The purpose of this chronology is to give a detailed account of Christianity from the beginning of the current era to the present. Question marks on dates indicate approximate dates. For "Old Testament" chronology, see History of ancient Israel and Judah.
Era of Jesus
- See also: Cultural and historical background of Jesus and Chronology of Jesus
The year one is the first year in the Christian calendar (there is no year zero), which is the calendar presently used (in unison with the Gregorian calendar) almost everywhere in the world, because of the current dominance of the Western world. Traditionally, this was held to be the year Jesus was born, however most modern scholars argue for an earlier or later date, the most agreed upon being between 6 B.C. and 4 B.C.
- 6 Herod Archelaus deposed by Augustus; Samaria, Judea and Idumea annexed as Iudaea Province under direct Roman administration
[H.H. Ben-Sasson, A History of the Jewish People, Harvard University Press, 1976, ISBN 0674397312, page 246: "When Archelaus was deposed from the ethnarchy in 6 CE, Judea proper, Samaria and Idumea were converted into a Roman province under the name Iudaea."], capital at Caesarea, Quirinius became Legate (Governor) of Syria, conducted Census of Quirinius, opposed by Zealots (JA18, Luke 2:1-3, Acts 5:37)
- 7-26 Brief period of peace, relatively free of revolt and bloodshed in Iudaea & Galilee
[John P. Meier\'s A Marginal Jew, v. 1, ch. 11; also H.H. Ben-Sasson, A History of the Jewish People, Harvard University Press, 1976, ISBN 0674397312, page 251: "But after the first agitation (which occurred in the wake of the first Roman census) had faded out, we no longer hear of bloodshed in Judea until the days of Pilate."]
- 9 Pharisee leader Hillel the Elder dies, temporary rise of Shammai
- 14-37 Tiberius, Roman Emperor
- 18-36 Caiaphas, appointed High Priest of Herod\'s Temple by Prefect Valerius Gratus, deposed by Syrian Legate Lucius Vitellius
- 19 Jews, Jewish Proselytes, Astrologers, expelled from Rome
[Suetonius, Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Tiberius 36; Jewish Encyclopedia: Rome: Expelled Under Tiberius: "The Jewish deputation which petitioned for the deposition of the royal house of the Idumeans was joined by 8,000 Jewish residents of Rome. Several Romans adopted Jewish customs, and some, as the rhetor Cilicius of Kalakte, a friend of Dionysius of Halicarnassus, even embraced Judaism (Müller, "Fragmenta Historicorum Græcorum," iii. 331). The reign of Tiberius (until the removal of his minister Sejanus) was fraught with misfortune for the Jews. When the cult of Isis was driven out of Rome (19 C.E.) the Jews also were expelled, because a Roman lady who inclined toward Judaism had been deceived by Jewish swindlers. The synagogues were closed, the vessels burned, and 4,000 Jewish youths were sent upon military service to Sardinia. After the death of Sejanus (31) the emperor allowed the Jews to return."; H.H. Ben-Sasson\'s A History of the Jewish People, Harvard University Press, 1976, ISBN 0674397312, page 288 notes: "Explicit evidence of a systematic attempt to propagate the Jewish faith in the city of Rome is found as early as 139 BCE. With the increase of the Jewish population of Rome, the Jews intensified their efforts to make converts among the Romans. Although the activity of Jewish missionaries in Roman society caused Tiberius to expel them from that city in 19 CE, they soon returned, and Jewish religious propaganda was resumed and maintained even after the destruction of the Temple. Tacitus mentions it regretfully (Histories 5.5), and Juvenal, in his Fourteenth Satire (11. 96ff.), describes how Roman families \'degenerated\' into Judaism: the fathers permitted themselves to adopt some of its customs and the sons became Jews in every respect. ... the Bible provided the apostles of Judaism with a literature unparalleled in any other religion."]
- 26-36 Pontius Pilate, Prefect (governor) of Iudaea, recalled to Rome by Syrian Legate Vitellius on complaints of excess violence (JA18.4.2)
- 28 or 29 John the Baptist began his ministry in the "15th year of Tiberius" (Luke 3:1-2), saying: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matt 3:1-2), a relative of Jesus (Luke 1:36), a Nazirite (Luke 1:15), baptized Jesus (Mark 1:4-11), later arrested and beheaded by Herod Antipas (Luke 3:19-20), it\'s possible that, according to Josephus\' chronology, John was not killed until 36 (JA18.5.2)
[G. J. Goldberg. John the Baptist and Josephus. Retrieved on 2006-08-16.]
Jesus began his ministry after his baptism by John and during the rule of Pilate, preaching: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matt 4:12-17). While the historicity of the gospel accounts is questioned to some extent by some critical scholars and non-Christians, the traditional view states the following chronology for his ministry: Temptation, Sermon on the Mount, Appointment of the Twelve, Miracles, Temple Money Changers, Last Supper, Arrest, Trial, Passion, Crucifixion on Good Friday (Mark 15:42,John 19:42), Nisan 14th (John 19:14,Mark 14:2,Gospel of Peter) or Nisan 15th (Synoptic Gospels), (7Apr30, 3Apr33, 30Mar36, possible Fri-14-Nisan dates, -Meier), entombment by Pharisees Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus of the Sanhedrin, Resurrection by God on Easter Sunday, appearances to Paul of Tarsus (1Cor 15:3-9), Simon Peter (Luke 24:34), Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9,John 20:10-18), and others, Great Commission, Ascension, Second Coming Prophecy to fulfill the rest of Messianic prophecy such as the Resurrection of the dead, the Last Judgment, and establishment of the Kingdom of God and the Messianic Age. See also Chronology of Jesus.
