th Pope, (mentioned in Phil 4,3), wrote letter to Corinth in 95 called "1 Clement"
94 "Jewish Antiquities", by Josephus in Aramaic, trans. to Grk., Testimonium Flavianum: {At this time there appeared Jesus, a wise man. For he was a doer of startling deeds, a teacher of people who receive the truth with pleasure. And he gained a following both among many Jews and among many of Greek origin. And when Pilate, because of an accusation made by the leading men among us, condemned him to the cross, those who had loved him previously did not cease to do so. And up until this very day the tribe of Christians (named after him) has not died out.} [JA18.3.3 Meier redaction, Marginal Jew, p.61]
96? Hebrews written, by ?
98-116 Trajan emperor of Rome, Roman empire reaches maximum size
100? Odes of Solomon, written in Greek or Syriac (Apocrypha)
100? Epistle of Barnabas, Christian exegesis of LXX (AF = Apostolic Fathers)
100? 2 Clement, an old sermon but not by Clement (AF = Apostolic Fathers)
100? 2 Esdras (Vg:4 Esdras), Hebrew?, claims 24 OT books (Vulgate & Peshitta)
100? Apocalypse of Baruch (2 Baruch:Syriac, 3 Baruch:Greek) (Peshitta)
100? Paralipomena of Jeremiah (4 Baruch), written in Hebrew (Ethiopic Bible)
100? Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, Aramaic and Hebrew fragments found at Qumran Caves 1,4 (Armenian Bible)
100? Jude written, probably by doubting relpative of Jesus (Mark 6,3), rejected by some early Christians due to its reference to apocryphal Book of Enoch (v14), "catholic" epistle
100-125? 2 Peter written, by ?, not accepted into canon until early 400s, drew upon Epistle of Jude, "catholic" epistle
100-150 Secret Book (Apocryphon) of James, Gospel of Mary Magdalene, Infancy Gospels of Thomas and James, Secret Gospel (of Mark) (Complete Gospels)
110? Letter of Polycarp to the Philippians, written by Polycarp (160) (AF)
110? "Letters of Ignatius", bishop of Antioch, martyred in Rome, his letters were subjected to heavy Christian forgery esp. 4th cent. (Apostolic Fathers)

Early church

125-350 Period of Christianity during which the first Bible was assembled - Christians are fiercely persecuted and then finally tolerated by the Roman Empire, Great Plague in Rome

