Chronology of Christianity (1AD-Present)

The purpose of this chronology is to assist Christians of any denomination in their search for knowledge and truth regarding the development of the Christian religion. 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. Question marks on dates indicate approximate dates, question marks on other information indicates information which is theoretical and/or not universally accepted as fact.

(Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus) is emperor of Rome 6 Herod Archelaus deposed by Augustus; Samaria, Judea and Idumea annexed as province Iudaea under direct Roman administration, cap. Caesarea

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?-65? 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 Period Peter leads the new Christian Church, moves the church headquarters from Jerusalem to Rome

48-49 Council of Jerusalem, 1st Christian Council, 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"

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]

65-125 Period in which 4 Gospels, Acts, Revelations, and remaining epistles written - Peter martyred before 1st Holy Gospel is written, 7 Popes before last epistle is completed

65? Q written, (German:Quelle, meaning "source") a hypothetical Greek text used in writing of Matthew and Luke

65-150 Gospel of Thomas written, based on Q?, pub. 1959, Greek originals: Papyrus Ox. 1,654-5

65-175 Papyrus Egerton 2 (Unknown Gospel) fragments: pub. 1935/87, in Greek from Palestine, one of the oldest extant Christian texts (~175)

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]

68 Qumran (Essenes?) community destroyed by Rome, site of Dead Sea Scrolls found in 1949

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

80-85 Gospel according to Matthew written, based on Mark and Q, most popular in early Church

90-100 2,3 John written, by "elder", disciple of John (son of Zebedee)?, "catholic" epistle

90-100 Gospel according to John written, by John (son of Zebedee) and others, only eyewitness to Jesus?, disciple Jesus loved?, Gnostic?

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]

100? Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, Aramaic and Hebrew fragments found at Qumran Caves 1,4 (Armenian Bible)

100? Jude written, probably by doubting relative 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? "Letters of Ignatius", bishop of Antioch, martyred in Rome, his letters were subjected to heavy Christian forgery esp. 4th cent. (Apostolic Fathers)

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

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? 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 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

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)

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

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)

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: Rm5:17-6:3,5- 14;8:15-25,27-35,37-9:32;10:1-11:22,24-33,35-15:9,11-16:27;Hb1:1- 9:16,18-10:20,22-30,32-13:25;1Cr1:1-9:2,4-14:14,16-15:15,17- 16:22;2Cr1:1-11:10,12-21,23-13:13;Ep1:1-2:7,10-5:6,8-6:6,8,20- 24;Gl1:1-8,10-2:9,12-21;3:2-29;4:2-18,20-5:17,20-6:8,10- 18;Ph1:1,5-15,17-28,30-2:12,14-27,29-3:8,10-21;4:2-12,14- 23;Cl1:1-2,5-13,16-24,27-2:19,23-3:11,13-24;4:3-12,16- 18;1Th1:1,9-2:3;5:5-9,23-28 200? 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

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)

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): Mt20:24-32;21:13-19;25:41-26:39; Mk4:36-40;5:15-26,38-6:3,16- 25,36-50;7:3-15 ,25-8:1,10-26,34-9:9,18-31;11:27-12:1,5-8,13- 19,24-28; Lk6:31-41,45-7:7;9:26 -41,45-10:1,6-22,26-11:1,6-25,28- 46,50-12:12,18-37,42-13:1,6-24,29-14:10,17-33; Jn10:7-25,30- 11:10,18-36,42-57; Ac4:27-36;5:10-21,30-39;6:7-7:2,10-21,32- 41,52-8:1,14-25,34-9:6,16-27,35-10:2,10-23,31-41;11:2-14,24- 12:5,13-22;13:6-16,25-36,46-14:3,15-23;15:2-7,19-27,38-16:4,15- 21,32-40;17:9-17

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

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)

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 Steven I, 23rd Pope, major schism over rebaptizing heretics and apostates

258 Letters of Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, cites "Western" NT text-type, claims Christians are freely forging his letters to discredit him

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)

275-283 Pope Eutychian, 27th Pope, decreed that only beans and grapes be blessed at Mass

296-304 Pope Marcellinus, 29th Pope, apostate, offered pagan sacrifices for Diocletian

