Christianity Timeline

Calling of Abraham - the Father of the Jewish nation.

Birth of Jacob, later to be called Israel. The twelve tribes of Israel are named after Jacob's sons.

Joseph is sold into slavery in Egypt. Israelites eventually become captives in the land.

The Exodus begins. Led by Moses, the Israelites leave Egypt and eventually settle in Canaan.

David becomes king of Israel, making Jerusalem his capital.

David's son Solomon becomes king. He later builds a temple in Jerusalem to honour God.

Following Solomon's death, the Kingdom is divided into two sections: Northern (Israel) and Southern (Judah).

Fall of the kingdom of Israel to the Assyrians.

Nineveh, the Assyrian capital, falls to the Babylonians.

Babylonians take Jerusalem and destroy Solomon's temple. Jewish nation is taken into captivity in Babylon (the exile).

Return of some of the exiles. Start of reconstruction of the temple.

Completion of the temple.

Alexander the great begins his conquest and the rise of Hellenism

Work begins to translate the Old Testament from Hebrew into Greek. This is known as the Septuagint or LXX.

The Roman's rule over Israel begins

Birth of Jesus Christ, in Bethlehem.

Death of Jesus Christ.

Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2). Sometimes known as the Birthday of the Church.

Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15). Gentile Christians accepted alongside those in the Jewish tradition.

First Gospel published (often thought to be that written by Mark).

Martyrdom of James, "The Lord's Brother".

Apostles Peter and Paul* martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Nero.

Centre of Christianity moves to Antioch, Alexandria and Rome.

Jewish rebellion against the Roman empire ends. Destruction of the temple in Jerusalem.

Book of Revelation and Gospel of Saint John written.

Widespread persecution of Christians under Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. (Severe persecutions also occurred under the emperors Decius (249-251) and Diocletian (284-305)).

Armenia becomes the world's first country to officially adopt Christianity as the state religion.

Roman emperor Constantine receives a vision of a flaming cross with the words 'In hoc signo vinces' : 'By this sign conquer'. Defeats rival Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge.

Edict of Milan issued by Constantine - Christianity becomes a legal religion within the Roman empire.

Constantine calls the first ecumenical council at Nicea. Arian heresy which declared Christ was a created being is refuted. Nicene Creed is drawn up, declaring Christ to be "...Begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father..."

Saint Jerome begins a translation of the Bible into Latin.

Synod at Carthage ratifies the 27 books of the New Testament as sacred scripture.

Ecumenical council held at Ephesus refutes Nestorianism. (The doctrine that Christ was two persons (one human, the other divine) in one body). Mary is declared Theotokos i.e. 'God-bearer' or more commonly, 'Mother of God'.

Great Schism - Eastern Orthodox and Western Catholic churches separate.