125-136 Pope Telesphorus, 8th Pope, martyred
125? Papyrus 52: oldest extant NT fragment, p.1935, parts of Jn18:31-33,37-38
125? Shepherd of Hermas, written in Rome (AF = Apostolic Fathers)
130-200 "Christian Apologists" writings against Roman Paganism by: Justin Martyr (165), Athenagoras (180?), Aristides (145?), Theophilus of Antioch (185?), Tatian (170), Quadratus (130?), Melito of Sardis (180?), Apollinaris of Hierapolis (180?), also Epistle to Diognetus in Apostolic Fathers
130? "Gospel of Basilides", a 24 book commentary?, lost
130? Papias, bishop of Hierapolis in Asia Minor, wrote: "Expositions of the Sayings of the Lord", lost, widely quoted, see Eusebius (340) (AF)
130? Aquila of Pontus, Roman convert to Christianity then to Judaism, student of Rabban Gamaliel, compiled literal Greek OT translation in Jabneh (Jamnia)
132-135 Bar Kokhba's revolt: final Jewish revolt, Judea and Jerusalem erased from maps, all of southern Syria renamed Palestine (coined by Herodotus)
140 Letters of Marcion, produces his own canon without OT and using only a heavily edited Luke + 10 Pauline Epistles, cites "Western" Gospel text-type
140? Apocalypse of Peter, written in Greek [NT Apocrypha,Schneemelcher,v.2]
150? Gospel of the Egyptians, Coptic translation of orig. Greek (Nag Hammadi)
150? "Western Revisor" adds/subtracts from original Acts to produce "Western" version which is 10% larger and found in Papyrus P29,38,48 and Codex Bezae (D)
150? Papyrus Chester Beatty 6: R963, Greek Num 5:12-36:13, Deut 1:20-34:12
160? Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, martyred at age 86: "Let. to Philip." (110)
160? Martyrdom of Polycarp, in Greek (Apostolic Fathers, ISBN 0-8010-5676-4)
166-174 Pope Soter, 12th Pope, moved Easter from Nisan 14 to following Sunday
170 Letters of Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons, cites "Western" Gospel text-type
170 Christian council on Montanist sect in Asia Minor
170 Letters of Dionysius, bishop of Corinth, claims Christians were changing and faking his own letters just as [he knew] they had changed the Gospels
170 Tatian produces "Diatessaron" (Harmony) by blending 4 "Western" text-type Gospels into 1
170? Symmachus, an Ebionite, writes an entirely new Greek OT translation
175? Acts of Paul (inc. 3 Cor.), in Greek [NT Apocrypha,Schneemelcher,v.2]
185-350 Canon Muratorian, 1st extant for NT?, written in Rome by Hippolytus?, excludes Hebrews, James, 1-2 Peter, 3 John; includes Wisdom of Solomon, Apocalypse of Peter
189-198 Pope Victor I, 1st Latin Pope, 14th Pope, excommunicated Eastern churches that continued to observe Easter on Nisan 14 "Quartodeciman", (see 166, 190)
190 Christian council to determine "official" date of Easter
197 Writings of Apollonius, uses the term "catholic" in reference to 1 John
200 Bishop of Antioch notes Gospel of Peter (see 65?) being used in Cilicia
200? Papyrus 66: 2nd Bodmer, John, 1956, "Alexandrian/Western" text-types: Jn 1:1-6:11,35-7:52;8:12-14:26,29-30;15:2-26;16:2-4,6-7,10-20:20,22-23,25-21:9
200? Papyrus 75: Bodmer 14-15, Luke & John, earliest extant Luke, ~Vaticanus; Lk3:18-22,33-4:2,34-5:10,37-6:4,10-7:32,35-39,41-43,46-9:2,4-17:15,19-18:18; 22:4-24:53; Jn1:1-7:52;8:12-11:45,48-57;12:3-13:1,8-9;14:8-30;15:7-8
200? Papyrus 46: 2nd Chester Beatty, "Alexandrian" text-type
200? Papyrus 32: J. Rylands Library: Titus 1:11-15;2:3-8
200? Papyrus 64 (+67): Mt3:9,15;5:20-22,25-28;26:7-8,10,14-15,22-23,31- 33
200? Old Syriac (Aramaic) Gospels, Syr(s) & Syr(c), of "Western" text-type
200? Latin Bible translations begun in Carthage?, originals no longer extant
200? Sahidic Coptic cop(sa) Bible translations written in Alexendria
217-236 Anti-Pope Hippolytus, bishop of Rome, "Logos" sect, 1st Anti-Pope (illegitimate claimants of or pretenders to the papal throne)
220? Clement of Alexandria, b.150?, bishop, cites "Alexandrian" NT text-type & Secret Gospel of Mark & Gospel of the Egyptians; wrote: "Exhortations to the Greeks";"Rich Man's Salutation";"To the Newly Baptized"; (Loeb Classics)
222-230 Pope Urban I, 17th Pope
223? Tertullian, wr: "de Spectaculis" (Latin): v30.6 cites rumor Jesus son of prostitute, coined "New Testament", cites "Western" Gospel text-type (Loeb)
225? Papyrus 45: 1st Chester Beatty, Gospels (Caesarean), Acts (Alexandrian)
225? Papyrus 967: Chester Beatty 9, Greek Ezekiel 11:25-end, ~Codex Vaticanus
230-250 Christian council of Rome, Demetrius bishop of Alex. condemns Origen who in 248 cited a rumor recorded by Celsus that "Jesus fabricated the account of his birth from a virgin. In reality, Jesus' mother was driven out by the carpenter husband to whom she was betrothed because she had committed adultery with a [Roman] soldier named Panthera [thus the ben Pantere of Jewish sources]. Left poor and homeless, she gave birth to Jesus in secret. Jesus later spent time in Egypt, where he hired himself out as a laborer, learned magic, and so came to claim the title of God." [CC1.28-32, Marginal Jew, Meier, p. 223]
236-238 Maximus emperor of Rome, ends Christian schism in Rome by deporting Pope Pontian and anti-Pope Hippolytus to Sardinia where they soon die
240-250 Christian council of Carthage
250 Rome steps up persecution of Christians, martyrs revered as saints
250 Letters of Methodius, Pistis Sophia, Porphyry Tyrius; church fathers
250? Mandeans (followers of John the Baptist) begin compilation of "Ginza"
250? Papyrus 72: Bodmer 5-11+, pub. 1959, "Alexandrian" text-type: Nativity of Mary; 3Cor; Odes of Solomon 11; Jude 1-25; Melito's Homily on Passover; Hymn fragment; Apology of Phileas; Ps33,34; 1Pt1:1-5:14; 2Pt1:1-3:18;
250? Papyrus Chester Beatty: #5:R962: Gn8:13-9:2,24:13-46:33,Enoch91-105; #7: I8:18-19:13,38:14-45:5,54:1=60:22; #8: Jr4:30-5:24; #10: Dn1- 12:13(+Add),Bel4-39,Sus5-end,Esther1:1a-8:6(+Add)
251-258 Anti-Pope Novatian, decreed no forgiveness for sins after baptism
253-260 Valerian emperor of Rome, executes all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons
254 Letters of Origen, Jesus and God one substance, adopted at Council of Nicaea in 325, compiled "Hexapla": 6 versions of LXX side by side: Hebrew, Hebrew transliterated in Greek, Aquila's Greek trans., Symmachus' Greek trans., Origen's revised LXX Greek trans., Theodotion's revised LXX; also Quinta/Sexta/Septima trans., Tetragrammaton in square Hebrew script; cites "Alexandrian" & "Caesarean" NT text-types; Eusebius claimed Origen castrated himself for Christ due to Mt19:12 [EH6.8.1-3]
254-257 Pope Stephen I, 23rd Pope, major schism over rebaptizing heretics and apostates
257-258 Pope Sixtus II, 24th Pope, martyred
257 Visigoths and Ostrogoths invade Black Sea area, Franks invade Spain
258 Letters of Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, cites "Western" NT text-type, claims Christians are freely forging his letters to discredit him
260-268 Gallienus emperor of Rome, reverses Valerian, restores Roman Church
260-268 Pope Dionysius, 25th Pope, rebuilds Roman Church after Valerian's massacre
264-268 Christian council on Paul of Samosata, Bishop of Antioch, founder of Adoptionism (Jesus was human until Holy Spirit descended at his baptism)
264? Letters of Dionysius, bishop of Alexandria, b.190?
268 Goths sack Athens, Sparta, Corinth
268-270 Claudius II emperor of Rome
269-274 Pope Felix I, 26th Pope
270-275 Aurelian emperor of Rome