Era of the Apostles
- See also: Apostolic Age, Acts of the Apostles, and Paul of Tarsus
Shortly after the Death (Nisan 14 or 15) and Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus, the Jerusalem church was founded as the first Christian church with about 120 Jews and Jewish Proselytes (Acts 1:15), followed by Pentecost (Sivan 6), the Ananias and Sapphira incident, Pharisee Gamaliel\'s defense of the Apostles (5:34-39), the stoning of Saint Stephen (see also Persecution of Christians) and the subsequent dispersal of the church (7:54-8:8) which led to the baptism of Simon Magus in Samaria (8:9-24), and also an Ethiopian eunuch (8:26-40). Paul\'s "Road to Damascus" conversion to "Apostle to the Gentiles" is first recorded in 9:13-16, cf. Gal 1:11-24. Peter baptized the Roman Centurion Cornelius, who is traditionally considered the first Gentile convert to Christianity (10). The Antioch church was founded, it was there that the term Christian was first used (11:26).
- 37-41 Crisis under Caligula
[H.H. Ben-Sasson, A History of the Jewish People, Harvard University Press, 1976, ISBN 0674397312, The Crisis Under Gaius Caligula, pages 254-256: "The reign of Gaius Caligula (37-41) witnessed the first open break between the Jews and the Julio-Claudian empire. Until then — if one accepts Sejanus\' heyday and the trouble caused by the census after Archelaus\' banishment — there was usually an atmosphere of understanding between the Jews and the empire ... These relations deteriorated seriously during Caligula\'s reign, and, though after his death the peace was outwardly re-established, considerable bitterness remained on both sides. ... Caligula ordered that a golden statue of himself be set up in the Temple in Jerusalem. ... Only Caligula\'s death, at the hands of Roman conspirators (41), prevented the outbreak of a Jewish-Roman war that might well have spread to the entire East."]
- 44? Saint James the Great: According to ancient local tradition, on 2 January of the year AD 40, the Virgin Mary appeared to James on a Pilar on the bank of the Ebro River at Caesaraugusta, while he was preaching the Gospel in Spain. Following that apparition, St James returned to Judea, where he was beheaded by King Herod Agrippa I in the year 44 during a Passover (Nisan 15) (Acts 12:1-3).
- 44 Death of Herod Agrippa I (JA19.8.2, Acts 12:20-23)
- 44-46? Theudas beheaded by Procurator Cuspius Fadus for saying he would part the Jordan river (like Moses and the Red Sea or Joshua and the Jordan) (JA20.5.1, Acts 5:36-37 places it before the Census of Quirinius)
- 45-49? Mission of Barnabas and Paul, (Acts 13:1-14:28), to Cyprus, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe (there they were called "gods ... in human form"), then return to Syrian Antioch. Map1
- 47? The Church of the East is created by Saint Thomas
- 48-100 Herod Agrippa II appointed King of the Jews by Claudius, seventh and last of the Herodians
- 49 "Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus,
[ A. J. MAAS (2003). Origin of the Name of Jesus Christ. Retrieved January 23, 2006. Walter Bauer\'s et al. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, 1979, under Christos notes: "as a personal name; the Gentiles must have understood Christos in this way (to them it seemed very much like Chrestos [even in pronunciation ...], a name that is found in lit."] he expelled them from Rome." (referenced in Acts 18:2)[Suetonius, Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Claudius XXV.4; Jewish Encyclopedia: Rome: Expelled Under Tiberius: "... in 49-50, in consequence of dissensions among them regarding the advent of the Messiah, they were forbidden to hold religious services. The leaders in the controversy, and many others of the Jewish citizens, left the city."]
- 50 Passover riot in Jerusalem, 20-30,000 killed (JA20.5.3,JW2.12.1)
- 50? Council of Jerusalem and the "Apostolic Decree", Acts 15:1-35, same as Galatians 2:1-10?, which is followed by the "Incident at Antioch"
[Catholic Encyclopedia: Judaizers see section titled: "THE INCIDENT AT ANTIOCH"] at which Paul publicly accused Peter of "Judaizing" (2:11-21)
- 50-53? Paul\'s 2nd mission, (Acts 15:36-18:22), split with Barnabas, to Phrygia, Galatia, Macedonia, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, "he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken", then return to Antioch; 1 Thessalonians, Galatians written? Map2
- 51-52 or 52-53 proconsulship of Gallio according to an inscription, only fixed date in chronology of Paul
[Pauline Chronology: His Life and Missionary Work, from Catholic Resources by Felix Just, S.J.]
