C.E. or A.D.
This timeline is divided
according to the Gregorian tradition of starting the century with year
1 but,
in deference to modern academic preference, uses B.C.E. and C.E. rather
than B.C. and A.D.
The
earliest events are listed first as this makes it easier to follow
developments
in their logical sequence.
Many of the dates given in the detail pages remain speculative, not least because the
body of secular evidence, upon which the dating of key biblical events
often relies, is not without ambiguities and internal contradictions.
Summary timeline
B.C.E., the first few thousand
years
- Putting the foundations in place. The development of the Hebrew
Bible, as a record of divine judgements and prophetic expectations
concerning humanity in general and particularly Israel.
1st to 3rd
Centuries
- The launch of a new movement in Judah sees Jesus deliver the Sermon
during his ministry. Events following his death and resurrection see
the gospel’s rapid spread in oral form. Matthew’s Gospel, the
Sermon with it, is committed to writing and becomes a reference for the
early church.
4th and 5th
Centuries - The fathers of the church begin to produce
commentaries on the Gospel’s, establishing a traditional pattern for their interpretation.
5th to 17th
Centuries - Christianity becomes an established religion in
which Church tradition dominates. The Great Schism sees the Roman
church separate from the Eastern Orthodox. The dominance of the Rome is
challenged by protestantism.
18th Century
- The rise of ‘rational’ theories, cutting out the supernatural and
leading to the re-interpretation of the gospels according to the spirit
of the age.
19th Century
- The heyday of German critical analysis. Archaeological discoveries in
the Middle East prompt an interest in the eastern origin of the
scriptures and their relationship with the other religions of that region.
20th Century
- Many scholars begin trying to rediscover the historical Jesus (i.e.
Jesus
as his disciples knew him) whilst laterly there is an increasing tendancy for
scholars to re-assert traditional
values.
21st Century
- The information revolution brings the Sermon to a computer near you.
Please note,
the author is aware that the pages of this timeline are, in places,
sparsely or idiosyncratically populated. This is being rectified as
time permits.