275-283 Pope Eutychian, 27th Pope, decreed that only beans and grapes be blessed at Mass
275? Papyrus 47: 3rd Chester Beatty, ~Sinaiticus, Rv9:10-11:3,5-16:15,17-17:2
276-282 Marcus Aurelius Probus emperor of Rome
276 Mani, b.215, crucified, founder of Manichaean Christian sect in Persia
283-296 Pope Gaius, 28th Pope
284-305 Diocletian emperor of Rome, notorius persecuter of Christians
285 Roman empire partitioned into Western and Eastern empires
290-345 St Pachomius establishes 1st monastery in Egypt
296-304 Pope Marcellinus, 29th Pope, apostate, offered pagan sacrifices for Diocletian
300? Bohairic Coptic cop(bo) Bible translations written in Alexandria
300? Hesychius of Alex., martyr, translates Hebrew OT to Greek, lost [Jerome]
300? Papyrus Berlin Codex of Greek Genesis; Papyrus Bodmer 24 of Greek Psalms; Codex Freer of Greek Minor Prophets; all published in 1927
300? other 3rd century NT witnesses
301 Armenia becomes the first country in the world to officially accept Christianity as a State religion.
303-311 Last persecution of Christians in Rome
304 Letters of Victor, bishop of Pettau
306-337 Emperor Constantine the Great, convert to Christianity
306-312 Maxentius emperor of Western Roman Empire
306-308 Pope Marcellus I, 30th Pope, tried removing prior Pope Marcellinus from official records for apostasy, exiled from Rome by Maxentius for disturbing the peace
310 Pope Eusebius, 31st Pope, deported to Sicily with anti-Pope Heraclius by Maxentius
311-314 Pope Miltiades, 32nd Pope, Constantine gives Fausta's palace as papal residence
312 Lucian, founded Exegetical School of Antioch, martyred
312 Constantine defeats Maxentius at Milvian Bridge, reunites Roman Empire
313 Edict of Milan, Constantine establishes toleration of Christianity
313 Miltiades excommunicates Donatus for requiring rebaptism of apostates
314-335 Pope Silvester I, 33rd Pope
314 Council of Arles, called by Constantine against Donatist (Donatus) schism
317 Letters of Lactantius, early Christian church father
321 Constantine decrees Sunday as official Roman-Christian day of rest
325 Council of Nicaea, called by Constantine against Arianism (336), called 1st great Christian council by Jerome, 1st ecumenical, 318 bishops attend, Nicaean Creed
325? Fayyumic Coptic cop(mf) translation fragment of John 6:11-15:11
330 Old Saint Peter's Basilica dedicated by Constantine, located over the traditional burial site of Saint Peter the Apostle in Rome on Vatican Hill
331 Seat of Roman Empire moved to Constantinople (formally Byzantium)
336-337 Pope Mark, 34th Pope
336 Arius, Greek theologian - Arianism (Jesus was a created being)
337-350 Roman empire splits again, Constans emperor of West until 350
337-361 Roman empire splits again, Constantius emperor of East until 361
337-352 Pope Julius I, 35th Pope
338 Jewish calendar modified with different year lengths to correct to Solar
340? Eusebius of Caesarea (260-340), theologian & church historian, cites "Caesarean" NT text-type, wrote: "Ecclesiastical History" (EH); Loeb Classics: 2 volumes {Papias, bishop of Hierapolis (130?), claims that John the Elder, a disciple of Jesus, told him that Mark "was the interpreter of Peter and wrote down carefully what he remembered of what had been said or done by the Lord, but not in the right order." Also claims that "Matthew composed the sayings in Hebrew [more likely Aramaic] and each one translated them as he could."} [Ref: EH3.39.15, Unauthorized Version, Fox, p.126-127] Eusebius' NT Canon: Recognized Books: 4 Holy Gospels, Acts, 14 Pauline Epistles, 1Jn, 1Pt; Disputed Books: Rev, James, Jude, 2Pt, 2-3Jn, Acts of Paul, Hermas, Apocalypse of Peter, Barnabas, Didache, Gospel of the Hebrews; Rejected Books: Gospels of Peter, Thomas, Matthias, Acts of Andrew, John ... [EH3.25], used the term "catholic" to refer to all seven epistles - James; 1,2,3 John; 1,2 Peter; Jude
350-400 Period of time between the 1st Christian Bible and the 1st Western Christian Bible, during which the books contained in Bibles varied
350 Letters of Adamantius, Firmicus Maternus; early Christian church fathers
350? Codex Sinaiticus (S or ): earliest Christian Bible, (LXX - 2- 3Maccabees - Psalms of Solomon - Ps151 + 27NT + Barnabas + Hermas), missing Hermas31.7-end; of "Alexandrian" text-type: most accurate text- type
350? Codex Vaticanus (B): earliest Christian Bible (LXX - 1-4Maccabees -Psalms of Solomon - Ps151 + 27NT), missing Gn1-46:28, Ps105:27-137:6, 1Tm- Phm, Heb9:14-end; of "Alexandrian" text-type: most accurate text-type
350? Papyrus Antinoopolis of Book of Proverbs in Greek, published in 1950
350? Papyrus Chester Beatty: #4:R961: Greek Gn9:1-44:22; #11: Greek Sir36:28- 37:22,46:6-47:2; #12: Greek Enoch93:12-13,94:7-8,97:6- 104:13,106:1-107:3
350? Papyrus Bodmer 45-46: Greek Susanna, Daniel 1:1-20 (Theodotion's LXX)
350? Canon Cheltenham: 24NT books (excludes James, Jude, Hebrews)
350? Akhmimic cop(ac) & Sub-Akhmimic cop(ac2) Coptic translations of John
350? Ulfilas, apostle to the Goths (Germans), translates Greek NT to Gothic
352-366 Pope Liberius, 36th Pope
354-430 St. Augustine, Latin Bishop considered the founder of formalized Christian theology, church father
355-365 Anti-Pope Felix II, Arianism (336), supported by Constantius II
360 Huns invade Europe, scrolls begin to be replaced by books (Codex)
361-363 Julian the Apostate emperor of East, attempts to revive Paganism
363 Council of Laodicea names 26 NT books (excludes Revelations)
363 Letters of Marius Victorinus, Acacius of Caesarea; early church fathers
364 Council of Laodicea decrees death for Christians who keep 7th day Sabbath
366-384 Pope Damasus I, 37th Pope, hired thugs to massacre rival Ursinians (Liberians)
366-367 Anti-Pope Ursinus, leader of supporters of former Pope Liberius
367 Letters of Hilary of Poitiers, Lucifer of Calaris; early church fathers
367 Athanasius, d.373, bishop of Alexandria, first cite of modern 27NT canon
370 Epiphanius, bishop of Salamis, Cyprus; cites 27NT + Wisdom of Solomon
370 Doctrine of Addai at Edessa proclaims 17 book NT canon using Diatessaron (instead of the 4 Gospels) + Acts + 15 Pauline Epistles (inc. 3 Corinthians)
373 Letters of Ephraem Syrus, cites "Western" Acts text-type
378 Letters of Titus of Bostra, Ambrosiaster, Priscillian; church fathers
379-395 Theodosius the Great, last emperor of the united empire
380 Feb 27, Christianity declared official state religion by Theodosius
381 Council of Theodosius at Constantinople, 2nd ecumenical, Jesus had true human soul
382-384 Pope Damasus I has Jerome revise and unify Latin Bibles
383 Roman legions begin to evacuate Britain
384 Jerome presents Pope Damasus I with new Latin Gospels, originals lost
384-399 Pope Siricius, 38th Pope, criticized Jerome
390 Apollinaris of Laodicea, Jesus had human body but divine spirit
390 Letters of Tyconius, Gregory of Nyssa, Didymus of Alex.; church fathers
391? Ammianus Marcellinus, b.330, Christian historian, wrote: "Res gestae"
393,397 Augustine's Councils, cites exactly 27 NT books (see 354)
395 Theodosius prohibits practice of Pagan rituals including Olympic Games
395 Ausonius, b.310?, Christian governor of Gaul; Loeb Classics 2v (Latin)
396 Alaric, king of the Visigoths, plunders Athens
397 Ambrose, b.333?, bishop & governor of Milan, wrote: "de Fide" ...
399-401 Pope Anastasius I, 39th Pope

