Methods for Dating the Books of the Bible

Before any prophecy can be examined, one basic question must be answered: When was it written?

If the prophecies were written before the dates of fulfillment, then we can know they were genuine prophecies, not compositions written after the fact.

If a prophecy is fulfilled within the same book, or if the date of the book’s composition is after the fulfillment, then it can be claimed (though not proven) that the prophecy was written after the fact and was therefore not legitimate.

Since God rests His reputation on the fulfillment of prophecy, it is important that we examine the subject carefully. Does the Bible contain prophecies that were written before their fulfillment, are specific enough not to be coincidence, and are exact? Yes, it does. We just need to know when it was written.

The books of the Bible do not provide publication dates, but they contain a large amount of historical information. This information gives us timelines that are also preserved in non-biblical records. In many cases, the dating of a book does not rely only on the text itself but on external history.

Secondary Document Confirmation

Many books of the Bible refer to people, places, and events mentioned in other books. By following these references, we can see which books were likely written first, which came next, and so on.

Mentions of kings, rulers, battles, and empires are also recorded in Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian records, which have precise dates. Thus, the dates do not rely solely on the Bible’s account; they are cross-checked against outside documentation as well.

By matching the biblical references with external records, we can determine a narrow window of years for when a text was written.

It’s also important to remember that the Bible is a collection of many books written over a long period by different people in different places. Because of that, it can be studied like any other historical collection—each book can be used to verify the others.

Think about Julius Caesar. We know about him from multiple historical documents; one record confirms another, helping historians build a clear picture of what actually happened. Their being in a single collection does not invalidate them as confirmations of one another. The Bible works in the same way.

Each book of the Bible is its own historical document. They generally:

• agree with one another despite being written by different authors;
• have different dates of composition; and
• can be cross-checked with outside sources from the same period.

Because of this, the Bible provides a mountain of independent confirmations, making it possible to build an accurate picture of when the books were written—just as we do with any other historical collection of documents.

Archaeology

Archaeological findings rarely give the exact year a book was written, but they do help confirm the existence of places, people, and events mentioned in the text. Layers of destruction, rebuilt cities, and inscriptions help corroborate the historical accuracy of the dates.

Examples of archaeological finds that help us determine the original writing dates of biblical books include:

The Dead Sea Scrolls — Copies of biblical texts dated as early as 250 BCE, proving that these books existed before that time and helping us date them at least this far back.

The Cyrus Cylinder (discovered in Babylon, 1879) — Records King Cyrus’s policy of allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return home. It supports the historical background of the decree mentioned in Ezra 1 and a 6th-century BCE context.

The Lachish Letters (Lachish, Israel; excavated 1935–1938) — Ostraca (inscribed pottery shards) describing the Babylonian siege of Judah. These support the historical setting of Jeremiah and date it to the late 7th–early 6th century BCE.

Babylonian Chronicles (c. 6th century BCE) — Babylonian records confirm the capture of Jerusalem, the exile of Judah, and the reigns of Babylonian kings, providing an external timeline consistent with events described in Daniel and Jeremiah.

These are only a few examples of the many archaeological discoveries that help us date the books of the Bible.

In addition to archaeology, many other methods—linguistic analysis, regnal-year calculations, internal chronology, and so on—provide reasonable estimates for when books were written. So the date of writing is never just guesswork.

Why Dates Are Debated

Even though we have a great deal of evidence for dating the Bible’s books, some dates are still debated. Scholars don’t always agree—though that’s hardly surprising; people will always find something to argue over.

Most objections, however, are based more on assumptions than on hard evidence. Take the book of Daniel, for example: its date is often debated not because of historical evidence, but because the prophecies are so accurate that some assume it must have been written after the events occurred.

These objections usually stem from skepticism. Prophecy is meant to be accurate before it happens—that’s the point. But many scholars, even some who believe in God, approach the Bible as if it were merely another academic text rather than the Word of God, and so they assume a book can’t have been written before the events it predicts.

Take Genesis through Deuteronomy, for example:

The traditional dating of these books places their composition in the 15th and 14th centuries BC. I believe these dates to be accurate. I am aware, however, that some claim they were written much later, even as late as the reign of Solomon.

But, as is often the case, later dates are based on skepticism rather than necessity. These books were already foundational to Israel’s identity long before any kings began to rule. The patriarchs, genealogies, and covenant promises they record were treated as authoritative history. A later origin cannot explain how Israel could have been guided for centuries by books that supposedly did not yet exist.

The books also demonstrate familiarity with ancient Near Eastern customs, geography, and social practices that fit an early period. Explaining this level of accuracy from a much later time requires extensive reliance on older sources—essentially conceding the existence of early written material anyway.

The primary reason later dates are suggested is the presence of prophetic elements that unfold across Israel’s history. Late dating often assumes these prophecies were written after the events occurred, not because the text demands it, but because prophecy itself is ruled out in advance. Once that assumption is removed, there is no compelling reason to push the dates forward.