- 52? Saint Thomas Christians of India
- 53-57? Paul\'s 3rd mission, (Acts 18:23-22:30), to Galatia, Phrygia, Corinth, Ephesus, Macedonia, Greece, and Jerusalem where James the Just challenged him about rumor of teaching antinomianism (21:21), he addressed a crowd in their language (most likely Aramaic), Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Philippians written? Map3
- 55? "Egyptian Prophet" (allusion to Moses) and 30,000 unarmed Jews doing The Exodus reenactment massacred by Procurator Antonius Felix (JW2.13.5, JA20.8.6, Acts 21:38)
- 58? Paul arrested, accused of being a revolutionary, "ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes", teaching resurrection of the dead, imprisoned in Caesarea (Acts 23-26)
- 59? Paul shipwrecked on Malta, there he was called a god (Acts 28:6)
- 60? Paul in Rome: greeted by many "brothers" (NRSV: "believers"), three days later called together the Jewish leaders, who hadn\'t received any word from Judea about him, but were curious about "this sect", which everywhere is spoken against; he tried to convince them from the "Law and Prophets", with partial success, said the Gentiles would listen and spent two years proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching the "Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 28:15-31); Epistle to Philemon written?
- 62 James the Just stoned to death for law transgression by High Priest Ananus ben Artanus, popular opinion against act results in Ananus being deposed by new procurator Lucceius Albinus (JA20.9.1)
- 63-107? Simeon, 2nd Bishop of Jerusalem, crucified under Trajan
- 63? Glastonbury Abbey founded according to tradition
- 64-68 after July 18 Great Fire of Rome, Nero blamed and persecuted the Christians, earliest mention of Christians, by that name, in Rome, see also Tacitus on Jesus, Paul beheaded? (Col 1:24,Eph 3:13,2 Tim 4:6-8,1Clem5:5-7), Peter crucified upside down? (Jn 21:18,1 Pet 5:13,Tertullian\'s Prescription Against Heretics chapter XXXVI,Eusebius\' Church History Book III chapter I), "...a vast multitude, were convicted, not so much of the crime of incendiarism as of hatred of the human race. And in their deaths they were made the subjects of sport; for they were wrapped in the hides of wild beasts and torn to pieces by dogs, or nailed to crosses, or set on fire, and when day declined, were burned to serve for nocturnal lights." (Annals (Tacitus) XV.44)
Early Christianity
- See also: Early Christianity
- 64/67(?)-76/79(?) Pope Linus succeeds Peter as Episcopus Romanus (Bishop of Rome)
- 65? Q document, a hypothetical Greek text thought by many critical scholars to have been used in writing of Matthew and Luke
- 66-73 Great Jewish Revolt: destruction of Herod\'s Temple, Qumran community destroyed, site of Dead Sea Scrolls found in 1947
- 68-107? Ignatius, third Bishop of Antioch, fed to the lions in the Roman Colosseum, advocated the Bishop (Eph 6:1, Mag 2:1,6:1,7:1,13:2, Tr 3:1, Smy 8:1,9:1), rejected Sabbath on Saturday in favor of The Lord\'s Day (Sunday). (Mag 9.1), rejected Judaizing (Mag 10.3), first recorded use of the term catholic (Smy 8:2).
- 70(+/-10)? Gospel of Mark, written in Rome, by Peter\'s interpreter (1 Peter 5:13), original ending apparently lost, endings added c.400, see Mark 16
- 70? Signs Gospel written, hypothetical Greek text used in Gospel of John to prove Jesus is the Messiah
- 70-100? additional Pauline Epistles
- 70-200? Didache; Other Gospels: Unknown Berlin Gospel, Gospel of Peter, Gospel of Thomas, Oxyrhynchus Gospels, Egerton Gospel, Fayyum Fragment, Dialogue of the Saviour; Jewish Christian Gospels: Gospel of the Ebionites, Gospel of the Hebrews, Gospel of the Nazarenes
- 76/79(?)-88 Pope Anacletus first Greek Pope, who succeeds Linus as Episcopus Romanus (Bishop of Rome)
- 80(+/-20)? Gospel of Matthew, based on Mark and Q, most popular in Early Christianity
- 80(+/-20)? Gospel of Luke, based on Mark and Q, also Acts of the Apostles by same author
- 88-101? Clement, fourth Bishop of Rome, wrote Letter of the Romans to the Corinthians (Apostolic Fathers)
- 90? Council of Jamnia of Judaism (disputed), Domitian applied the Fiscus Iudaicus tax even to those who merely "lived like Jews"
[Jewish Encyclopedia: Fiscus Iudaicus, Suetonius\'s Domitian XII: "Besides other taxes, that on the Jews [A tax of two drachmas a head, imposed by Titus in return for free permission to practice their religion; see Josephus, Bell. Jud. 7.6.6] was levied with the utmost rigor, and those were prosecuted who, without publicly acknowledging that faith, yet lived as Jews, as well as those who concealed their origin and did not pay the tribute levied upon their people [These may have been Christians, whom the Romans commonly assumed were Jews]. I recall being present in my youth when the person of a man ninety years old was examined before the procurator and a very crowded court, to see whether he was circumcised."]