End of the Roman Empire

400-484 Era between 1st Western Christian Bible and the Great Schism - Christian doctrine is formed, Roman empire ends

400? Vulgate Bible, by Jerome?, (340?-420) originals lost, Vulgate Latin text becomes standard Western Christian Bible
400? Jerome cites "expanded" ending in Mark after Mark 16,14
400? Jerome adds Pericope of the Adultress (John 7,53-8,11)
400? Codex Vercellensis it(a): Latin Gospels, of "European" text-type
400? Peshitta Bible, Syriac (Aramaic) Vulgate, Syr(p), OT + 22 NT, excludes: 2Pt, 2-3Jn, Jude, Rev; Peshitta becomes standard Syrian Christian Bible
400? Codex Bobiensis it(k): ~half of Mt/Mk in Latin, "African" (Carthage) text- type, has "shorter" ending of Mark after Mk16:8
401 Visigoths invade Italy
403 Letters of Epiphanius of Constantia, John Chrysostom; church fathers
410 Visigoths sack Rome under king Alaric
414 Letters of Nicetas of Remesiana, Orosius; early Christian church fathers
415 Bishop Cyril of Alex. (444) expels Jews, kills Hypatia with oyster shells
416 Visigoths take Spain
417-418 Pope Zosimus, 41st Pope
418-422 Pope Boniface I, 42nd Pope
418-419 Anti-Pope Eulalius
418 Franks take Gaul
420 St. Jerome, (S.E. Hieronymus), b.340?, Latin scholar; (Loeb Classics)
422-432 Pope Celestine I, 43rd Pope
423 Theodoret, bishop of Cyrrhus, notes Tatian's Harmony (170) in heavy use
431 Council of Ephesus, 3rd ecumenical, decreed Mary the Mother of God
429 Picts and Scots expelled from southern England by Anglo-Saxon-Jutes
430 St. Augustine, b.354, origin of "Original Sin," church father & philosopher, wrote: "The City of God", "Confessions"; Loeb Classics 10 v. (Latin)
430 Letters of Marcus Eremita, Nilus of Ancyra; Christian church fathers
431 Syrian Christianity splits into East (Nestorian-disagreed with Council of Ephesus) and West (Jacobites)
432 St Patrick begins mission in Ireland
432-440 Pope Sixtus III, 44th Pope
433-453 Attila the Hun, "Scourge of God"
440-461 Pope Leo I, 45th Pope
444 Letters of Cyril of Alexandria, Arnobius the Younger; church fathers
450? Codex Alexandrinus (A): (LXX - 1-2Maccabees + 14_Church_Odes + 27NT + 1-2Clement), missing 1K12:17-14:9, Ps49:20-79:11, Psalms of Solomon, Mt1-25:6, Jn6:50-8:52, 2Cr4:13-12:6, 1Clement57.7-63.4, 2Clement12.5b-end; of "Alexandrian" text-type: most accurate text-type

450? Codex Bezae (D): Greek/Latin Gospels + Acts; Codex Washingtonianus (W): Greek Gospels; both of "Western" text-type: "fondness for paraphrase"

450? Codex Ephraemi Syri rescriptus (C): Greek LXX + 27NT, many gaps
450? Codex Marchalianus (Q): Greek LXX + Luke + John, many gaps
450? Codex Ambrosianus (F): Greek Genesis to Joshua
450? Codex Freer: Greek Deuteronomy and Joshua
450? Codex Colberto-Sarravianus: Origen's Greek Hexapla LXX of Gen-Judg
450? Codex Palatinus it(e): Latin Gospels, "African" (Carthage) text-type
450? Codex Veronensis it(b): Latin Gospels, "European/Vulgate" text-type
450? Syr(pal), Palestinian Syriac (Aramaic) Gospels, of "Caesarean" text-type
450? std. Aramaic Targums, T. Onkelos of Torah, T. Jonathan of Prophets
451 Council of Chalcedon, 4th ecumenical, declared Jesus is 2 natures, both human and divine in one, a compromise solution of Jesus god/man schisms
451 Nestorius of Constantinople, Nestorians: Mary was not* "Mother of God"
451 Letters of Hesychius, Quodvultdeus; early Christian church fathers
454 Eutyches of Constantinople, Monophysites: Jesus was divine but not human
455 Vandals sack Rome
457-474 Pope Leo I, 46th Pope, becomes emperor of remaining (eastern) Roman empire
461-468 Pope Hilarus, 47th Pope
463 Letters of Prosper of Aquitaine, early Christian church father
466 Letters of Shenute of Atripe, Theodoret of Cyrrhus; early church fathers
468-483 Pope Simplicius, 48th Pope
474-491 Zeno, eastern Roman emperor
476 Official end of western Roman empire, last emperor Romulus Augustulus
480-547 St. Benedict, founded the Benedictines
483-492 Pope Felix III (II), 49th Pope

