Bible Chronology – Books by Approximate Writing Date

Books ordered roughly by when they were written (conservative scholarship). The "Canonical Order" column shows the book's position in the standard Bible (Genesis = 1, Revelation = 66). Multiple contributors are listed where applicable.

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Old Testament – Approximate Order of Writing

Chronological Order Canonical Order Book Author(s) Approx. Date Chapters Key Theme / Note
118JobUnknown (possibly Moses or earlier)~2000–1500 BCE42Suffering & God's sovereignty
21GenesisMoses (primary)1440–1400 BCE50Creation to patriarchs
32ExodusMoses (primary)1440–1400 BCE40Deliverance & Law
43LeviticusMoses (primary)1440 BCE27Holiness & sacrifices
54NumbersMoses (primary)1440–1400 BCE36Wilderness wanderings
65DeuteronomyMoses (primary)1400 BCE34Covenant renewal
76JoshuaJoshua (primary)1400–1375 BCE24Conquest of Canaan
87JudgesSamuel (primary)1050–1000 BCE21Cycles of apostasy & deliverance
98RuthSamuel (traditional)~1000 BCE4Redemption story
1091 SamuelSamuel, Nathan, Gad~930 BCE31Transition to monarchy
11102 SamuelNathan, Gad (primary contributors)~930 BCE24David's reign
1219PsalmsDavid (73), Asaph (12), Sons of Korah (11), Solomon, Moses, Heman, Ethan, anonymous1000–400 BCE150Worship & prayer collection
1320ProverbsSolomon (primary), Agur, Lemuel~950 BCE31Wisdom sayings
1421EcclesiastesSolomon (traditional)~935 BCE12Vanity without God
1522Song of SolomonSolomon (traditional)~950 BCE8Love & marriage
16111 KingsJeremiah (possible compiler)~560 BCE22Solomon to divided kingdom
17122 KingsJeremiah (possible compiler)~560 BCE25Fall of Israel & Judah
1823IsaiahIsaiah son of Amoz740–680 BCE66Judgment & Messianic hope
1930AmosAmos760–750 BCE9Social justice
2028HoseaHosea755–715 BCE14Unfaithful Israel
2133MicahMicah735–700 BCE7Judgment & restoration
2234NahumNahum663–612 BCE3Nineveh's doom
2336ZephaniahZephaniah640–620 BCE3Day of the Lord
2435HabakkukHabakkuk612–589 BCE3Faith amid evil
2531ObadiahObadiah~586 BCE1Edom judged
2624JeremiahJeremiah (Baruch scribe)627–586 BCE52Judah's fall
2725LamentationsJeremiah586 BCE5Mourning Jerusalem
2826EzekielEzekiel593–571 BCE48Exile visions
2929JoelJoel~835–500 BCE (disputed)3Locust plague & Spirit
3032JonahJonah~780 BCE4Nineveh repents
3137HaggaiHaggai520 BCE2Temple rebuilding
3238ZechariahZechariah520–480 BCE14Visions & Messiah
3327DanielDaniel605–536 BCE12Kingdoms & prophecy
3415EzraEzra458–445 BCE10Return & temple rebuilt
35131 ChroniclesEzra (traditional)450–430 BCE29Genealogies & David's reign
36142 ChroniclesEzra (traditional)450–430 BCE36Temple & Judah's kings
3716NehemiahNehemiah445–432 BCE13Walls rebuilt, reforms
3817EstherUnknown (Mordecai?)~460 BCE10Purim deliverance
3939MalachiMalachi~430 BCE4Final OT prophecy

New Testament – Approximate Order of Writing

Chronological Order Canonical Order Book Author(s) Approx. Date Chapters Key Theme / Note
159JamesJames (brother of Jesus)45–50 CE5Faith & works
248GalatiansPaul49 CE6Grace vs. law
3521 ThessaloniansPaul51 CE5Second coming encouragement
4532 ThessaloniansPaul52 CE3Day of the Lord clarification
5461 CorinthiansPaul55 CE16Church order & problems
6472 CorinthiansPaul56 CE13Paul's defense & comfort
745RomansPaul57 CE16Systematic gospel
841MarkJohn Mark (with Peter's influence)60–65 CE16Earliest Gospel
949EphesiansPaul60–62 CE6Church unity
1051ColossiansPaul60–62 CE4Christ's supremacy
1157PhilemonPaul60–62 CE1Forgiveness
1250PhilippiansPaul61 CE4Joy in suffering
13541 TimothyPaul62–64 CE6Church leadership
1456TitusPaul63–65 CE3Church order
15601 PeterPeter (Silvanus scribe?)62–64 CE5Hope in suffering
16552 TimothyPaul66–67 CE4Paul's final charge
17612 PeterPeter65–68 CE3False teachers
1858HebrewsUnknown (Paul, Barnabas, Apollos proposed)60–70 CE13Christ's superiority
1940MatthewMatthew60–70 CE28Jesus as King
2042LukeLuke60–80 CE24Jesus as Son of Man
2144ActsLuke62–65 CE28Early church expansion
2265JudeJude (brother of Jesus)65–80 CE1Contend for the faith
2343JohnJohn85–95 CE21Jesus as Son of God
24621 JohnJohn90–95 CE5Assurance & love
25632 JohnJohn90–95 CE1Walk in truth
26643 JohnJohn90–95 CE1Hospitality
2766RevelationJohn95 CE22End times & victory