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: P1:Mt1:1-9,12,14-20 P4:Lk1:58-59,62- 2:1, 6-7;3:8-4:2,29-32,34-35;5:3-8,30-6:16 P5:Jn1:23-31,33- 40;16:14-30;20:11-17, 19-20,22-25 P9:1Jn4:11-12,14-17 P12:Hb1:1 P15:1Cr7:18-8:4 P20:Jm2:19-3:9 P22:Jn15:25-16:2,21-32 P23:Jm1:10-12,15-18 P27:Rm8:12-22,24-27,33-9:3,5-9 P28:Jn6:8- 12,17-22 P29:Ac26:7-8,20 P30:1Th4:12-13,16-17;5:3,8-10,12-18,25- 28;2Th1:1-2 P38:Ac18:27-19:6,12-16 P39:Jn8:14-22 P40:Rm1:24- 27,31-2:3;3:21-4:8;6:4-5:16;9:16-17:27 P48:Ac23:11-17,23-29 P49:Ep4:16-29,31-5:13 P53:Mt26:29-40;Ac9:33-10:1 P65:1Th1:3- 2:1,6-13 P69:Lk22:41,45-48,58-61 P70:Mt2:13-16,22-3:1;11:26- 27;12:4-5;24:3-6,12-15 P80:Jn3:34 P87:Pm13-15,24-25 #0171:Mt10:17-23,25-32;Lk22:44-56,61-64 #0189:Ac5:3-21 #0220:Rm4:23-5:3,8-13 #0212(Diatessaron):Mt27:56-57;Mk15:40- 42;Lk23:49-51,54;Jn19:38

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

325 Council of Nicaea, called by Constantine against Arianism (336), called 1st great Christian council by Jerome, 1st ecumenical, 318 bishops attend, Nicaean Creed

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

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? 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 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

352-366 Pope Liberius, 36th Pope 354-430 St. Augustine, Latin Bishop considered the founder of formalized Christian theology, church father

366-384 Pope Damasus I, 37th Pope, hired thugs to massacre rival Ursinians (Liberians)

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)

381 Council of Theodosius at Constantinople, 2nd ecumenical, Jesus had true human soul

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? 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

401-417 Pope Innocent I, 40th Pope, decreed Roman custom the norm for Christianity

430 St. Augustine, b.354, origin of "Original Sin," church father & philosopher, wrote: "The City of God", "Confessions"; Loeb Classics 10 v. (Latin)

431 Syrian Christianity splits into East (Nestorian-disagreed with Council of Ephesus) and West (Jacobites)

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"

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

457-474 Pope Leo I, 46th Pope, becomes emperor of remaining (eastern) 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.

492-496 Pope Gelasius I, 50th Pope, "Vicar of Christ" is first used as another title

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

537-555 Pope Vigilius, involved in death of Pope Silverius, conspired with Justinian and Theodora, excommunicated by N. African bishops in 550

544 Justinian condemns the "3 Chapters" of Theodore of Mopsuestia (d.428) and other writings of "2-natures" Christology of Council of Chalcedon (451)

550? Codex Claromontanus (Dp): Greek/Latin Pauline Epistles + Canon of ~250AD lists 27NT+Barnabas+Hermas+Acts_of_Paul+Apocalypse_of_Peter; "Western" type

PART II

550? Codex Mediolanensis vg(M): Latin Vulgate Gospels

550? Codex Veronensis: Greek & Old Latin Psalms

555 2nd 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 Mohammed's reported vision of Allahon Mount Hira

614 Persians take Damascas and Jerusalem and "Holy Cross of Christ"

615 earliest records of some of Mohammed's teachings

615-618 Pope Deusdedit

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 Mohammed marries Aisha, daughter of Abu Bekr

625 Paulinus of Rome comes to convert Northumbria to Christianity

625-638 Pope Honorius I

625 Mohammed 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 Mohammed 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 Mohammed, 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 Pope Severinus

640 Library of Alexandria, "The Center of Western Culture," with 300,000 ancient papyrus scrolls, is completely distroyed.