- 90(+/-10)? 1 Peter
- 94 Testimonium Flavianum, disputed section of Jewish Antiquities by Josephus in Aramaic, translated to Koine Greek
- 95(+/-30)? Gospel of John and Epistles of John
- 95(+/-10)? Book of Revelation written, by John (son of Zebedee) and/or a disciple of his
- 100(+/-30)? Epistle of Barnabas (Apostolic Fathers)
- 100(+/-25)? Epistle of James
- 100(+/-10)? Epistle of Jude written, probably by doubting relative of Jesus (Mark 6,3), rejected by some early Christians due to its reference to apocryphal Book of Enoch (v14), Epistle to the Hebrews written
- 100-150? Apocryphon of James, Gospel of Mary Magdalene, Gospel of James, Infancy Gospel of Thomas, Secret Gospel of Mark (Complete Gospels, published by Jesus Seminar)
- 110-130? Papias, bishop of Hierapolis, wrote: "Expositions of the Sayings of the Lord", lost, widely quoted (Apostolic Fathers)
- 110-160? Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, Letter to the Philippians, (Apostolic Fathers)
- 120? Rabbi Tarfon advocated burning the Gospels
[Jewish Encyclopedia: Tarfon: "R. Ṭarfon was extremely bitter against those Jews who had been converted to the new faith; and he swore that he would burn every book of theirs which should fall into his hands (Shab. 116a), his feeling being so intense that he had no scruples against destroying the Gospels, although the name of God occurred frequently in them."]
- 125(+/-5)? 2 Peter written, not accepted into canon until early 400s, drew upon Epistle of Jude, "catholic" epistle, Pastoral Epistles written
- 125? Rylands Library Papyrus P52, oldest extant NT fragment, p.1935, parts of Jn18:31-33,37-38
- 130-250? "Christian Apologists" writings against Roman religion: Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, Apology of Aristides, Theophilus of Antioch, Tatian, Quadratus, Melito of Sardis, Apollinaris Claudius, Marcus Minucius Felix, Arnobius, Epistle to Diognetus
- 132-135 Bar Kokhba\'s revolt: final Jewish revolt, Judea and Jerusalem erased from maps, region renamed Syria Palæstina (the term Palestine was originally coined by Herodotus), Jerusalem renamed Aelia Capitolina
- 142-144? Marcion of Sinope, bishop according to Catholic Encyclopedia, went to Rome, possibly to buy the bishopric of Rome, upon rejection formed his own church in Rome, later called Marcionism, rejected Old Testament, decreed canon of one Gospel, one Apostolicon (10 Letters of Paul) and one Antithesis[1] which contrasted the Old Testament with the New Testament, cited Western text-type, see also Expounding of the Law#Antithesis of the Law
- 150? "Western Revisor" adds/subtracts from original Acts to produce Western version which is 10% larger and found in Papyrus P29,38,48 and Codex Bezae (D)
- 150? Valentinius, most famous Christian Gnostic, according to Tertullian narrowly lost election for Bishop of Rome
- 150(+/-10)? Shepherd of Hermas, written in Rome (Apostolic Fathers)
- 155? Montanus, claimed to be the Paraclete ("Counselor") of John 14:16
- 160? Martyrdom of Polycarp (Apostolic Fathers)
- 170? Dionysius, bishop of Corinth[2] claimed Christians were changing and faking his own letters just as [he knew] they had changed the Gospels (Eusebius\' EH 4 c.23 v.12;Ante-Nicene Fathers,v.8)
- 170? Tatian produces "Diatessaron" (Harmony) by blending 4 "Western" text-type Gospels into 1
- 170? Symmachus the Ebionite, new Greek translation of Hebrew Bible
- 177 Persecution in Lyon
- 180? Hegesippus
- 180-202? Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyon, combated heresies, cited "Western" Gospel text-type (Ante-Nicene Fathers)
- 185-350? Muratorian fragment, 1st extant canon for New Testament after Marcion?, written in Rome by Hippolytus?, excludes Hebrews, James, 1-2 Peter, 3 John; includes Wisdom of Solomon, Apocalypse of Peter
- 186? Saint Apollonius, used the term catholic in reference to 1 John
- 188-231 Saint Demetrius, bishop of Alexandria, condemned Origen
- 189-198 Pope Victor I, 1st Latin Pope, excommunicated Eastern churches that continued to observe Easter on Nisan 14 Quartodeciman
- 196? Polycrates, bishop of Ephesus (Ante-Nicene Fathers)
- 199-217? Caius [3] [4], presbyter of Rome, wrote "Dialogue against Proclus" in Ante-Nicene Fathers, rejected Revelation, said to be by Gnostic Cerinthus, see also Alogi
- 200? Papyrus 46: 2nd Chester Beatty, Alexandrian text-type; Papyrus 66: 2nd Bodmer, John, 1956, "Alexandrian/Western" text-types; Papyrus 75: Bodmer 14-15, Luke & John, earliest extant Luke, ~Vaticanus; 200? Papyrus 32: J. Rylands Library: Titus 1:11-15;2:3-8; Papyrus 64 (+67): Mt3:9,15; 5:20-22,25-28; 26:7-8,10,14-15,22-23,31-33
- 200? Sextus Julius Africanus
- 200? Antipope Natalius[5], rival bishop of Rome, according to Eusebius\'s EH5.28.8-12, quoting the Little Labyrinth of Hippolytus, after being "scourged all night by the holy angels", covered in ash, dressed in sackcloth, and "after some difficulty", tearfully submitted to Pope Zephyrinus
- 217-236 Antipope Hippolytus, Logos sect?
