Bible reference
When Was the Bible Written?
The Bible wasn't written at one point in time — it was composed over roughly 1,500 years, making it one of the longest writing projects in human history by a wide margin.
Old Testament: roughly 1400–400 BC
Traditional dating places the earliest material (associated with Moses) around 1400–1200 BC, with the bulk of the Old Testament written and compiled between 1000 and 400 BC — spanning the era of the united kingdom under David and Solomon, through the exile in Babylon, and into the post-exilic period.
New Testament: roughly 50–100 AD
The New Testament was written in a much tighter window. Paul's letters, generally considered the earliest New Testament writings, date to around 50–60 AD — within about 20–30 years of Jesus's crucifixion. The Gospels followed, with most scholars dating them between 65 and 100 AD, and Revelation, the final book, typically dated to the 90s AD.
A simple timeline
| Period | Approximate dates | What was written |
|---|---|---|
| Patriarchal / Mosaic era | 1400–1200 BC | Early Torah material |
| United & divided kingdom | 1000–600 BC | Historical books, many Psalms, early prophets |
| Exile & return | 600–400 BC | Later prophets, Ezra, Nehemiah |
| Second Temple period | 400 BC – 30 AD | Final Old Testament books |
| Apostolic era | 50–100 AD | All of the New Testament |
Why the dating isn't exact
Ancient texts rarely come with a publication date attached. Scholars date books using internal evidence (references to known historical events or figures), linguistic analysis, and manuscript evidence, which is why you'll see date ranges rather than precise years for most books.
Curious who actually put pen to parchment? See who wrote the Bible or the full books of the Bible in order.
Frequently asked questions
How long did it take to write the Bible?
Roughly 1,500 years. Traditional dating places the earliest Old Testament material around 1400 BC and the last New Testament book (Revelation) in the 90s AD.
When was the Old Testament written?
Approximately 1400–400 BC. The earliest material is associated with Moses (1400–1200 BC), with the bulk written and compiled between 1000 and 400 BC — through the united kingdom, the Babylonian exile, and the post-exilic return.
When was the New Testament written?
Roughly 50–100 AD. Paul's letters are generally considered the earliest (50–60 AD), the Gospels followed between 65 and 100 AD, and Revelation is typically dated to the 90s AD.
Why aren't the dates exact?
Ancient texts don't carry publication dates. Scholars date books using internal evidence (references to known events or figures), linguistic analysis, and manuscript evidence — which produces ranges rather than precise years.
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