Pauline Chronology according to Jerome Murphy-O'Connor
This table summarizes the chronology of St. Paul's life, according to the book by Jerome Murphy-O'Conner Paul. A Critical Life. Oxford - New York: Oxford University Press, 1996. For more details, see Paul. A Critical Life.
Printable version in PDF format.
Note: In bold: Paul's authentic letters
| Year | Event |
| Around 6 BC | Birth |
| 15–33 CE | Paul’s training in Jerusalem as a Pharisee |
| 33 | Conversion |
| 34 | On a mission in Arabia |
| 34–37 | In Damascus |
| 37 | In Jerusalem (1st visit) |
| 37–? | In Syria and Cilicia |
| 41 | Emperor Claudius expels some Jews from a synagogue in Rome, including Prisca and Aquila, who likely move elsewhere in Italy |
| Winter 45–46 | In Antioch |
| April 46 | Departure from Antioch |
| April–September 46 | Journey to Galatia, Paul’s illness, and stay in Pessinus (Galatia) |
| September 46–May 48 | Ministry in Galatia |
| Summer 48 | Journey to Macedonia |
| September 48–April 50 | Ministry in Macedonia (Philippi and Thessalonica) |
| April 50 | Departure from Thessalonica and brief stay in Athens Timothy’s arrival in Athens and Letter A to the Thessalonians (1 Thess 2:13–4:2) Journey to Corinth |
| April 50–September 51 | Ministry in Corinth |
| Summer 50 | From Corinth: Letter B to the Thessalonians (1 Thess 1:1–2:12; 4:3–5:28) |
| Late summer–Fall 50 | From Corinth: Second Letter to the Thessalonians |
| July or August 51 | Paul's Meeting with Proconsul Gallion |
| September 51 | Departure from Corinth, a visit to Ephesus, where he left Priscilla and Aquila, and arrival in Antioch |
| October 51 | Journey to Jerusalem (2nd visit) and the Jerusalem Council |
| Winter 51–52 | Paul in Antioch and conflict with the delegates from Jerusalem |
| April 52 | Paul’s permanent departure from Antioch |
| April–July 52 | Journey to Antioch in Pisidia, second visite to Galatia |
| Summer 52 | Apollos in Corinth |
| September 52 | The Judaizers arrive in Galatia |
| September 52–October 54 | Paul in Ephesus |
| Winter 52–53 | Consolidation of the Church in Ephesus and the beginning of his missionary work in Asia |
| April–May 53 | Epaphras begins his mission in the Lycus Valley Bad news from Galatia From Ephesus: Letter to the Galatians |
| June 53 | Donation from the Philippians From Ephesus: Letter A to the Philippians (Phil 4:10–20) |
| July–late summer 53 | Paul and his associates in prison Epaphras returns to Ephesus and is also arrested From Ephesus prison: Letter B to the Philippians (Phil 1:1–3:1; 4:2–9) From Ephesus prison: Letter to Philemon (in Colossae) From Ephesus prison: Letter to the Colossians Paul is released from prison Apollos arrives in Ephesus From Ephesus: The Letter C to the Philippians (Phil 3:2–4:1) From Ephesus: Paul writes the Previous (lost) Letter to the Corinthians |
| Autumn 53 | Paul travels to the Lycus valley? |
| Winter 53-54 | Paul winters in Ephesus |
| April–May 54 | Intense contacts with Corinth Chloe’s people return to Ephesus, reporting on the situation in Corinth Timothy is sent to Corinth to investigate the situation Stephanus, Fortunatus, and Achaicus arrive in Ephesus bearing a letter from the Corinthians From Ephesus: First Letter to the Corinthians written before June 2, the date of Pentecost |
| Summer 54 | Timothy’s return to Ephesus with his report on Corinth Paul’s brief visit to Corinth while Timothy and Erastus set out for Macedonia Paul’s departure from Corinth for Macedonia Paul’s return to Ephesus around mid-August From Ephesus: Painful Letter (lost) to the Corinthians This letter was sent via Titus |
| Fall 54 | Paul is forced to leave Ephesus and travels to Troas In Troas, Titus is not at the planned meeting place Paul’s crossing to Macedonia before the shipping season ends Probable visit to the church in Philippi Paul’s probable meeting with Titus in Thessalonica, where he receives his report |
| Winter 54–55 | Paul is staying in Thessalonica, Macedonia |
| Spring 55 | From Thessalonica: Letter to the Corinthians (2 Cor. 1–9) with the help of Timothy |
| May–August 55 | Paul, Missionary in Illyria From Illyria: Upon receiving news from Corinth, he wrote 2 Corinthians 10–13 |
| Fall 55 | Paul Returns to Corinth |
| Winter 55–56 | Paul's Stay in Corinth From Corinth: Writing of the Letter to the Romans |
| Summer 56 | Return to Macedonia and a visit to the church in Troas Farewell speech in Miletus; journey to Jerusalem |
| 57?–61? | Paul as a prisoner in Jerusalem and Caesarea |
| September 61–Spring 62 | Journey to Rome as a prisoner |
| Spring 62–Spring 64 | Paul as a prisoner in Rome |
| Summer 64 | Paul in Spain The Great Fire of Rome (July 19–28) |
| 64-65 | Paul returns to the East and likely spends a year in Illyria |
| 65 | The beginning of the persecution of Christians in Rome |
| 65-66? | Paul visits the churches in Thessalonica, Philippi, Troas, Ephesus, Miletus, and Corinth |
| 66-67 | Paul Imprisoned Again in Rome Writing of the Second Letter to Timothy Paul was martyred by beheading in Rome |