- 218-258 Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, cited "Western" NT text-type, claimed Christians were freely forging his letters to discredit him (Ante-Nicene Fathers)
- 220? Clement of Alexandria, cited "Alexandrian" NT text-type & Secret Gospel of Mark & Gospel of the Egyptians; wrote: "Exhortations to the Greeks"; "Rich Man\'s Salutation"; "To the Newly Baptized"; (Ante-Nicene Fathers)
- 220?-340? Codex Tchacos, manuscript containing a copy of the Gospel of Judas has been written.
- 223? Tertullian, sometimes called "father of the Latin Church" because he coined trinitas, tres Personae, una Substantia, Vetus Testamentum, Novum Testamentum, convert to Montanism, cited "Western" Gospel text-type (Ante-Nicene Fathers)
- 225? Papyrus 45: 1st Chester Beatty Papyri, Gospels (Caesarean text-type, mixed), Acts (Alexandrian text-type)
- 235-238 Maximinus Thrax, emperor of Rome, ends Christian schism in Rome by deporting Pope Pontian and Antipope Hippolytus to Sardinia where they soon die
- 248-264 Dionysius, Patriarch of Alexandria see also List of Patriarchs of Alexandria
- 250? Apostolic Constitutions, Liturgy of St James, Old Roman Symbol, Clementine literature
- 250? Letters of Methodius, Pistis Sophia, Porphyry Tyrius, Commodianus (Ante-Nicene Fathers)
- 250? Papyrus 72: Bodmer 5-11+, pub. 1959, "Alexandrian" text-type: Nativity of Mary; 3Cor; Odes of Solomon 11; Jude 1-25; Melito\'s Homily on Passover; Hymn fragment; Apology of Phileas; Ps33,34; 1Pt1:1-5:14; 2Pt1:1-3:18
- 250? Origen, Jesus and God one substance, adopted at First Council of Nicaea in 325, compiled Hexapla; cites Alexandrian, Caesarean text-type; Eusebius claimed Origen castrated himself for Christ due to Mt19:12 (EH6.8.1-3)
- 251-424? Synods of Carthage
- 251-258 Antipope Novatian, decreed no forgiveness for sins after baptism
- 254-257 Pope Stephen I; major schism over rebaptizing heretics and apostates
- 258 "Valerian\'s Massacre": Roman emperor issued edict to execute immediately all Christian Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons, including Pope Sixtus II, Antipope Novatian, Cyprian of Carthage (CE: Valerian, Schaff\'s History Vol 2 Chap 2 § 22)
- 264-269 Synods of Antioch, condemned Paul of Samosata, Bishop of Antioch, founder of Adoptionism (Jesus was human until Holy Spirit descended at his baptism), also condemned term homoousios adopted at Nicaea
- 265 Gregory Thaumaturgus (Ante-Nicene Fathers)
- 270? Anthony begins monastic movement
- 275? Papyrus 47: 3rd Chester Beatty, ~Sinaiticus, Rev9:10-11:3,5-16:15,17-17:2
- 276 Mani (prophet), crucified, founder of the dualistic Manichaean sect in Persia
- 282-300? Theonas, bishop of Alexandria (Ante-Nicene Fathers)
- 290-345? St Pachomius, founder of Christian monasticism
- 296-304 Pope Marcellinus, offered pagan sacrifices for Diocletian
- 303-312 Diocletian\'s Massacre of Christians, included burning of scriptures (EH 8.2)
- 314 Arsacid Armenia first to adopt Christianity as state religion (mainstream date; traditionally 301)
- 303 Saint George, patron saint of England, and other states
- 304? Victorinus, bishop of Pettau
- 304? Pope Marcellinus, having repented from his previous defection, sufferd martyrdom with several companions.
- 306 Synod of Elvira, prohibited relations between Christians and Jews
- 310 Maxentius deports Pope Eusebius and Heraclius [6] [7] to Sicily (relapse controversy)
- 312 Lucian of Antioch, founded School of Antioch, martyred
- 312 Vision of Constantine: while gazing into the sun he saw a cross with the words by this sign conquer, see also Labarum, he was later called the 13th Apostle and Equal-to-apostles
- 313 Edict of Milan, Constantine and Licinius end persecution, establish toleration of Christianity
- 313? Lateran Palace given to Pope Miltiades for residence by Constantine
- 314 Council of Arles [8], called by Constantine against Donatist schism
- 314-340? Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea, church historian, cited Caesarean text-type, wrote Ecclesiastical History in 325 [9]
- 317? Lactantius
- 321 Constantine decreed Sunday as state "day of rest" (CJ3.12.2), see also Sol Invictus
Era of the Seven Ecumenical Councils
- See also: Ecumenical councils#The first seven Ecumenical Councils and Christendom
Constantine called the First Council of Nicaea in 325 to unify Christology, also called the first great Christian council by Jerome, the first ecumenical, decreed the Original Nicene Creed, but rejected by Nontrinitarians such as Arius, Theonas, Secundus of Ptolemais, Eusebius of Nicomedia, and Theognis of Nicaea who were excommunicated, also addressed Easter controversy and passed 20 Canon laws.
- 325 The Kingdom of Aksum (Modern Ethiopia) declares Christianity as the official state Religion becoming the second country to do so
- 325 Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, ordered by Constantine
- 326, November 18 Pope Sylvester I consecrates the Basilica of St. Peter built by Constantine the Great over the tomb of the Apostle.
