2023=>5993: year of the world, Luther’s reckoning; 5-page summary table of Bible chronology

[2023-08-16: added noted in red at below]

      Over 10 years ago I blogged about Luther's reckoning of Biblical chronology.  I also provided a downloadable copy of an English translation of Luther's work done many years ago by Pastor Kenneth K. Miller. According to a report by the editor of Christian News, there was a conference held in Denver, Colorado recently of LC-MS pastors and theologians concerning the age of the Earth and the Bible's record.  Ostensibly they were attempting to uphold the Genesis account in the face of "scientific" evidence and modern theology to the contrary.  Mention was made of Luther's work and this English translation — I don't know if this was obtained from my blog or not.  It was refreshing to read that Dr. Joel Heck and others "took exception" to LC-MS theologian Dr. Andrew Steinmann's theory of gaps in the Genesis 5 and 11 genealogies.

       To confirm how firmly the Old Missouri Synod held to Luther's teachings, in 1870 they published a Bible history book for the upper youth classes. (I hope to blog further about the whole book.) Walther wrote a glowing book review in Der Lutheraner of the same year, and included mention of "a chronological table of the Biblical histories according to Luther's calculations". This was a 5-page abbreviated table that succinctly summarized Luther's work (StL 14, 484-802) making it ideal for young students to learn the basics of this topic. Walther concluded the book review as follows: "We have no doubt the beautiful book will soon become a favorite in our schools."  Since the Bible has not changed through the millennia, this chronology is as modern as any produced since Luther's day, and would be most suitable for teaching at home or for "upper youth classes"… today.

      Using Luther's dating, I came up with the reckoning for this year, the year of our Lord 2023 AD, as the year of the world… 5993. Luther stated of his chronology "I base mine solely on the Bible", something that is lacking in many, if not most, of the teachers in today's LC-MS.

Below is a scrollable embedded window containing the full 5-page table:

[2023-08-16: It has been pointed out that Luther used his own reckoning in his commentary on Isaiah  9:2, where he states (St. L. 6, p. 112): "The sun has now already shone 5545 years [in 1543] but has not brought man to eternal life."]

The above table may be viewed in full below when one clicks on the "Read more" link below:

	Chronological Table of the Biblical Histories.
	According to Dr. Luther's Calculation.
Year of the world		Year B.C.
1	Creation, fall of man, first promise of grace.	3970
60	Cain's fratricide.	3910
130	Seth is born.	3840
235	Enos is born.	3735
622	Enoch is born.	3348
687	Methusalah is born.	3283
874	Lamech, Methusalah's son and Noah's father, is born.	3096
930	Adam dies.	3040
987	Enoch, 365 years old, is taken away.	2983
1042	Seth dies, 912 years old.	2928
1056	Noah is born.	2914
1140	Enos dies, 905 year old.	2830
1539	Noah begins preaching repentance and building the box.	2431
1651	Lameck dies, 777 year old, the first man to die of natural causes before his father.	2319
1656	Methusalah dies, 969 year old, just before the Sind flood.	2314
1657	The Flood comes.	2313
1658	The Flood ends.	2312
1758	Beginning of the Tower of Babel.	2212
1788	Nimrod, beginning of the first Babylonian monarchy.	2182
1832	Nineveh built by Assur.	2138
1949	Abraham is born.	2021
1959	Sarah is born.	2011
2007	Noah dies, 950 year old.	1963
2020	Tharah moves with his son Abraham from Ur in Chaldea to Haran.	1950
2024	Abraham is called by God to the land of Canaan.	1946
2035	Ishmael born of Hagar.	1935
2048	God makes a covenant with Abraham and commands him to be circumcised.	1922
2048	Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed.	1922
2049	Isaac is born.	1921
2063	Isaac's sacrifice.	1907
2086	Sarah dies.	1884
Year of the world		Year B.C.
2089	Isaac marries Rebekah.	1881
2109	Jacob and Esau are born.	1861
2124	Abraham dies.	1846
2159	Shem dies.	1811
2186	Jacob obtains blessing and flees to Laban.	1784
2200	Joseph is born.	1770
2206	Jacob returns home from Mesopotamia, wrestles with the Son of God and wins, and is called Israel (a prince of God).	1764
2217	Joseph sold by his brethren.	1753
2228	Joseph is thrown into prison.	1742
2229	Isaac dies, 180 years old.	1741
2230	Joseph's elevation.	1740
2239	Jacob goes to Egypt with his whole house.	1731
2256	Jacob dies.	1714
2310	Joseph dies, 110 years old.	1660
2314	Beginning of servitude in Egypt.	1656
2371	Aaron is born.	1599
2374	Moses is born.	1596
2414	Moses flees to Midian.	1556
2453	Moses' calling.	1517
2454	Paschal Lamb. — Exodus from Egypt. — Legislation.	1516
2455	Erection of the tabernacle in the desert.	1515
2493	Miriam dies. Moses strikes the rock and erects the bronze serpent. — Joshua is appointed prince. — Aaron dies, 122 years old. - Moses dies, 120 year old.	1477
2494	Joshua leads Israel across the Jordan.	1476
2500	The promised land is divided by lot.	1470
2503	The tabernacle is erected at Shiloh.	1467
2511	Joshua dies, 110 years old. — Tabernacle at Shechem.	1459
2512	Athniel judges Israel 40 years.	1458
2552	Ehud judges God's people 80 years.	1418
2632	Samgar redeems Israel.	1338
2668	God delivers his people through Deborah and Barak.	1302
2672	Gideon redeems Israel from the hand of the Midianites.	1298
2712	Abimelech usurps governance and reigns 3 years.	1258
2715	Thola judges Israel 23 years.	1255
2738	Jair judges Israel 22 years.	1232
2760	Jephthah smites the Ammonites.	1210
2767	Ebzan judges Israel 7 years.	1203
2773	Elon judges Israel 10 years.	1197
2783	Abdon judges Israel 8 years.	1187
2791	Samson judges Israel 20 years.	1179
2811	Eli the high priest judges Israel 40 years.	1159
2814	Samuel is born.	1156
2828	Samuel is called by God to proclaim God's wrath and punishment to Eli.	1142
2850	The Israelites are defeated by the Philistines, the Ark of the Covenant is lost, Eli and his sons perish.	1120
2851	The Ark of the Covenant is returned.	1119
2860	David is born.	1110
Year of the world		Year B.C.
2881	Saul becomes king.	1089
2883	Saul sins at Gilgal.	1087
2884	David defeats the giant Goliath.	1086
2885	Saul begins to persecute David.	1085
2889	Samuel dies.	1081
2890	Saul and his 3 sons perish.	1080
2891	David becomes king over the house of Judah at Hebron.	1079
2899	David takes the Ark of the Covenant from Kiriath-Jearim.	1071
2910	David's fall.	1060
2912	Solomon is born.	1058
2923	Absalom's outrage and death.	1047
2931	David dies. — Solomon begins his reign.	1039
2934	Beginning of temple construction.	1036
2941	Dedication of the temple.	1029
2970	Solomon dies, 58 years old.	1000
2971	Division of the kingdom. — Rehoboam retains only Judah and Benjamin, and the other 10 tribes choose Jeroboam as their king, who establishes the calf service in Israel.	999
2975	Plundering of the Temple at Jerusalem by Sisak, the Egyptian king.	995
2987	Rehoboam dies.	983
2988	Abram becomes king in Judah and reigns 3 years in Jerusalem.	982
2991	Assa becomes king in Judah and reigns 41 years in Jerusalem.	979
2992	Jeroboam dies. — Nadab, his son, becomes king over Israel and reigns 2 years; he walks in the ways of his father.	978
2993	Jeroboam's generation is utterly cut off by Baasha; he reigns over Israel 24 years, walking in the sin of Jeroboam.	977
3010	Ela son of Baasha becomes king in Tirzah 2 years.	960
3017	Zimri slays Ela and becomes king in his place; he destroys the house of Baasha and does not reign more than 7 days. Amri becomes king in his place; he walked in the sins of Jeroboam and was worse than all before him.	953