Post-Roman Empire

484-640 Period between Great Schism and the destruction of the Library of Alexendria - After the end of the Roman Empire, the Catholic Church sees a period of turmoil and division, Europe's population "halved" by plague, great earthquakes occur

484-519 Acacian schism, over "Henoticon" divides Eastern (Greek) and Western (Roman) churches. Photinus, deacon of Thessalonica, was of the Greek church and held to the Acacian heresy, which denied the divine paternity of Christ. Photinus persuaded emperor Anastasius I to accept the Acacian heresy.
484 Letters of Vigilius of Thapsus, early Christian church father
489 Zeno destroys Nestorian (451) school at Edessa, erects Church of St Simeon
491 Armenian Church seceds from East (Byzantium) and West (Rome) churches
491-518 Anastasius I eastern Roman emperor
492-496 Pope Gelasius I, 50th Pope
495 Vicar of Christ is first used as another title for the Pope.
496-498 Pope Anastasius II
498 Nestorians (451) settle in Nisibis, Persia
498-514 Pope Symmachus
514-523 Pope Hormisdas
523-526 Pope John I, martyr
498-506 Anti-Pope Lawrence, Lawrencian schism
500 Incense introduced in Christian church service, first plans of Vatican
500? Codex Sangallensis vg: earliest extant Latin Vulgate, Gospels
500? Codex Argenteus (got): earliest nearly complete Gothic (German), Gospels
500? Codex Cottonianus: Greek Genesis
502 Narsai of Mealletha, Syrian poet, heads Nestorian school in Nisibis(498)
518-527 Justin I: emperor of Byzantine (former eastern Roman) empire
524 Boethius, b.480?, Roman Christian philosopher, wrote: "Theological Tractates", "Consolation of Philosophy"; (Loeb Classics) (Latin)
525 Dionysius Exiguus sets Christian calendar (a.d.) & Jesus' birth @ 23 Dec 1AD
526 Earthquake in Antioch kills 250,000
526-530 Pope Felix IV (III)
527-565 Justinian the Great, Byzantine emperor
527 Letters of Fulgentius, early Christian church father
529 Justinian closes 1000yr Athen's School of Philosophy, declared Paganistic
530-532 Pope Boniface II
530 Antipope Dioscorus
532-535 Pope John II
533 N. Africa captured by Belisarius from Vandals, becomes Byzantine province
534-870 Malta becomes Byzantine province
535-536 Pope Agapitus I
536-537 Pope Silverius, martyr
537-555 Pope Vigilius, involved in death of Pope Silverius, conspired with Justinian and Theodora, excommunicated by N. African bishops in 550
539-562 War between Byzantine empire and Persia
542 Plague in Constantinople from Egyptian and Syrian rats, spreads to Europe
543 Justinian condemns Origen (254), disastrous earthquakes hit the world
541-546 Codex Fuldensis vg(F): Latin Vulgate, 27NT + Epistle to Laodiceans
544 Justinian condemns the "3 Chapters" of Theodore of Mopsuestia (d.428) and other writings of "2-natures" Christology of Council of Chalcedon (451)
547 Pope Vigilius issues "Iudicatum" supporting Justinian's anti-"2-natures"
547 Plague reaches Britain
548 Letters of Apringius Pacensis, early Christian church father
550-1453 Medieval Greek of Constantinople (Byzantium) becomes standard Greek
550 Byzantine Greek Text, standard Eastern Bible, much smoothing & conflation
550 St. David converts Wales to Christianity, crucifix becomes Christian icon
550? Codex Claromontanus (Dp): Greek/Latin Pauline Epistles + Canon of ~250AD
550? Codex Mediolanensis vg(M): Latin Vulgate Gospels
550? Codex Veronensis: Greek & Old Latin Psalms
553 Second Council of Constantinople, 5th ecumenical, called by Justinian
556-561 Pope Pelagius I, selected by Justinian, endorsed "Iudicatum" (547)
561-574 Pope John III, authorized by Justinian
565-578 Justin II, Byzantine emperor
567 Letters of Primasius, Cassiodorus; early Christian church fathers
572-628 War between Byzantine empire and Persia
575-579 Pope Benedict I, authorized by Justin II,
578-582 Tiberius II, Byzantine emperor
579-590 Pope Pelagius II, died of plague
582-602 Maurice, Byzantine emperor
587 Visigoths of Spain converted to Christianity
589 Lombards of Italy converted to Christianity
590 Plague in Rome
590-604 Pope Gregory I, commanded that a way be found to collect and preserve the singing of the Benedictine monks of Santo Domingo de Silos (now known as Gregorian Chant)
594 End of plague which began in 542 and "halved" the population of Europe!
596 St. Augustine of Canterbury sent to convert Britain to Christianity
600? Codex Harleianus vg(Z): Latin Vulgate Gospels
600? Codex Philoxenian/Harclean Syr(ph/h): Syriac 27NT, "Western" text-type
602-610 Phocas, Byzantine emperor after killing Maurice
604-606 Pope Sabinian, authorized by Phocas
606-607 Pope Boniface III, authorized by Phocas
607-615 Pope Boniface IV, authorized by Phocas
609 Roman Pantheon (a Pagan Temple) renamed Church of Santa Maria Rotonda
610-641 Heraclius, Byzantine emperor after killing Phocas
611 Muhammad's reported vision of Allahon Mount Hira
614 Persians take Damascas and Jerusalem and "Holy Cross of Christ"
615 earliest records of some of Muhammad's teachings
619-625 Pope Boniface V, authorized by Heraclius
622-680 Monothelite controversy: condemned at 6th Ecum. Council of Constantinople
622 first year in Muslim calendar, The Hegira, 1a.h., (a.h. = anno hegirae)
624 Muhammad marries Aisha, daughter of Abu Bakr
625 Paulinus of Rome comes to convert Northumbria to Christianity
625 Muhammad begins dictation of Qur'an (Koran) to his scribe
626 King Edwin of Northumbria founds Edinburgh and begins Christianization
627 Byzantines defeat Persians at Nineveh
628 Emperor Heraclius wins back "Cross of Christ" from Persians
628 Muhammad captures Mecca & writes to rulers of the world explaining Islam
629 Heraclius recovers Jerusalem from Persians
629 Pope Honorius I sides with Emperor Heraclius and Monothelites (622)
632 Muhammad, b. 570?, Arab prophet and founder of Islam
632 East Anglia Christianized
632 Abu Bekr, first Islamic Caliph, seat at Medina
634 Omar I, 2d Caliph, takes Syria/Persia/Egypt;defeats Heraclius in Holy War
635 Christianization of Wessex
635-750 Damascus becomes capital of Islamic Caliphs
636 Southern Irish Church submits to Roman Catholicism
637 Jerusalem captured by Islam
638 Emp. Heraclius' "Ecthesis", decrees Christ of one nature: "Monothelites"
640 Library of Alexandria, "The Center of Western Culture," with 300,000 ancient papyrus scrolls, is completely distroyed.

