How did Christianity develop after Jesus' Crucifixion?

Jesus' Crucifixion 30 AD

Carrying his own cross, he [Jesus] went out to the place of the Skull (Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others - one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

JOHN 19:17-18

0 years later

Saul of Tarsus 32 AD

W Paul_the_Apostle

Saul was a Pharisee Jew. He was not a disciple, follower, or someone who met Jesus during his earthly life.

Saul persecuted and delivered Christians to the authorities to be jailed or killed. 2 years later

Road to Damascus 35 AD

W Conversion_of_Paul_the_Apostle

Saul was on his way to persecute the Christians in Damascus, Syria. Suddenly, a bright light flashed. Saul fell to the ground and was convinced he had seen and spoken to a risen, spiritual Jesus Christ.

Saul converted to Christianity and became known as Paul.

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

ACTS 9:3-5

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ ... But when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being.

GALATIANS 1:11-16

5 years later

1 Thessalonians 52 AD

W First_Epistle_to_the_Thessalonians

In 52 AD, Paul wrote his first letter, 1 Thessalonians; 17 years after his Jesus vision. 22 years later

Dark Age 52 AD

W John_Dominic_Crossan

The information 'Dark Age' is the 22 year period during which Christianity has no recorded texts, gospels or evidences of its existence.

The period starts from Jesus' Crucifixion in 30 AD and lasts to the writing of Paul's first letter in 52 AD. 22 years later

Which Bible Canon? 397 AD

W Development_of_the_New_Testament_canon

The Church debated over which texts to include and exclude from the Christian Bible.

In 185 AD, Irenaeus, a Church father cited 21 books from the New Testament Bible.

This list was not formally recognized by the Christian Church until 397 AD; 345 years after Paul's first letter. 367 years later

Council of Carthage 397 AD

W Councils_of_Carthage

Council of Carthage was the first Church council to officially recognize 39 Old and 27 New Testament books which today comprise the Christian Bible. 367 years later

CREDIT
https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/paul/timeline.cfm
https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-47/apostle-paul-and-his-times-christian-history-timeline.html

19224 views · 18 hrs ago | Author: Guest • Updated: 07 Jul 2025

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