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

640-642 Pope John IV

642-649 Pope Theodore I

649-654 Pope Martin I, martyr

654-657 Pope Eugene I

657-673 Pope Vitalian

673-676 Pope Adeodatus II

676-678 Pope Donus

678-682 Pope Agatho

682-684 Pope Leo II

684-685 Pope Benedict II

685-686 Pope John V

686-687 Pope Conon

687 Anti-Pope Theodore

687 Anti-Pope Paschal

687-701 Pope Sergius I

690? Earliest Bible translations into England's vernacular, continued work by Bede and others from this point forward

701-705 Pope John VI

705-708 Pope John VII

708 Pope Sisinnius

708-715 Pope Constantine

715-731 Pope Gregory II

731-741 Pope Gregory III

741-752 Pope Zachary

750? Tower added to St Peter's Basilica at the front of the atrium

752-757 Pope Stephen II (III)

757-768 Pope Paul I

767 Anti-Pope Constantine

768 Anti-Pope Philip

768-772 Pope Stephen III (IV)

772-795 Pope Adrian I

795-816 Pope Leo III

816-817 Pope Stephen IV (V)

817-824 Pope Paschal I

824-827 Pope Eugene II

827 Pope Valentine

827-844 Pope Gregory IV

844 Anti-Pope John

844-847 Pope Sergius II

847-855 Pope Leo IV

850? King Alfred translation of several Bible books into English vernacular, also done by Aldhelm and Aelfric

855-858 Pope Benedict III

855 Anti-Pope Anastasius

856 Earthquake in Corinth kills 45,000

858-867 Pope Nicholas I

867-872 Pope Adrian II

872-882 Pope John VII

882-884 Pope Marinus I

884-885 Pope Adrian III

885-891 Pope Stephen V (VI)

891-896 Pope Formosus

896 Pope Boniface VI

896-897 Pope Stephen VI (VII)

897 Pope Romanus

897-898 Pope Theodore II

898-900 Pope John IX

900-903 Pope Benedict IV

903-904 Pope Leo V

903 Anti-Pope Christopher

904-911 Pope Sergius III

911-913 Pope Anastasius III

913-914 Pope Landus

914-928 Pope John X

928 Pope Leo VI

928-931 Pope Stephen VII (VIII)

931-936 Pope John XI

936-939 Pope Leo VII

939-942 Pope Stephen VIII (IX)

942-946 Pope Marinus II

946-955 Pope Agapitus II

955-963 Pope John XII

963-964 Pope Leo VIII

964-965 Pope Benedict V

965-973 Pope John XIII

973-974 Pope Benedict VI

974 Anti-Pope Boniface VII

974-983 Pope Benedict VII

983-985 Pope John XIV

985-996 Pope John XV

996-999 Pope Gregory V

997 Anti-Pope John XVI

999-1003 Pope Sylvester II

1003-1004 Pope John XVII

1004-1009 Pope John XVIII

1009-1012 Pope Sergius IV

1012-1024 Pope Benedict VIII

1012 Anti-Pope Gregory

1024-1032 Pope John XIX

1032-1045 Pope Benedict IX

1045 Pope Sylvester III

1045 Pope Benedict IX

1045-1046 Pope Gregory VI

1046-1047 Pope Clement II

1047-1048 Pope Benedict IX

1048-1049 Pope Damasus II

1049-1055 Pope Leo IX

1054 Split between Eastern and Western churches formalized, Orthodox Church founded

1055-1057 Pope Victor II

1057-1059 Pope Stephen IX (X)

1057 Earthquake in Cilicia (Asia Minor) kills 60,000

1058 Anti-Pope Benedict X

1059-1061 Pope Nicholas II

1061-1073 Pope Alexender II

1061 Anti-Pope Honorius II

1073-1086 Gregory VII

1080 Anti-Pope Clement III

1086-1088 Pope Victor III

1088-1099 Pope Urban II

1095-1291 10 Crusades, 1st called by Pope Urban II, to restore Asia Minor to Byzantium and conquer the Holy Land from the Turks