- 328-373 Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, first cite of modern 27 book New Testament canon
- 330 Old Church of the Holy Apostles, dedicated by Constantine
- 330, May 11: Constantinople solemly inaugurated. Constantine moves the capital of the Roman Empire to Byzantium, renaming it New Rome
- 331 Constantine commissioned Eusebius to deliver 50 Bibles for the Church of Constantinople
[The Canon Debate, McDonald & Sanders editors, 2002, pages 414-415]
- 335 Council in Jerusalem, reversed Nicaea\'s condemnation of Arius, consecrated Jerusalem Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- 337 Mirian III of Georgia, third to adopt Christianity as state religion
- 337, May 22: Constantine the Great dies. Baptized shortly prior to his death
- 341-379 Shapur II\'s persecution of Persian Christians
- 343? Council of Sardica
- 350? Julius Firmicus Maternus
- 350? Codex Sinaiticus(א), Codex Vaticanus(B): earliest Christian Bibles, Alexandrian text-type
- 350? Ulfilas, Arian, apostle to the Goths, translated Greek NT to Gothic
- 350? Comma Johanneum 1Jn5:7b-8a(KJV)
- 350? Aëtius, Arian, "Syntagmation": "God is agennetos (unbegotten)", founder of Anomoeanism
- 350? School of Nisibis founded
- 353-367 Hilary, bishop of Poitiers
- 355-365 Antipope Felix II, Arian, supported by Constantius II, consecrated by Acacius of Caesarea
- 357 Council of Sirmium, issued so-called Blasphemy of Sirmium or Seventh Arian Confession
[The Seventh Arian (or Second Sirmium) Confession Sirmium (357)], called high point of Arianism
- 359 Council of Rimini, Dated Creed (Acacians)
- 360 Julian the Apostate becomes the last non-Christian Roman Emperor.
- 363-364 Council of Laodicea, canon 29 decreed anathema for Christians who rest on the Sabbath, disputed canon 60 named 26 NT books (excluded Revelation)
- 366-367 Antipope Ursicinus, rival to Pope Damasus I
- 367-403 Epiphanius, bishop of Salamis, wrote Panarion against heresies
- 370-379 Basil the Great, Bishop of Caesarea
- 370? Doctrine of Addai at Edessa proclaims 17 book NT canon using Diatessaron (instead of the 4 Gospels) + Acts + 15 Pauline Epistles (inc. 3 Corinthians) Syriac Orthodox Church
- 372-394 Gregory, Bishop Of Nyssa
- 373 Ephrem the Syrian, cited Western Acts
- 374-397 Ambrose, bishop & governor of Milan
- 375-395 Ausonius, Christian governor of Gaul
- 379-381 Gregory Nazianzus, Bishop of Constantinople
- 380, February 27: Emperor Theodosius issues the edict De Fide Catolica declaring Christianity as the official state religion of the Roman Empire
[Theodosian Code XVI.1.2 Medieval Sourcebook: Banning of Other Religions by Paul Halsall, June 1997, Fordham University, retrieved Septembe 25, 2006; IMPERATORIS THEODOSIANI CODEX Liber Decimus Sextus, Emperor Theodosius, George Mason University retrieved September 25, 2006; Theodosian Code XVI.1.2; Catholic Encyclopedia: Theodosius I: "In February, 380, he and Gratian published the famous edict that all their subjects should profess the faith of the Bishops of Rome and Alexandria (Cod. Theod., XVI, I, 2; Sozomen, VII, 4)."]
- 380, November 24: Emperor Theodosius I is baptised.
- 381 First Council of Constantinople, 2nd ecumenical, Jesus had true human soul, Nicene Creed of 381
- 382 Council of Rome under Pope Damasus I sets the Biblical Canon, listing the inspired books of the Old Testament and the New Testament (disputed)
- 383? Frumentius, Apostle of Ethiopia
- 385 Priscillian, first heretic to be executed?
- 390? Apollinaris, bishop of Laodicea, believed Jesus had human body but divine spirit
- 391: The Theodosian decrees outlaw most pagan rituals still practiced in Rome.
- 396-430 Augustine, bishop of Hippo, considered the founder of formalized Christian theology (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers)
- 397? Saint Ninian evangelizes Picts in Scotland
- 398-404 John Chrysostom Patriarch of Constantinople, see also List of Patriarchs of Constantinople, (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers)
- 400: Jerome\'s Vulgate Latin edition and translation of the Bible is published.
- 400? Ethiopic Bible: in Ge\'ez, 81 books, standard Ethiopian Orthodox Bible
- 400? Peshitta Bible in Syriac (Aramaic), Syr(p), OT + 22 NT, excludes: 2Pt, 2-3Jn, Jude, Rev; standard Syriac Orthodox Church Bible
- 406 Armenian Bible, translated by Saint Mesrob, standard Armenian Orthodox Bible
- 410, 24 August: Sack of Rome by Alaric and the Visigoths.
