Do you struggle to understand the Bible? With hundreds of characters and 66 different books, it can be a challenge to grasp the overall story. Here are the most important characters in the Bible in chronological order, along with a summary of their story. They provide the framework to understand the Bible’s story. Use the references to read about them in the Bible.
Adam & Eve
Noah
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob
Moses
David
Jesus
God creates the universe and everything in it. He creates Adam and Eve in His image and places them in the garden of Eden with one command — do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve are perfect and innocent beings. However, the serpent tempts Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. She in turn entices Adam. This disobedience to God, called sin, destroys their relationship with God. It damages them and all of creation. This act is often called The Fall. God promises the serpent, later identified as Satan, that one born of woman will crush his head. This is a cryptic reference to Jesus, who would provide the means to restore the relationship between God and people.
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The first population of the Earth is too evil to fulfill God’s plan. God cleanses the Earth with a world-wide flood lasting over a year. God saves Noah and his family, along with representatives of all the animal kinds, in an ark in order to repopulate the Earth. God makes a covenant — a solemn agreement — to never again destroy the Earth by water. The rainbow is established as the sign of this covenant.
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Abraham, Isaac, Jacob
Date:
Starting at approximately 2000 B.C. The events span three generations.
References:
Genesis chapters 12 – 50. See especially 12:1-5; 15:1-18; 22:1-19; 28:10-15; 32:22-32
God calls one man, Abram to follow him, making a covenant that contained four promises to Abram:
- Prosperity
- Make his descendants a great nation
- Give his descendants the land of Canaan
- Bless all people on Earth through him.
God changed his name to Abraham and begins fulfilling the promises. Abraham leaves his home country and becomes a nomad in Palestine, becoming wealthy within his culture. God’s promise is passed to Abraham’s son, Isaac, as well as Isaac’s son, Jacob. God changes Jacob’s name to Israel. His descendants eventually become the ancient nation of Israel. The tribal structure of the nation is based on Israel’s 12 sons. Near the end of Israel’s life, the clan moves to Egypt because of a famine.
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Moses
Date:
Approx. 1450 B.C.
References:
The books of Exodus, Leviticus Numbers and Deuteronomy.
After several generations in Egypt, the Israelites are enslaved. God chooses Moses to lead them from slavery to the promised land in Canaan. After a series of miracles and the institution of the Passover observance, God divides the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to escape Egypt. However, He destroys the Egyptian army pursuing the Israelites when they attempt to cross. Moses leads the Israelites to Mt. Sinai where God delivers the laws for the formation of the ancient nation of Israel. The people balk at entering the Promised Land, and God sentences them to wander for 40 years in the desert. Finally, Moses leads the people to the land. He does not enter, but dies within sight of the land. The Israelites enter the land and conquer it through God’s power. Thus God fulfilled the promises to Abraham to make his descendants a great nation and give them the land of Canaan. He established His covenant with the nation of Israel and provided their worship practices centered on a tent called the tabernacle.
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David
Date:
Approx. 1000 B.C.
References:
1 Samuel chapters 16 – 31; 2 Samuel; 1 Kings chapter 1 – 3
See especially 2 Samuel chapter 7
David, known for slaying Goliath, is selected by God’s prophet to be the second king of Israel. David makes plans to transition worship from the tabernacle to a temple in Jerusalem. The temple will be built when his son, Solomon, becomes king. God promises to establish the throne of David forever — meaning a descendant would always reign over God’s people. In the centuries that follow, the theme of a coming king, or Messiah, is developed by the prophets. They foretold a king who would establish a new covenant and save God’s people.
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Jesus
Date:
4 B.C. to 30 A.D.
References:
The Bible books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The first chapter of Acts also contains an account of his ascension into heaven.
Jesus was miraculously born to a virgin named Mary. He is God’s Son and referred to as “God with us.” Mary and Joseph, who would become her husband, were both descendants of David. At approximately 30 years of age, Jesus began a three and a half year ministry, teaching and performing miracles. He is arrested and handed to the Roman governor to be executed. After his crucifixion, he rose from the dead. After several appearances, Jesus ascended to heaven. He commissioned his followers to make followers of Him of all people groups. Jesus also promised to return in the future to judge the living and the dead. At his return, the creation will be renewed and God’s people will live forever with Him.
Thus God fulfilled the promises to David of an everlasting kingdom, and to Abraham of blessing all people through him. Jesus also established a new covenant where people can be forgiven of sin and live forever with God. Christians continue to help others follow Jesus and await His return.
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1Some scholars have dated Adam and Eve at 4004 B.C. and the Flood at 2348 B.C. based on genealogies in the Bible. However, other scholars disagree because this method relies on several assumptions about the nature of the Bible’s genealogies that may not be supported. Also the method of giving years a number, e.g. 500 B.C., was not invented until 525 A.D. and not used widely until even later. These are some of the factors that make precise dating of events in the past difficult.
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