New Testament Chronology from 62- 110

62 Paul was held under house arrest in Rome, but then was allowed to resume his travels.

64 Roman emperor Nero (37 - 68) accused the Christians of having started the fire which destroyed large sections of Rome, initiating widespread persecution.

65 Famous and influential Roman philosopher Seneca committed suicide on orders from Emperor Nero.

c. 65 Q was possibly written, (German: Quelle, meaning "source") a hypothetical Greek text used in writing of Matthew and Luke.

66 Jews revolted against Roman government (through 70). c. 67 Nero ordered the execution of both Peter and Paul.

68 Qumran (Essenes?) community was destroyed by Rome. The site of their "Dead Sea Scrolls" would be found in 1949.

69 Vespian, a Roman general, attacked to Rome in order to quell a Jewish uprising. A coup by other generals causes him to be made emperor.

70 Titus, son of Roman emperor Vespasian, captured and destroyed Jerusalem and suppressed a Jewish revolt, destroying the Temple in the process. c.

70 Mark, earliest known gospel, was probably composed.

73 Masada, last remaining stronghold of Jewish Zealots, fell to Roman assault.

79 Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying the cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae.

c. 85 - 95 Gospel of Luke and Book of Acts were probably composed.

c. 90 Old Testament books, called "The Writings," were established as part of Christian canon: Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, and Chronicles.

c. 95 Book of Revelations was probably composed.

c. 95 Clement of Rome (c. 30 - 100), one of the earliest popes, wrote a letter arguing that church leaders possess a divine authority inherited from Christ and his apostles.

c. 95- 105 Composition of the "Pastoral Epistles," falsely attributed to Paul: Hebrews, I and II Timothy, Titus, and I Peter.

c. 80 - 100 Gospel of Matthew was probably composed. 98 - 116 Trajan was emperor of Rome. Around this time the Roman empire reached maximum size.

c. 100 Christian churches were established in Greece, North Africa, Italy, and Asia Minor.

c. 100 - 125 Gospel of John was probably composed. 100 - 165 St. Justin Martyr lived and was one of the first Christian apologists to offer a defense of Christianity.

100 The Romans built the first London Bridge across the Thames.

122 Roman emperor Hadrian visited Britain and began construction of a wall and fortifications between northern England and Scotland. 132 Shimeon Bar-Kokhba and Rabbi Akiba Ben-Joseph led Jews in a revolt against Roman rule. They captured Jerusalem and created an independent state of Israel. 135 Julius Severus, formerly governor of Britain, crushed a revolt in Palestine. Final Diaspora (dispersion) of the Jews occurs.

140 Shepherd of Hermas was written, describing a highly developed system of bishops, deacons, and priests.

c. 144 Marcion founded an influential Christian sect which argued for the existence of two gods (one good, one evil) and for the rejection of the Old Testament.