- 412-444 Cyril, bishop of Alexandria, coined Hypostatic union
- 418-419 Antipope Eulalius rival to Pope Boniface I
- 420 St. Jerome, Vulgate translations, Latin scholar, cited expanded ending in Mark after Mark 16:8, Pericope of the Adultress addition to John (John 7:53-8:11) (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers)
- 423-457 Theodoret, bishop of Cyrrhus, noted Tatian\'s Diatesseron in heavy use, wrote a Church History
- 431 Council of Ephesus, 3rd ecumenical, repudiated Nestorianism, decreed Mary the Mother of God, forbid any changes to Nicene Creed of 381, rejected by Assyrian Church of the East
- 432 St Patrick begins mission in Ireland. Almost the entire nation is Christian by the time of his death in a conversion that is both incredibly successful and largely bloodless.
- 440-461 Pope Leo the Great, sometimes considered the first pope, stopped Attila the Hun at Rome, issued Tome in support of Hypostatic Union, approved Council of Chalcedon but rejected canons in 453
- 447 Council of Toledo added Filioque clause to Nicene Creed of 381
- 449 Second Council of Ephesus, Monophysite: Jesus was divine but not human
- 450? Codex Alexandrinus(A): Alexandrian text-type; Codex Bezae(D): Greek/Latin Gospels + Acts; Codex Washingtonianus(W): Greek Gospels; both of Western text-type
- 450? std. Aramaic Targums, Old Testament in Aramaic
- 450? Socrates Scholasticus Church History of 305-438; Sozomen Church History of 323-425
- 451 Council of Chalcedon, 4th ecumenical, declared Jesus is a Hypostatic Union: both human and divine in one, Chalcedonian Creed, rejected by Oriental Orthodoxy
- 455: Sack of Rome by the Vandals. The spoils of the Temple of Jerusalem previously taken by Titus are allegedly among the treasures taken to Carthage.
- 456? Eutyches of Constantinople, Monophysite
- 465? Prosper of Aquitaine
- 476, September 4 Emperor Romulus Augustus is deposed in Rome, marked by many as the fall of the Western Roman Empire
- 484-519 Acacian Schism, over Henoticon divides Eastern (Greek) and Western (Latin) churches
- 491 Armenian Orthodox split from East (Greek) and West (Latin) churches
- 495 May13 Vicar of Christ decreed a title of Bishop of Rome by Pope Gelasius I
- 496 Clovis I, King of the Franks, baptized
- 498-499,501-506 Antipope Laurentius, rival of Pope Symmachus, Laurentian schism
- 500? Incense introduced in Christian church service, first plans of Vatican
- 524 Boethius, Roman Christian philosopher, wrote: "Theological Tractates", Consolation of Philosophy; (Loeb Classics) (Latin)
- 525 Dionysius Exiguus defines Christian calendar (A.D.)
- 527 Fabius Planciades Fulgentius
- 530 Antipope Dioscorus, possibly a legitimate Pope
- 530 Rule of St Benedict, St. Benedict founds the Benedictines
- 535-536 Unusual climate changes recorded
- 537-555 Pope Vigilius, involved in death of Pope Silverius, conspired with Justinian and Theodora, on April 11, 548 issued Judicatum supporting Justinian\'s anti-Hypostatic Union, excommunicated by bishops of Carthage in 550
- 541-542 Plague of Justinian
- 543 Justinian condemns Origen, disastrous earthquakes hit the world
- 544 Justinian condemns the Three Chapters of Theodore of Mopsuestia (d.428) and other writings of Hypostatic Union Christology of Council of Chalcedon
- 550 St. David converts Wales, crucifix introduced
- 553 Second Council of Constantinople, 5th ecumenical, called by Justinian
- 556-561 Pope Pelagius I, selected by Justinian, endorsed Judicatum
- 563 Columba goes to Scotland to evangelize Picts, establishes monastery at Iona
- 567 Cassiodorus
- 589 Third Council of Toledo, Reccared and the Visigoths convert from Arianism to Catholicism
- 590-604 Pope Gregory the Great, whom many consider the greatest pope ever, reforms church structure and administration and establishes Gregorian Chant, Seven deadly sins ...
- 591-628 Theodelinda, Queen of the Lombards, began gradual conversion from Arianism to Catholicism
- 596 St. Augustine of Canterbury sent by Pope Gregory to evangelise the Jutes
- 600? Evagrius Scholasticus, Church History of AD431-594 [10]
- 604 St Paul\'s Cathedral in London
- 607 Pope Boniface III, first Bishop of Rome to be called "Pope" and "Universal Bishop" by decree of Emperor Phocas
- 609 Pantheon, Rome renamed Church of Santa Maria Rotonda
- 612? Bobbio monastery in northern Italy
- 613 Abbey of St. Gall in Switzerland
- 614 Khosrau II of Persia conquered Damascus, Jerusalem, took Holy Cross of Christ
- 624 Battle of Badr, considered beginning of Islamic Empire
- 625 Paulinus of York comes to convert Northumbria
- 628 Babai the Great, pillar of Assyrian Church of the East, died
- 628-629 Battle of Mut\'ah, Heraclius recovered Cross of Christ and Jerusalem from Islam till 638
- 632 Eorpwald of East Anglia baptized under influence of Edwin of Northumbria
- 634-644 Umar, 2nd Sunni Islam Caliph, capital at Damascus, conquered Syria in 635, defeated Heraclius at Battle of Yarmuk in 636, conquered Egypt and Armenia in 639, Persia in 642
- 635 Cynegils of Wessex baptized by Bishop Birinus
- 640 Library of Alexandria, "The Center of Western Culture," with 300,000 ancient papyrus scrolls, is completely destroyed.
