1	Pauline Chronology Dating the Events of Paul’s Life Dating Paul’s Letters
2	Sources for Dates The letters Acts Eusebius of Caesarea (c. 265-c. 339) The definitive edition of his church history appeared in 325.
3	From Eusebius Paul was martyred during Nero’s reign as Roman emperor. Nero’s dates: 54-68 His execution occurred by beheading. Both Peter and Paul were killed by Nero. Fire in Rome in 64. Nero blames Jews/Christians for the fire. Apostles’ deaths could be related.
4	Dating Paul’s Call After the crucifixion, but not long after. Crucifixion has to have been between 26 and 36, when Pilate was in Judea.
5	Other “Hard” Evidence Paul in Corinth Acts 18:11-17 speaks of the consulship of Gallio coinciding with Paul’s 18-month visit to Corinth. Inscriptional evidence dates this consulship during 51/52 or 52/53.
6	Plotting the Timeline
7	Paul’s Education Paul was a Pharisee (see Phil. 3). A student of Gamaliel? See Acts 22:3; 5:34-39 A great public speaker? He makes great speeches in Acts. See 2 Cor. 10:10, however. He has a good Hellenistic education. This is not incompatible with his being a Jew & a Pharisee.
8	What about the letters? A possible timeline, from earliest to latest: 1 Thessalonians (ca. 49) Cf. Acts 17:1-9. Founding of this church happens on second missionary journey. 2 Thessalonians (soon after if authentic) Galatians (?) Not mentioned in Acts. 1 Corinthians (54/55) Sent from Ephesus.
9	More on Letters 2 Corinthians (55/56) Philippians & Philemon Date depends on where Paul might have been in prison. Romans Sent from Corinth, shortly before Paul heads to Palestine with the offering for the Jerusalem church (ca. 56).
10	Time Span for Letter-Writing From 1 Thessalonians (ca. 49) to Romans (ca. 56). Time span for most undisputed letters is six to seven years. The Corinthian letters are not early letters, but not his last ones either. Prison Letters could be from last imprisonments (57-64 [68]?). Philippians, Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians, 2 Timothy Colossians, Ephesians and 2 Timothy may have been written under Paul’s name after his death.