New Testament History

Death

Resurrection

In addition to the canonical gospels, see:
Gospel of Peter (2nd century) [At Theological Network] A somewhat expanded account, seen by some scholars (Crossan) as containing stories unknown to the canonical writers. It is an ealry witness to the intense interest in Jesus' resurrection among 2nd cent. Egyptian Christians.

Historical Evidence
The Pilate Inscription [At St Olaf] An inscription found in Caesarea which first proved the existence of Pilate.
Josephus (37- after 93 CE): Description of Jesus [Antiquities of the Jews 18:3][At PBS] A much debated text. Many think it is all, or in parts, an interpolation.
Josephus (37- after 93 CE): Description of Jesus Antiquities of the Jews 18:3 [At UPenn] With Greek and Arabic versions.
The Gospel Truth, TIME Magazine, April 8, 1996 Volume 147, No. 15 [At Millersville] On the Jesus Seminar and its critics.
Birger A. Pearson: The Gospel According to the Jesus Seminar [At UCSB]
Ancient Jewish Accounts of Jesus [At UPenn] Texts given in full.

Early Church: First Century
Josephus, a Jew writing in Greek, and Tacitus, Suetonius, and Pliny the Younger, are the earliest non-Biblical witnesses to the existence of Christianity. The Didache seems to be a source independent to some degree of the Biblical texts.

The Earliest Christians
Josephus (37- after 93 CE): Description of Jesus [Antiquities of the Jews 18:3][At PBS]. [aka Testimonium Flavianum]
The Flavius Josephus Page [At AOL]
Persecution of the Christians Tacitus (c.55 -117 CE), Suetonius (c.69-after 122 CE), and Pliny the Younger (61/62-113 CE): [At CSUN]
Nero's Persecution of the Christians Tacitus (c.55 -117 CE): Annals 15:47 [At WSU]
Suetonius (c.69-after 122 CE): Life of Claudius 25, Life of Nero 16
The Didache (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles) 2nd Cent CE [At American]
The Oxyrhynchus Hymn (2nd Cent CE) in AU Format [At Ariadne] The oldest surviving piece of Christian Music.It will take some time to download.
Ecclesiastical History Eusebius (c.260-340 CE): [At CSUN]
On Jesus Family, the leadership of James, and the New Testament. The tradional historian of the Church, but writing very late.
The First Christians [At PBS Jesus to Christ Site]
Review of John Dominic Crossan The Birth of Christianity (1998) [At Globe and Mail]

Paul of Tarsus (d.c.65 CE) and the Pauline Churches
Missionary Activity: Acts of the Apostles
Athens, Acts 17:16-34: Acts 17, [At Northpark]
Corinth, Acts 18:1-11

Undisputed Letters by Critics: I Thessalonians, Galatians, I and II Corinthians, Romans, Philippians, and Philemon
Letters in Question By Critics: Colossians and II Thessalonians

333 B.C.E.	Conquest of east by Alexander the Great (336--323)
323	Ptolemy I in Egypt 323-200 Ptolemies rule Palestine Seleucus I in Syria (312)	1st Punic War (264-41) 2nd Punic War (219-01)
200-142	Seleucids rule Palestine Ben Sirach Antiochus IV (175-164) 167 Desecration of Temple	Rome defeats Macedonia (168)
167 164	Maccabean Revolt Rededication of Temple (Hanukkah)
152-14	Hasmonean Period Jonathan High Priest (154) Essene Separation (?) (146) Dead Sea Scrolls (thru 1st CE) Jubilees Simon King and High Priest (142-135) John Hyrcanus (134-105)	Rome sacks Corinth (146) Death of T. Graechus (132)
103-76	Alexander Jannaeus Tensions with Pharisees 1 and 2 Maccabees
76-67 67-40	Alexandra Salome Hyrcanus, Aristobulus [Antipater]
63	Pompey in Near East - end of Seleucids Psalms of Solomon Cicero - Roman Consul and Orator	First Triumvirate in Rome (Pompey, Caesar, Crassus) 58-50 Caesar in Gaul 49 Caesar crosses the Rubicon: Roman Civil War 48 Battle of Pharsalus: Julius Caesar Dictator 44 Death J. Caesar Second Triumvirate (Octavian, Antony, Lepidus)
37	Herod the Great (37 - 4 B.C.E.)	31 Battle of Actium: Antony & Cleopatra - End of Ptolemies in Egypt
27	Vergil Ovid Horace	Roman Principate Octavian/Augustus Caesar (27 B.C.E. - 14 C.E.)
c. 6 B.C.E. 4 B.C.E.	*Birth of Jesus* (? ) Herod Antipas tetrarch of Galilee & Perea 4 B.C.E. - 39 C.E. Archelaus, Ethnarch of Judaea (4 B.C.E.-6 C.E.) Philip tetrarch (4 B.C.E. - 34 C.E.) "Parables of Enoch" Wisdom of Solomon Philo of Alexandria (2O B.C.E.-4O C.E.)	Links to other sites for Roman Emperors: Chronological Listing of Roman Emperors De Imperatoribus Romanis (with images) A Visual Compendium of Roman Emperors (with images)
14 C.E. 26 34	P. Pilate Procurator of Judea (26-36 ) *Death of Jesus* (c. 30 C.E.? ) Conversion of Paul	Tiberius Caesar (14-37 C.E.)
37	Paul's escape from Damascus The statue of Gaius c. 39-40	Gaius Caligula (37-41)
41 48 49-51	1 Thessalonians (?) Apostolic Council (Acts 15)	Claudius Caesar (41-54) Rome invades Britain (43) Seneca becomes tutor of Nero (49)
52 52-56 c. 56-59/60	M. Antoinius Felix Procurator of Palestine (52-60) Paul's "Second and Third Journeys" 1 Corinthians letters composing 2 Corinthians Philippians (3 letters) Philemon, Galatians Romans Paul under Arrest in Caesarea	Claudius expels Jews from Rome c. 54 Nero (54-68)
60 64	Porcius Festus Procurator of Palestine (60-62) Paul in Rome Paul executed (?) Gospel of Mark (?)	64 Fire in Rome - Nero blames Christians
66 68	66-73 Jewish Revolt Titus leads campaign in Palestine	68-69: Year of Three Emperors: Galba, Otho, Vitellius
69 70 73	Fall of Jerusalem Fall of Masada - end of First Jewish Revolt Josephus, *Jewish War* 1-2 Timothy, Titus	Vespasian (69-79) Eruption of Vesuvius (70)
79 81	Matthew, Hebrews James, 1 Peter, Gospel of Thomas (?) Luke-Acts	Titus (79-81) Domitian (81-96)
90 96 98	"Council" of Javneh (Jamnia) Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, Life, Against Apion John, 1-3 John 1, 2 Timothy, Titus, Jude, 2 Peter, Revelation (?) 1 Clement Jewish Apocalypses: 4 Ezra, 2 Baruch	Nerva (96-98) Trajan (98-117)
		Pliny the Younger corresponds with Trajan about Christians in Bithynia (c. 112) death of Plutarch (c. 120)
132-135	Second Jewish Revolt (Bar Kokhba)