- 664 Synod of Whitby unites Celtic Christianity of British Isles with Roman Catholicism
- 680-681 Third Council of Constantinople, 6th ecumenical, against Monothelites, condemned Pope Honorius I, Patriarch Sergius I of Constantinople, Heraclius\' Ecthesis
- 681-686 Wilfrid converts Sussex
- 687-691 Dome of the Rock built
- 690? Old English Bible translations
- 692 Orthodox Quinisext Council, convoked by Justinian II, approved Canons of the Apostles of Apostolic Constitutions, Clerical celibacy, rejected by Pope Constantine
- 698 Fall of Carthage
- 711-718 Umayyad conquest of Hispania
- 717-718 Second Arab siege of Constantinople
- 718-1492 Reconquista, Iberian Peninsula retaken by Christendom
- 718 Saint Boniface, an Englishman, given commission by Pope Gregory II to evangelize the Germans
- 720? Disentis Abbey of Switzerland
- 730-787 First Iconoclasm, Byzantine Emperor Leo III bans Christian icons, Pope Gregory II excommunicates him
- 731 English Church History written by Bede
- 750? Tower added to St Peter\'s Basilica at the front of the atrium
- 752? Donation of Constantine, granted Western Roman Empire to the Pope, later proved a forgery
- 756 Donation of Pepin recognizes Papal States
- 781 Nestorian Stele, Daqin Pagoda, Jesus Sutras, Christianity in China
- 787 Second Council of Nicaea, 7th ecumenical, ends first Iconoclasm
- 793 Sacking of the monastery of Lindisfarne marks the beginning of Viking raids on Christendom.
Middle Ages
- See also: Middle Ages
- 800 King Charlemagne of the Franks is crowned first Holy Roman Emperor of the West by Pope Leo III.
- 849-865 Ansgar, Archbishop of Bremen, "Apostle of the North", began evangelisation of North Germany, Denmark, Sweden
- 855 Antipope Anastasius, Louis II, Holy Roman Emperor appointed him over Pope Benedict III but popular pressure caused withdrawal
- 863 Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius sent by the Patriarch of Constantinople to evangelise the Slavic peoples. They translate the Bible into Slavonic.
- 869-870 Catholic Fourth Council of Constantinople, condemned Patriarch Photius, rejected by Orthodox
- 879-880 Orthodox Fourth Council of Constantinople, restored Photius, condemned Pope Nicholas I and Filioque, rejected by Catholics
- 897,January Cadaver Synod, Pope Stephen VI conducts trial against dead Pope Formosus, public uprising against Stephen led to his imprisonment and strangulation
- 909 Abbey of Cluny, Benedictine monastery in France
- 948? Einsiedeln Abbey of Switzerland
- 966 Mieszko I duke of Poland baptised, Poland becomes a Christian country.
- 984 Antipope Boniface VII, murdered Pope John XIV, alleged to have murdered Pope Benedict VI in 974
- 988 Baptism of Kievan Rus\'
- 997-998 Antipope John XVI, deposed by Pope Gregory V and his cousin Holy Roman Emperor Otto III
- 999 Much speculation and fear regarding the approach of the millennium
- 1001 Byzantine emperor Basil II and Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah execute a treaty guaranteeing the protection of Christian pilgrimage routes in the Middle East
- 1004-1014 Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah turned violently against his Christian mother and uncles (two of whom were Patriarchs). Persecutes Christians and has over thirty thousand Christian churches destroyed in the Middle East
- 1009 Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah destroys the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built over the tomb of Jesus in Jeruselem
- 1012 Antipope Gregory VI, removed by Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor
- 1030 Battle of Stiklestad, considered victory of Christianity over Norwegian Paganism
- 1045 Sigfrid of Sweden, Benedictine evangelist
- 1046 Council of Sutri, Pope Sylvester III exiled, Pope Gregory VI admitted to buying the papacy and resigned, Pope Benedict IX resigned, council appointed Pope Clement II
- 1054 East-West Schism split between Eastern (Orthodox Christianity) and Western (Roman Catholic) churches formalized
- 1058-1059 Antipope Benedict X, defeated in war with Pope Nicholas II and Normans
- 1061-1064 Antipope Honorius II rival of Pope Alexander II
- 1065 Westminster Abbey consecrated
- 1073-1085 Pope Gregory VII, Investiture Controversy with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor, proponent of Clerical celibacy, opponent of simony, concubinage, Antipope Clement III
- 1079 Stanislaus of Szczepanów, patron saint of Poland
- 1080 Hospital of Saint John the Baptist founded in Jeruselem by merchants from Amalfi and Salerno - serves as the foundation for the Knights Hospitaller
- 1082 Engelberg Abbey of Switzerland
- 1093-1109 Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, wrote Cur Deus Homo (Why God Became Man), a landmark exploration of the Atonement
- 1095-1291 10 Crusades, first called by Pope Urban II at Council of Clermont against Islamic empire to reconquer the Holy Land for Christendom
- 1098 Foundation of the reforming monastery of
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