When was the Bible written?
The Bible was written over about 1,500 years, from around 1400 BC to about AD 95, by roughly 40 authors. The Old Testament was finished by about 400 BC. The New Testament was written in less than 50 years, between about AD 50 and AD 95.
Dates before about 800 BC follow traditional Jewish and Christian dating. Many scholars think the Old Testament books reached their final written form later, between about 1000 and 400 BC, drawing on older oral and written sources.
Old Testament written
- Moses and the Law
By tradition, Moses writes Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, the first five books of the Bible.
- David and the Psalms
King David writes many of the Psalms. The book of Psalms is collected over several centuries.
- Solomon’s wisdom
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon are linked by tradition to King Solomon.
- The first writing prophets
Amos, Hosea, Isaiah and Micah warn Israel and Judah and look ahead to a coming king.
- Exile in Babylon
Jerusalem falls. Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel come from the years around the exile.
- The last Old Testament prophet
Malachi is traditionally the last book of the Old Testament to be written.
Between the testaments
- The Greek Old Testament
Jewish scholars in Alexandria begin translating the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek. This translation is called the Septuagint.
New Testament written
- The life of Jesus
Jesus is born in Bethlehem, teaches in Galilee and Judea, and is crucified in Jerusalem around AD 30.
- Paul’s letters
Paul writes to churches across the Roman world. His letters are among the earliest books of the New Testament.
- The Gospels and Acts
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John record the life of Jesus, and Luke continues the story in Acts.
- Revelation
John writes Revelation on the island of Patmos. It is traditionally the last book of the Bible to be written.
The Bible after it was written
- The New Testament list
Athanasius of Alexandria lists the 27 New Testament books used today. Church councils at Hippo (393) and Carthage (397) confirm the list.
- The Latin Vulgate
Jerome completes a Latin translation that becomes the standard Bible of the Western church for a thousand years.
- The first English Bible
Followers of John Wycliffe translate the whole Bible into English by hand, from Latin.
- The Gutenberg Bible
Johannes Gutenberg prints a Latin Bible, one of the first major books printed with movable type.
- The King James Version
Translated from Hebrew and Greek by about fifty scholars, it becomes the most widely read English Bible for centuries. This site uses its 1769 standard text.
- The Dead Sea Scrolls
Scrolls found in caves near the Dead Sea include copies of Old Testament books about a thousand years older than any previously known Hebrew manuscript.
How old is the Bible?
The oldest parts of the Bible are about 3,400 years old by traditional dating, and the last book was written about 1,900 years ago. The oldest surviving manuscripts include the Dead Sea Scrolls, copied between about 250 BC and AD 70, and Greek New Testament papyri from the second and third centuries AD.
Who wrote the Bible?
Around 40 people wrote the books of the Bible, over many centuries and in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. They included a shepherd king (David), a tax collector (Matthew), a doctor (Luke), fishermen (Peter and John) and a scholar (Paul). Some books, such as Hebrews, do not name their author.
Christians believe these writers were moved by God, so that the Bible is both a human book and God’s word. 2 Timothy 3:16 says “All scripture is given by inspiration of God,” and 2 Peter 1:21 says the writers “spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
Frequently asked questions
When was the Bible written?
The Bible was written over roughly 1,500 years, from about 1400 BC to about AD 95 by traditional dating. The Old Testament was written before about 400 BC, and the New Testament between about AD 50 and AD 95.
How old is the Bible?
Its oldest parts are about 3,400 years old by traditional dating, and the last book was written about 1,900 years ago. Many scholars date the final form of the Old Testament books later, between about 1000 and 400 BC.
Who wrote the Bible?
About 40 authors over many centuries, including Moses, David, Solomon, prophets such as Isaiah and Jeremiah, and the apostles Matthew, John, Paul and Peter. Christians believe the writers were inspired by God, as 2 Timothy 3:16 says.
When was the Bible put together?
The Hebrew Scriptures were recognized by the Jewish community well before the time of Jesus. The 27 New Testament books were listed by Athanasius in AD 367 and confirmed by church councils at Hippo and Carthage in the 390s.