THE TIMES OF JESUS CHRIST
Chronology: There are many Bible chronologies. As they differ widely, both in their dates and approach to history, they must be mostly wrong. The chronology used in this article is not based on an a priori scheme (millennial or otherwise) nor on any plan (such as the Great Pyramid). It combines and reconciles scripture, interpreted literally, with widely accepted conclusions of mainstream historical scholarship. The separate parts are all well known in their respective fields. However, the chronology which results from their combination used here is probably unique. The dates in this article rest on four main assumptions.
First, that the dates and periods given in the King James Authorised Translation of the Bible in Genesis and Exodus are correct, so that the Flood occurred in the 1656th year, and the Exodus in the 2513th year of the generations of Adam. For a full treatment of this period see: Martin Anstey – ‘The Romance of Bible Chronology’– Marshall Brothers, London, (1913).
Second, that the Bible is correct when it assert that the foundation of Solomon’s Temple was laid in the 480th year after the Exodus, in the fourth year of King Solomon’s reign over the united kingdom of Judah and Israel (I Kings 6:1).
Third, that the principles and dates for the kings of Israel and Judah given by Prof. Theile*, based on an astronomically fixed date of 853 B.C. for the battle of Qarqar, which reconcile the Old Testament scriptural data with the widely accepted historical dates, are substantially correct (i.e. to within one year) throughout the period 930-586 B.C., so that Solomon’s fourth year (in his forty year reign) was 966/65 B.C. (*Edwin R. Theile –‘The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings’ (Brit Edition), The Paternoster Press, Exeter, 1965).
Fourth, that the birth of Jesus was in the early Autumn 4 B.C., as widely accepted: that His public ministry lasted about three and a half years (as outlined in ‘The Harmony of the Gospels, after Archbishop Newcome’) starting in Autumn of A.D.26; and that His crucifixion was at Passover in April A.D.30, as argued recently by Schaefer. (Clive Ruggles –‘The Moon and the Crucifixion Nature’– London 1990).
NB. The dates used in this article (and the assumptions underpinning the chronology from which they come) are mostly identical with those given by the present author in: Michael D. Bennett – ‘The Principles of Prophecy’, Vol.II, ACTS, Cambridge, 1969.