1099-1118 Pope Paschal II

1100 Anti-Pope Theodoric

1102 Anti-Pope Albert

1105 Anti-Pope Sylvester IV

1118-1119 Pope Gelasius II

1118 Anti-Pope Gregory VIII

1119-1124 Pope Callistus II

1124-1130 Pope Honorius II

1124 Anti-Pope Celestine II

1130-1143 Pope Innocent II

1130 Anti-Pope Anacletus II

1138 Anti-Pope Victor IV

1143-1144 Pope Celestine II

1144-1145 Pope Lucius II

1145-1153 Pope Eugene III

1153-1154 Pope Anastasius IV

1154-1159 Pope Adrian IV

1159-1181 Pope Alexander III

1159 Anti-Pope Victor IV

1164 Anti-Pope Paschal III

1168 Anti-Pope Callistus III

1179 Anti-Pope Innocent III

1181-1185 Pope Lucius III

1185-1187 Pope Urban III

1187 Pope Gregory VIII

1187-1191 Pope Clement III

1191 Pope Celestine III

1198-1216 Pope Innocent III

1206 Rosary is reportedly given to St. Dominic by an apparition of Mary

1215 Dominican order begun

1216-1227 Pope Honorius III\

1223 Franciscan order begun

1225-1274 Thomas Aquinas, theologian and philosopher

1227-1241 Pope Gregory IX

1241-1243 Pope Celestine IV

1243-1254 Pope Innocent IV

1254-1261 Pope Alexander IV

1260 Date which a 1988 Vatican sponsered scientific study places the origin of the Shroud of Turin

1261-1265 Pope Urban IV

1265-1271 Pope Clement IV

1271-1276 Pope Gregory X

1276 Pope Innocent V

1276 Pope Adrian V

1276-1277 Pope John XXI

1277-1294 Pope Nicholas IV

1294 Pope Celestine V

1294-1303 Pope Boniface VIII

1303-1305 Pope Benedict XI

1305-1316 Pope Clement V

1316-1334 Pope John XXII

1321? The Divine Comedy, by Dante Alighieri

1328 Anti-Pope Nicholas V

1334-1342 Pope Benedict XII

1342-1352 Pope Clement VI

1350? English begins to emerge as the national language of England

1350? Renaissance begins in Italy

1352-1362 Pope Innocent VI

1354 Earliest extant documentation stating the existance of the Shroud of Turin

1362-1370 Pope Urban V

1370-1378 Pope Gregory XI

1378-1389 Pope Urban VI

1378 Anti-Pope Clement VII

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

1380-1382 John Wycliffe, eminant 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

1389-1404 Pope Boniface IX

1390? Wycliffe's teachings condemned repeatedly in England

1394 Anti-Pope Benedict XIII

1404-1406 Pope Innocent VII

1406-1417 Pope Gregory XII

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")

1409 Anti-Pope Alexander V

1410 Anti-Pope John XXIII

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

1417-1431 Pope Martin V

1431-1447 Pope Eugene IV

1439 Anti-Pope Felix V

1447-1455 Pope Nicholas V

1453 Byzantium succeeded by the Ottoman Empire

1455-1458 Pope Callistus III

1458-1464 Pope Pius II

1464-1471 Pope Paul II

1466-1536 Desiderius Erasmus, Dutch scholar, Greek NT used in many 16th century translations

1471-1484 Pope Sixtus IV

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)

1484-1492 Pope Innocent VIII

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

1492-1503 Pope Alexander VI

1503 Pope Pius III

1503-1513 Pope Julius II

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

1513-1522 Pope Leo X

1517-1994 Modern Era of Christianity - Luther, 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 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, Martin 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 Episcopal Church

1534-1550 Pope Paul III

1534 Jesuit order founded by Lyola (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 (Episcopal Church)

1550-1555 Pope Julius III

1550? St. Thomas More, 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)

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 1555 Pope Marcellus II

1555-1559 Pope Paul IV

1556 Beza's Latin NT

1558-1603 Elizabeth I ruler of England

1559-1566 Pope Pius IV

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 39 Articles (Episcopal Church)

1566-1572 Pope Pius V

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

1585-1590 Pope Sixtus V

1590-1591 Pope Urban VII

1590 Sistine edition of the Vulgate

1590 Michelangelo's dome in St Peter's Basilica completed

1591-1592 Pope Innocent IX

1592-1605 Pope Clement VIII

1596 Ukranian Catholic Church forms when Ukranian subjects of the king of Poland are reunited with Rome, largest Byzantine Catholic Church