Middle Ages

640-1380 Period between destruction of Library of Alexandria and the first complete English translation of the Bible

690? Earliest Bible translations into England's vernacular, continued work by Bede and others from this point forward
730-787 The first iconoclastic period
750? Tower added to St Peter's Basilica at the front of the atrium
850? King Alfred translation of several Bible books into English vernacular, also done by Aldhelm and Aelfric
855 Anti-Pope Anastasius
856 Earthquake in Corinth kills 45,000
988 Prince Vladimir the Great introduced Christianity to his land that would be Russia
1054 Split between Eastern (Orthodox) and Western (Catholic) churches formalized
1057 Earthquake in Cilicia (Asia Minor) kills 60,000
1095-1291 10 Crusades, 1st called by Pope Urban II, to restore Asia Minor to Byzantium and conquer the Holy Land from the Turks
1206 Rosary is reportedly given to St. Dominic by an apparition of Mary
1215 Dominican order begun
1223 Franciscan order begun
1225-1274 Thomas Aquinas, theologian and philosopher
1260 Date which a 1988 Vatican sponsered scientific study places the origin of the Shroud of Turin
1321? The Divine Comedy, by Dante Alighieri
1350? English begins to emerge as the national language of England
1350? Renaissance begins in Italy
1354 Earliest extant documentation stating the existence of the Shroud of Turin

Renaissance and Reformation

1380-1517 Period between the 1st complete English translation of the Bible and Martin Luther's 95 Theses

1369-1415 John Hus, Bohemian theologian and reformer; influenced by Wycliffe, he opposed temporal powers which were taken on by the church. Among various teachings for which he was condemned, he also advocated giving the laity both kinds in the Eucharist. He attended the Council of Constance in 1414 under a promise of safe-conduct, which was broken. Following trial, he was executed the next year.
1380-1382 John Wycliffe, eminent theologian at Oxford, makes NT (1380) and OT (with help of Nicholas of Hereford) (1382) translations in English, 1st complete translation to English, included deutercanonical books, preached against abuses, expressed unorthodox views of the sacraments (Penance and Eucharist), the use of relics, and against celibacy of the clergy
1384 John Purvey, follower of John Wycliffe, revises Wycliffe's translation
1390? Wycliffe's teachings condemned repeatedly in England
1408 Council of Oxford forbids translations of the Scriptures into the vernacular unless and until they were fully approved by Church authority, sparked by Wycliffite Bible, Sir Thomas More said: "It neither forbiddith the translations to be read that were already well done of old before Wycliffe's days, nor damneth his because it was new but because it was naught; nor prohibiteth new to be made but provideth that they shall not be read if they be made amiss till they be by good examination amended." ("A Dialogue against Heresies")
1412-1431 St. Joan of Arc, French national heroine
1415 Council of Florence condemns all of Wycliffe's works, but the actual Bibles continued to be used after having the heretical prologue removed, and were possessed by both religious houses and those of the nobility and tacitly accepted by Catholics
1453 Byzantium succeeded by the Ottoman Empire
1466-1536 Desiderius Erasmus, Dutch scholar, Greek NT used in many 16th century translations
1473-1481 Sistine Chapel built, under supervision of Giovanni de Dolci
1478 Inquisition established by Pope Sixtus IV
1483-1546 Martin Luther, leader of Protestant reformation, preached that only faith leads to salvation without mediation of clergy or good works, attacked authority of the Pope, rejected priestly celibacy, recommended individual study of the Bible (see 1517, 1522)
1488-1569 Miles Coverdale, Augustinian friar who left the Order, repudiated Catholicism, 1st Protestant Bishop of Exeter
1491-1556 Ignatius of Loyola, founded the Jesuit order (see 1534)
1492 Christopher Columbus's first voyage, discovers San Salvador - begins Spanish colonization of the New World
1505-1572 John Knox, Protestant reformer in Scotland (see 1560)
1506 Pope Julius II orders the Old St Peter's Basilica torn down and authorizes Donato Bramante to plan a new structure, demolition completed in 1606
1508-1512 Michelangelo frescoes the Sistine Chapel's vaulted ceiling
1509-1547 Henry VIII ruler of England
1509-1564 John Calvin, preached predetermination, good conduct and success were signs of election

Modern era

1517-1994 modern era of Christianity - Martin Luther & John Calvin lay the seeds of modern Protestantism, England breaks away from the Catholic Church

