The Arc of Sacred History

The origin of the cosmos, humanity, and the entrance of sin into the world. Genesis 1–11 covers the creation of all things, the fall of Adam and Eve, the spread of sin, the Flood, and the Tower of Babel.

God calls Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldeans and establishes His covenant with him and his descendants. The stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph form the foundation of the Hebrew people.

God delivers Israel from 400 years of slavery in Egypt through Moses. The Ten Plagues, the Passover, the crossing of the Red Sea, and forty years of wilderness formation define this era.

Under Joshua, Israel enters and conquers Canaan. The period of the Judges follows — a cycle of apostasy, oppression, repentance, and deliverance that spans 350 years.

Israel demands a king. Saul, David, and Solomon rule the united monarchy. After Solomon, the kingdom splits into Israel (north) and Judah (south). Both eventually fall to foreign empires.

Judah is carried into Babylonian exile. The prophets speak of judgment and future restoration. Cyrus the Great of Persia decrees the return of the exiles, and the Temple is rebuilt.

Four hundred years of silence between the Old and New Testaments. Alexander the Great spreads Greek culture across the Near East. The Maccabean revolt, the rise of Rome, and the Herodian dynasty set the stage for the coming of Christ.

The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The birth of the Church at Pentecost. The missionary journeys of Paul. The writing of the New Testament epistles and the Revelation of John.