This pattern appears repeatedly in the dating of biblical books. There are often two competing views: the traditional view and the modern critical view. In my judgment, the traditional view most accurately reflects the evidence, while the modern critical view tends to push dates forward based on assumptions that the text is not divinely inspired or has been substantially altered.

For this reason, I will be using the traditional dates of authorship when discussing the books in this unit going forward.

Undisputed Dates

Some books are generally undisputed because they contain explicit historical markers—reigns of kings, Persian decrees, or Roman officials. Dating relies on both biblical references and extrabiblical sources (Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, or Roman records).

So let’s begin by listing the dates of writing for certain books we will use in this unit that are not really contested, moderately contested, and heavily contested. These are specific books relevant to the study of prophecy, not a list of dates for every book in the Bible.

Undisputed Books of the Bible (Relevant for Prophecy Study)

Amos — c. 760–755 BC

Mentions the reigns of Uzziah (Judah) and Jeroboam II (Israel); historical events are confirmed by Assyrian records.

Haggai — 520 BC

Explicitly dated to the second year of King Darius of Persia; corresponds with Persian records and the temple rebuilding.

Zechariah — c. 520–518 BC

References Darius; corroborated by post-exilic temple reconstruction events.

Ezra — c. 458 BC

Mentions the return under Artaxerxes I and Persian decrees; aligns with Persian historical records.

Nehemiah — c. 445–432 BC

Nehemiah’s governorship under Artaxerxes I; internal and external records confirm the dating.

1 Thessalonians — AD 50–51

Written from Corinth during Paul’s stay when Gallio was proconsul; external Roman records confirm the timeframe.

1 Corinthians — AD 53–54

Written from Ephesus; internal chronology aligns with Paul’s travels in Acts.

2 Corinthians — AD 55–56

A follow-up to 1 Corinthians; timing is corroborated by Paul’s missionary journeys.

Luke — early AD 60s

Written before AD 70 (the temple’s destruction is not mentioned); internal references place it in the early church period.

Acts — early AD 60s

A continuation of Luke; the narrative ends before Paul’s death and before the Jerusalem temple’s destruction.

Moderately Debated Dates (Relevant for Prophecy Study)

These books have some debate, but the differences are generally within a few decades. The disputes do not significantly affect the prophetic timeline.

Isaiah — c. 740–700 BC

References kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Debate centers mostly on chapters 40–66; traditional dating places the whole book in Isaiah’s lifetime.

Hosea — c. 755–715 BC

Mentions Jeroboam II (Israel) and Uzziah (Judah). Minor debate exists about the exact end of his ministry.

Micah — c. 740–700 BC

Mentions Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah; debate is minimal and mostly concerns the duration of his ministry.

Joel — c. 9th–6th century BC

No kings are listed; scholars debate which invasion is referenced. Many place it in the 8th–7th centuries BC.

Obadiah — c. 586–550 BC

References the fall of Jerusalem; some argue for a post-exilic composition, but the range is fairly narrow.

Nahum — c. 663–612 BC

Prophecies against Nineveh; debate focuses on which Assyrian king’s reign it targets.

Habakkuk — c. 612–589 BC

References the rise of Babylon and the fall of Assyria; there is minor debate about the precise events referenced.

Zephaniah — c. 640–609 BC

Mentions Josiah’s reign; an early 7th-century date is widely accepted.

Malachi — c. 450–430 BC

Likely post-exilic; debate centers on whether it was written before or after Nehemiah’s reforms.

Heavily Debated Dates (Relevant for Prophecy Study)

These books are the most heavily debated—often because they contain prophetic material so detailed that some assume a later composition.

Daniel — c. 605–536 BC vs. c. 165 BC

c. 605–536 BC: Dated during the Babylonian exile, based on detailed references to Babylonian and Persian kings.

c. 165 BC: A 2nd-century BC dating is argued by some scholars because of the highly accurate predictive prophecies; the debate often rests on assumptions about predictive prophecy.

Revelation — AD 65–68 (early) vs. AD 95–96 (late)

Debate centers on whether it was written under Nero or Domitian. Early church testimony supports an early date; stylistic and contextual arguments favor a later date.

Why These Books

In short, each book listed either records prophecy that can be verified against history, points to future events, or connects with broader Messianic fulfillment—making them essential for a study of prophecy.

The undisputed books are included in the list because they contain clear historical markers and prophecies tied to events that occurred afterward.

Moderately debated books are included in the list because the disputes do not significantly affect the timing of prophecy relative to fulfillment.

Heavily debated books are included in the list because they contain major predictive prophecies that reveal God’s long-term plan, even if scholars dispute their dates.

The purpose of giving these dates up front is to show how God revealed Himself as the One who knows the future. As we go through this unit, we will see prophecy given that is fulfilled centuries later. This is one thing that sets the Bible apart from other religions.

Before we continue, I want to address the date of the book of Daniel specifically. The next study will do that; then we can begin building the timeline of prophecy from beginning to end.

Continue To Unit 7:4 – Date of Writing of the Book of Daniel OR

Return To Christianity 101 Unit 7 – The Latter Days – A Detailed Look