1517 95 Theses (Martin Luther)
1518-1532 St Terese of Avila
1520 Luther excommunicated
1522-1523 Pope Adrian VI
1522 Luther's German NT translation
1523-1534 Pope Clement VII
1524 South German peasant uprising, repressed with Luther's support, begins 1.5 century long religious wars
1525-1534 William Tyndale's translation of the NT from Greek text of Erasmus (1466) compared against the Vulgate and the Pentateuch from the Hebrew (1525) compared to Vulgate and Luther's German version (1530), first printed edition, used as a vehicle by Tyndale for bitter attacks on the Church, reflects influence of Luther's NT of 1522 in rejecting "priest" for "elder", "church" for "congregation"
1530 Augsburg Confession; Luther founds the Lutheran Church
1531 Reported apparition of Mary at Guadalupe, Mexico, considered "worthy of belief" by the Catholic Church
1531 Earthquake in Lisbon, Portugal kills 30,000
1534 Henry VIII breaks England away from the Catholic church, confiscates monastic property, beginning of Church of England
1534 Jesuit order founded by Loyola (1491-1556), helped reconvert large areas of Poland, Hungary, and S. Germany and sent missionaries to the New World, India, and China
1535-1537 Coverdale's Bible (see 1488), used Tyndale's (1525) translation along with Latin and German versions, included Apocrypha at the end of the OT (like Luther) as was done in later English versions, 1537 edition received royal license, but banned in 1546
1536 Tyndale put to death, left his OT translation in manuscript, English ecclesiaastical authorities ordered his Bible burned because it was thought to be part of Lutheran reform
1537-1551 Matthew Bible, by John Rogers (1500-1555), based on Tyndale and Coverdale received royal license but not authorized for use in public worship, numerous editions, 1551 edition contained offensive notes (based on Tyndale)
1536-1541 Michelangelo paints the Last Judgement
1539-1552 Richard Taverner's (1505-1577) revisions of Matthew Bible, mostly NT revisions since he didn't know Hebrew, 1st edition most reliable
1539-1569 Great Bible, by Thomas Cromwell, 1st English Bible to be authorized for public use in English churches, defective in many places, based on last Tyndale's NT of 1534-1535, corrected by a Latin version of the Hebrew OT, Latin Bible of Erasmus, and Complutensian Polyglot, last edition 1569, never denounced by England
1542 Conocation makes an unsuccessful attempt to correct the Great Bible against the Vulgate
1543 Parliament bans Tyndale's translation as a "crafty, false and untrue transalation", although 80% of the words were in the RV
1545-1563 Council of Trent, Catholic Reformation, or counter-reformation, met Protestant challenge, clearly defining an official theology
1546 King Henry VIII forbids anyone to have a copy of Tyndale's or Coverdale's NT
1547-1553 Edward VI ruler of England
1549 Book of Common Prayer first published
1550? Thomas More, Thomas Cranmer, and Foxe affirm the existence of English versions of portions of the Bible, including the Gospels (11th century), Mark, Luke, Epistles of Paul (14th century), Apocalypse (11th century)
1551 The Stoglav Church Council (One Hundred Chapters) Moscow, Russia
1553-1558 Mary I ruler of England, publications of English Scriptures cease (except for Geneva NT of 1557), many clerics leave England
1553 Pontifical Gregorian University founded at Vatican City
1556 Beza's Latin NT
1558-1603 Protestant Elizabeth I is ruler of England
1560 Geneva Bible, NT a revision of Matthew's version of Tyndale with use of Beza's NT (1556), OT a thorough revision of Great Bible, appointed to be read in Scotland (but not England), at least 140 editions
1560 Scotch Presbyterian Church founded by John Knox (1505-1572), due to disagreement with Lutherans over sacraments and church government
1563 Thirty-Nine Articles (Anglican Church)
1571 Superior force of Turks intent upon conquering Christian Europe is beaten decisively by Christian sailors reportedly calling upon the name of Our Lady of the Rosary
1572-1585 Pope Gregory XIII
1572-1606 Bishop's Bible, an inadequate and unsatisfactory revision of the Great Bible checked against the Hebrew text, 1st to be published in England by episcopal authority
1582 Rheims NT, based on Coverdale, Bishops', Geneva, follows Wycliffe
1590 Sistine edition of the Vulgate
1590 Michelangelo's dome in St Peter's Basilica completed
1596 Ukrainian Catholic Church forms when Ukrainian subjects of the king of Poland are reunited with Rome, largest Byzantine Catholic Church
1606 Carlo Maderno redesigns St Peter's Basilica into a Latin cross
1609 Baptist Church founded by John Smyth, due to objections to infant baptism and demands for church-state separation
1609-1610 Rheims-Douay Bible, 1st Catholic English translation, OT published in two volumes, based on an unofficial Louvain text corrected by Sistine Vulgate (1590), NT is Rheims text of 1582
1611-1800 King James Version (Authorised Version) is released, based primarily on Wycliffe's work & Bishop's Bible of 1572, translators are accused of being "damnable corrupters of God's word"
1633 AV published in Scotland
1644 Long Parliament directed that only Hebrew canon only be read in the Church of England (effectively removed the Apocrypha)
1660-1685 Charles II king of England, restoration of monarchy in England beginning under Charles II, continuing through James II, reversed decision of Long Parliament of 1644, reinstating the Apocrypha, reversal not heeded by non-conformists
1714 AV published in Ireland
1718 Catholic English version of NT by Dr. Nary, much less bulky than Reims-Douay
1730 Catholic English version of NT, revision of Reims NT by Dr. Robert Witham
1738 Methodist movement, led by John Wesley and his hymn-writing brother Charles, begins
1738-1816 New Catholic English versions of NT by Dr. Richard Challoner and Francis Blyth O.D.C., Bernard MacMahon, Dr Troy
1740-1758 Pope Benedict XIV
1752 AV published in New World colonies
1784 American Methodists form Methodist Episcopal Church at so-called "Christmas Conference", led by bishops Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury
1811 Dr. Hay's revision of Challoner's version
1815 Catholic Bible Society NT, based on Challoner's