1603-1625 James I ruler of England, 1st to call himself King of Great Britain, became official with Act of Union in 1707

1605 Pope Leo XI

1605-1621 Pope Paul V

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 (Authorized) Version, based on Bishop's Bible of 1572 with use of Rheims NT of 1582 - included Apocropha, alterations found in many editions through 1800, revisors accused of being "damnable corrupters of God's word"

1621-1623 Pope Gregory XV

1623-1644 Pope Urban VIII

1625-1649 Charles I ruler of England

1633 AV published in Scotland

1644 Long Parliament directed that only Hebrew canon only be read in the Church of England (effectively removed the Apocropha)

1644-1655 Pope Innocent X

1653-1658 Oliver Cromwell ruler of England

1655-1667 Pope Alexander VII

1658-1712 Richard Cromwell ruler of England

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

1667-1670 Pope Clement IX

1667 Earthquake in Shemaka, Caucasia kills 80,000

1670-1676 Pope Clement X

1676-1689 Pope Innocent XI

1685-1688 James II king of England, deposed

1689-1702 William III king of England, with Mary II as queen until 1694

1689-1691 Pope Alexander VIII

1691-1700 Pope Innocent XII

1693 Earthquake in Catania, Italy kills 60,000

1700-1721 Pope Clement XI

1702-1714 Anne queen of England

1714-1727 George I king of England

1714 AV published in Ireland

1718 Catholic English version of NT by Dr. Nary, much less bulky than Reims- Douay

1721-1724 Pope Innocent XIII

1724-1730 Pope Benedict XIII

1727-1760 George II king of England

1730-1740 Pope Clement XII

1730 Catholic English version of NT, revision of Reims NT by Dr. Robert Witham

1738 Methodist Church founded by Rev John Wesley

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

1755 Earthquake in Northern Persia kills 40,000

1755 Earthquake in Lisbon, Portugal kills 60,000 (estimated at 8.75 Richter)

1758-1769 Pope Clement XIII

1760-1820 George III king of England

1769-1775 Pope Clement XIV

1775-1800 Pope Pius VI

1776 British colonies in America declare independance from England, American Revolution

1783 Earthquake in Calabria, Italy kills 30,000

1797 Earthquake in Quito, Ecuador kills 41,000

1800-1823 Pope Pius VII

1801-1877 Brigham Young, Mormon leader, colonized Utah

1811 Dr. Hay's revision of Challoner's version

1820-1830 George IV king of England

1822 Earthquake in Aleppo, Asia Minor kills 22,000

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

1823-1829 Pope Leo XII

1827 Mormon Church founded by Joseph Smith as a result of reported visions of the Angel Moroni

1829-1831 Pope Pius VIII

1830-1837 William IV king of England

1830 Reported apparition of Mary in Paris, France, considered "worthy of belief" by the Catholic Church

1831-1846 Pope Gregory XVI

1832 Church of Christ (Disciples) organized, made up of Presbyterians in distress over Protestant factionalism and decline of fervor

1837-1901 Victoria queen of England

1846-1878 Pope Pius IX

1846 Reported apparition of Mary in La Salette, France, considered "worthy of belief" by the Catholic Church

1852-1922 Charles Taze Russell, founded the Jehova's Witnesses movement in the 1870s

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

1868 Earthquakes in Peru and Ecuador kills 40,000

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

1875 Earthquake in Colombia, Venezuela 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

1901-1910 Edward VII king of England

1901 American Standard Version, recension of the RV, included words/phrases preferred by Americans, follows Greek order of words

1901 Pentecostal Church formed in Topeka, Kansas in reaction to loss of evangelical fervor among Methodists and other denominations

1902 Richard Weymouth NT, a careful literary translation

1903-1914 Pope Pius X, most recent Pope to be canonized

1910-1936 George V king of England

1910 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

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

1936 Edward VIII king of England, acceeded and abdicated

1936-1952 George VI king of England

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)

1952-Present Elizabeth II queen of England

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, 21st ecumenical, announced by Pope John XXIII in

1959, produced 16 documents which became official 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

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, used eclectic Greek text, Massoretic Hebrew text, and current English style

1978-? 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 Bible, 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

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