TIMELINE OF EARLY (FIRST-CENTURY) CHRISTIANITY                  June 2025  TJ

This review was inspired by the question of why the depiction of Paul in Acts differs so much from that of Paul's letters. An essay on that is forthcoming.

Notes:
Paul of Tarsus is referred to as simply 'Paul' throughout, never by his former name of Saul.
'James' refers to James, brother of Jesus. 
All dates are 'Common Era' (CE).
Virtually all dates are academic best-guesses.
This timeline assumes some general existing knowledge by the reader.


TIMELINE:

20s: Paul (b. 5-10 CE in Tarsus, Turkey) studies in Jerusalem, becoming a zealous Pharisee.

30-33: Jesus' ministry and crucifixion, followed by Pentecost and the birth of the church in Jerusalem. James, Peter and the other apostles are central figures. Early church shares resources and has daily gatherings with the breaking of bread. Baptism is a key feature. The first century CE was a period of intense apocalyptic expectation within Judaism. The uniqueness of early Christian belief lay in their convictions that Jesus was the Messiah who had already initiated the end-time, that the imminent return of Jesus (the Parousia) was the central eschatological hope (rather than the arrival of a Davidic king or a general divine intervention). Fierce resistance and commitment to Jewish independence was growing around the time of the crucifixion and intensified dramatically in the decades leading to the upcoming Jewish Revolt of 66-70 CE. Radical splinter groups emerged, engaging in assassinations and terrorism against Romans and Jewish collaborators.

35: Martyrdom of Stephen in Jerusalem (Paul is present). Despite its presumed relative unimportance as a sect, this event marks the beginning of widespread persecution against the early church in Jerusalem. The early church did not pose any kind of political threat, but rather a theological threat.

35: Conversion of Paul on the road to Damascus. Paul was as yet unknown to the church in Jerusalem. 

36-39: Paul's time in Arabia and Damascus, followed by his first brief visit to Jerusalem (15-day visit, 3 years after his conversion) to meet the apostles. Paul is introduced by Barnabas (early church member), who Paul perhaps already had met as a student.

39-47: This long period is known as Paul's 'silent years' or initial ministry in Tarsus and the regions of Syria and Cilicia. Barnabas eventually brings him to Antioch. Famine led to Paul and Barnabas taking relief to Jerusalem.

48: Paul's first missionary journey (with Barnabas), to Cyprus and Galatia, preaching primarily to Gentiles. Letter to the Galatians was written, probably the first of Paul's letters (that we have).

49: Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), where the apostles affirm Gentile inclusion without circumcision. A critical turning point in Christian history for the Gentile mission.

49-52: Paul's second missionary journey, through Asia Minor and into Greece (Philippi, Thessalonica, Athens, Corinth). Thessalonians 1 & 2, and Romans written. The 'We' passages in Acts begin around Troas, suggesting the author of Luke traveled with Paul for part of this journey.

52-57: Paul's third missionary journey, centered on Ephesus (3 years). Ephesus at the time was the 3rd or 4th largest city in the Roman empire. Major theological Pauline letters written (1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Romans).

57: Paul's final recorded visit to Jerusalem; he is arrested in the Temple. Paul is imprisoned for two years in Caesarea.

60: Paul's journey to Rome (under arrest) and his first Roman imprisonment (house arrest). The 'Captivity Epistles' are written: Philippians, Philemon (Paul's authorship undisputed in both); Colossians, Ephesians (disputed).

62: Martyrdom of James, the leader of the Jerusalem church.

62-64: (Possible but unlikely) Paul's release and further travels/ministry. 

64: Great Fire of Rome. Emperor Nero blames and intensely persecutes Christians in Rome. Tradition holds that both Peter and Paul are martyred in Rome during Nero's reign (c. 64-68 CE). The three Pauline 'pastoral' letters (Timothy 1 & 2, Titus) are now generally thought to have been composed by followers of Paul after his death.

66-70: First Jewish-Roman War: A major Jewish rebellion against Roman rule. Christians in Jerusalem possibly fled before the siege, possibly to Pella in Transjordan. Roman forces destroy Jerusalem and the Second Temple in 70 CE, a cataclysmic event for Judaism and a defining moment for early Christianity.

70: Gospel of Mark written: Widely considered the earliest Gospel, possibly written in Rome and influenced by Peter's recollections.

80s: Gospel of Matthew written, likely in Antioch or another Hellenistic city, drawing on Mark and Q and aiming to connect Jesus to Jewish prophecy. Gospel of Luke and Acts written, also likely in a Hellenistic city, drawing on Mark, Q, and Luke's own research, providing a comprehensive history for a Gentile audience. ('Q' refers to a hypothetical, lost collection of Jesus' sayings and teachings, common to Matthew and Luke but not Mark.)

81-96: Reign of Emperor Domitian. Renewed and sometimes severe persecution of Christians in various parts of the Empire.

93: Flavius Josephus (a Jewish historian) mentions Jesus, John the Baptist, and James (first non-biblical references).

95: Clement (4th pope, after Peter, Linus, Anacletus) writes to the Corinthians, with first mention of Paul outside the New Testament and providing insight into Roman church leadership.

100: Gospel of John written, likely in Ephesus, presenting a distinct theological perspective on Jesus, emphasizing his divine nature.

112: A letter from Pliny (a Roman governor in modern Turkey) to Emperor Trajan asks for advice on how to handle Christians in his province, as their numbers are growing and traditional Roman temples are being neglected. Pliny describes some Christian practices: They meet on a Sundays before daylight; they sing hymns to Christ 'as to a god'; they bind themselves by an oath to avoid theft, robbery, adultery, and breaking promises; they eat a shared meal (though he notes they stopped this practice after his edict). He mentions that some who had been Christians had recanted, even some 'three years before, some even more years before, not a few as many as twenty years before,' suggesting a long-standing presence. He notes that they refuse to curse Christ, which he uses as a test of their true faith.

116: Tacitus, a prominent Roman historian, describes Emperor Nero's persecution of Christians after the Great Fire of Rome in 64 CE. He confirms that 'Christus was executed by sentence of the procurator Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius.' Christianity is described as a 'pernicious superstition' and he notes that their numbers had spread.

end of timeline