1816-1829 Challoner's 3rd revision, Dr. John Lingard's translation from Greek using Vulgate when possible
1827 Mormon Church founded by Joseph Smith as a result of reported visions of the Angel Moroni
1830 Reported apparition of Mary in Paris, France, considered "worthy of belief" by the Catholic Church
1832 Restoration movement - Church of Christ (Disciples) organized, made up of Presbyterians in distress over Protestant factionalism and decline of fervor
1837-1901 Victoria queen of England
1846 Reported apparition of Mary in La Salette, France, considered "worthy of belief" by the Catholic Church
1852-1916 Charles Taze Russell, founded the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society; often incorrectly identified as the "founder of Jehovah's Witnesses"
1858 Reported apparition of Mary in Lourdes, France, considered "worthy of belief" by the Catholic Church
1859-1959 90 Catholic NT editions, 56 Catholic editions of the whole Bible
1869-1870 First Vatican Council, 20th ecumenical, affirms doctrine of papal infallibility (ie. when a pope speaks ex cathedra on faith or morals he does so with the supreme apostolic authority, which no Catholic may question or reject)
1871 Reported apparition of Mary in Pontmain, France, considered "worthy of belief" by the Catholic Church
1878-1903 Pope Leo XIII
1878 14-point creed of the Niagara Bible Conference, used by Fundamentalists
1879 Reported apparition of Mary in Knock, Ireland, considered "worthy of belief" by the Catholic Church
1881-1894 Revised Version, called for by Church of England, used Greek based on Septuagint (B) and (S), Massoretic text used in OT, follows Greek order of words, greater accuracy than AV, includes Apocrypha, scholarship never disputed
1898-1904 Twentieth Century NT, changed order of books to chronological
1901 American Standard Version, recension of the RV, included words/phrases preferred by Americans, follows Greek order of words
1902 Richard Weymouth NT, a careful literary translation
1903-1914 Pope Pius X, most recent Pope to be canonized
1906-1909 Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, CA begins modern Pentecostal movement
1910 Edinburgh Missionary Conference launches modern missions movement and modern ecumenical movement; 5-point statement of the Presbyterian General Assembly, also used by Fundamentalists
1910-1915 The Fundamentals, a 12-volume collection of essays by 64 British and American scholars and preachers, a foundation of Fundamentalism
1913-1924 James Moffat Bible, 1st one man translation in almost 400 years
1914-1922 Pope Benedict XV
1917 Reported apparition of Mary in Fatima, Portugal, "miracle of the sun" witnessed by between 70,000 and 100,000 people, considered "worthy of belief" by the Catholic Church
1919 World's Christian Fundamentals Association founded
1922-1939 Pope Pius XI
1925 Scopes Trial, caused division among Fundamentalists
1925 United Church of Canada formed
1930s Evangelical movement forms, separating from Fundamentalists
1932 Reported apparition of Mary in Beauraing, Belgium, considered "worthy of belief" by the Catholic Church
1933 Reported apparition of Mary in Banneux, Belgium, considered "worthy of belief" by the Catholic Church
1934 Baptist evangelist Billy Graham is converted
1936 Westminster NT, unofficial Catholic version (not commissioned by the Hierarchy)
1939-1958 Pope Pius XII
1945-1955 Knox Version, from Vulgate, asked for by English Hierarchy
1946-1952 Revised Standard Version, revision of AV "based on consonantal Hebrew text" for OT and best available texts for NT, done in response to changes in English usage
1949 Basic English Bible, only 1000 words, simple and direct style
1949 Discovery of Qumran (Essenes?) scrolls, aka Dead Sea scrolls (see 68)
1957 United Church of Christ founded by ecumenical union of Congregationalists and Evangelical & Reformed, representing Calvinists and Lutherans
1958-1963 Pope John XXIII
1958 J. B. Phillip's NT, uses only commonly spoken language
1959 Statement of Faith (United Church of Christ)
1961 New English Bible, renders original Basic English Bible for private use
1962-1965 Second Vatican Council announced by Pope John XXIII in 1959, produced 16 documents which became official Roman Catholic teaching after approval by the Pope, purpose to renew "ourselves and the flocks committed to us" (Pope John XXIII)
1963-1978 Pope Paul VI
1966 RSV Catholic Edition, a joint effort between Catholics and the Church of England, a big step towards a common Catholic/Protestant Bible
1966 Jerusalem Bible, translation from original languages based on Bible de Jerusalem, Catholic version
1968 United Methodist Church formed with union of Methodist Church & Evangelical United Brethren Church, becoming the largest Methodist/Wesleyan church in the world
1970 Confraternity Version, new Catholic translation from the originals which began before 1939 as a translation from the Vulgate, but ending up as a new translation from the Hebrew (OT) and Greek (NT).
1971 New American Standard Bible, updated the ASV using recent Hebrew and Greek textual discoveries
1978 Pope John Paul I
1978 New International Version of the Bible is first published (revised in 1984), using a variety of Greek texts, Masoretic Hebrew texts, and current English style
1978-2005 Pope John Paul II, reaffirmed conservative moral traditions (The Splendor of Truth) and the forbidding of women in the priesthood
1979-1982? New King James Version, complete revision of 1611 AV, updates archaisms while retaining style
1981-? Reported apparitions of Mary in Medjugorje, Yugoslavia, not yet approved/disapproved by the Catholic Church
1994 Declaration of cooperation between Evangelicals and Catholics
2004 Mel Gibson's controversial film The Passion of the Christ is released

Sources

The primary sources used in assembling this list include:

a chronology by Paul Harvey,
The World Almanac and Book of Facts,
the Academic American Encyclopedia (on Compuserve),
Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, and
The English Versions of the Bible by John Berchmans Dockery O.F.M.
(CWO) (http://www.cwo.com/~pentrack/catholic/chron.html)

Retrieved from "https://academickids.com:443/encyclopedia/index.php/Timeline_of_Christianity"

Categories: Christianity