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The whole Bible, in one scroll.

From “In the beginning” to the first churches, and how 73 books ended up between two covers. Tap an era or just keep scrolling. (Ancient dates are approximate.)

  1. Raphael, The Transfiguration: Christ raised in light above the apostles

    In the beginning

    Creation

    Before anything, God. Everything else exists because He wanted it to. Genesis 1:1 CCC 279

  2. c. 1800 BC

    Abraham says yes

    God calls one man out of his homeland and promises that through him all nations will be blessed. Genesis 12:1-3 CCC 59

  3. c. 1250 BC

    Moses and the Exodus

    God frees Israel from slavery in Egypt, then gives the Law at Sinai so they can live free. CCC 62 Exodus 20:2

  4. c. 1000 BC

    David’s kingdom

    Israel gets a king, a capital and a promise. The Law was meant to shape the whole people’s heart. CCC 709

  5. c. 800 to 500 BC

    The prophets

    Amos, Isaiah, Jeremiah and the rest keep calling Israel home, and keep pointing to a new covenant still to come. CCC 64

  6. 587 BC

    Exile in Babylon

    Jerusalem falls. It looks like the end of the promise. It isn’t. CCC 710

  7. c. 167 BC

    The Maccabees

    A mother watches her sons die rather than betray God, and says out loud that God made all things out of nothing. CCC 297

  8. Murillo, The Good Shepherd: the child Christ with a lamb

    c. 6 to 4 BC

    Jesus is born

    Born a Jew, of a daughter of Israel, at Bethlehem: the eternal Son of God. CCC 423 Luke 2:7

  9. Diego Velázquez, Christ Crucified

    c. AD 30

    The cross and the empty tomb

    He dies, is buried, and rises on the third day. Paul calls it the thing that matters most. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 CCC 639

  10. c. AD 30

    Pentecost

    The Holy Spirit comes on the apostles, and the Church goes public. Acts 2:1-4 CCC 731

  11. c. AD 50 to 65

    Paul’s letters

    The oldest Christian writings we have. They’re letters to real churches with real problems. CCC 126

  12. Caravaggio, Supper at Emmaus: the risen Christ blesses the bread

    c. AD 65 to 100

    The four Gospels

    Jesus’ life and teaching, handed on by the apostles, then written down. The heart of all the Scriptures. CCC 125 CCC 126

  13. Late 300s

    The list is settled

    Guided by the apostolic Tradition, the Church discerns which books belong in the Bible. CCC 120

How we got the Bible

73 books. One story.

The result: 46 books of the Old Testament and 27 of the New. Seventy-three books, one story, and every page points to Jesus. CCC 138 CCC 120

Who decided which books? The Creed on one page