3023	Amri builds Samaria.	947
3028	Ahab son of Amri becomes king over Israel in Samaria; he did evil to all before him and instituted the Baal service.	942
3031	Assa dies. — Jehoshaphat his son becomes king in his place and reigns 25 years in Jerusalem.	939
3046	Naboth is stoned to death.	924
3048	Ahaziah son of Ahab becomes king in Samaria and reigns 2 years. — Ahab is killed — Ahaziah dies.	922
3050	Elijah's ascension.	920
3055	Jehoshaphat king of Judah dies; his son Jehoram becomes king in his place. He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as the house of Ahab did; for Ahab's daughter (Athaliah) was his wife.	915
3058	Ahaziah becomes king over Judah 1 year. He walks in the ways of the house of Ahab; for his mother Athaliah kept him so.	912
Year of the world		Year B.C.
3059	Jehu is anointed king over Israel; kills Joram, Ahaziah, and Jezebel, and destroys all the house of Ahab. — Athaliah, Ahaziah's mother, kills all the royal seed save Joash, and becomes queen in Judah.	911
3065	Joash is anointed king and reigns 40 years in Jerusalem. - Athaliah is killed.	905
3087	Jehoash repairs the dilapidated temple. — Jehoahaz son of Jehu becomes king over Israel 17 years.	883
3101	Jehoahaz son becomes king over Israel 16 years.	869
3105	Amaziah son of Jehoahaz becomes king in Judah and reigns 29 years.	865
3106	Elisha dies.	864
3118	Amaziah is defeated and captured by Jehoash king of Israel.	852
3119	Jeroboam II, son of Joash, becomes king over Israel 41 years.	851
3121	Jonah preaches at Nineveh.	849
3134	Amaziah is killed at Lachish, and remains an interregnum for 11 years.	836
3145	Uzziah, the son of Amaziah, becomes king in Jerusalem 52 years.	825
3160	Jeroboam II dies; after him the throne stands empty for 22 years.	810
3182	Zechariah son of Jeroboam is chosen king over Israel, reigns 6 months, and is slain by Shallum.	788
3183	Shallum, king in Israel, reigns 1 month, and is slain by Menahem, who reigns 10 years in Samaria.	787
3194	Pekahiah son of Menahem becomes king and reigns 2 years in Samaria.	776
3196	Pekah becomes king over Israel and reigns 20 years.	774
3197	Jotham, son of Uzziah, becomes king over Judah and reigns 16 years.	773
3212	Ahaz son of Jotham becomes king over Judah and reigns 16 years.	758
3216	Hosea son of Elah kills Pekah and becomes king in his place.	754
3225	Hosea becomes subject of Shalmaneser.	745
3227	Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, becomes king in Judah and reigns 29 years.	743
3230	Samaria is besieged by Shalmaneser.	740
3232	Hosea, the king, captured, Israel carried away in Assyria.	738
3240	Sanherib wars against Hezekiah.	730
3241	Hezekiah deadly sick and wonderfully preserved. — The angel of the Lord slays 185,000 Assyrians.	729
3256	Hezekiah dies, and Manasseh becomes king in his place and reigns 55 years in Jerusalem.	714
3311	Amon son of Manasseh becomes king and reigns 2 years.	659
3313	Josiah son of Amon becomes king and reigns 31 years	657
3343	Josiah dies at Megiddo.	627
3344	Jehoahaz son of Josiah becomes king, reigns 3 months and is deposed by Pharaoh Necho, and Jehoiakim is made king, who reigns 11 years.	626
3351	Jehoiakim becomes interest-bearing to Nebuchadnezzar.	619
3354	Jehoiakim is killed by Nebuchadnezzar, and part of the people are taken away, including Daniel and his companions; but Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim becomes king and reigns 3 months, after which Nebuchadnezzar leads him and the best of the people to Babylon and makes Zedekiah king, who reigns 11 years.	616
Year of the world		Year B.C.
3365	Decline of the Kingdom of Judah.	616
3390	Nebuchadnezzar dies.	605
	Belshazzar becomes king.	580
	Belshazzar perishes, Babel is taken - beginning of the Persian monarchy.	540
3435	Daniel in the lion's den. — Cyrus allows the Jews to return and build the temple.	535
3456	Dedication of the second temple.	514
3510	Esther's exaltation.	460
3514	Ezra's journey to Jerusalem.	456
3519	Haman captured.	451
3527	Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem.	443
3806	Antiochus has Jerusalem and the temple sacked, the walls broken down, and many people strangled and carried away.	164
3807	Mathathias dies. — Judas Maccabaeus becomes captain.	163
3810	Antiochus dies.	160
3813	Judas Maccabaeus perishes in battle.	157
3821	Jonathas becomes high priest.	149
3830	Jonathas is killed, and Simon comes in his place.	140
3838	Simon is slain.	132
3969	John the Baptist's conception .	1
3970	The Conception of Christ; the Nativity of John the Baptist and of our Lord Christ.	0
		Year A.D.
3971	Circumcision of Christ; the wise men from the east; flight into Egypt; infanticide in Bethlehem.	1
3972	Return of Christ from Egypt.	2
3982	The child Jesus in the temple at Jerusalem.	12
3999	John begins to preach in the desert.	29
4000	Christ is baptized.	30
4001	Wedding at Cana.	31
4002	John is beheaded.	32
4003	Transfiguration of Christ.	33
4004	Christ's suffering, death, resurrection and ascension; the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.	34
4005	St. Stephen stoned; St. Paul's conversion.	35
4008	Paul with Peter in Jerusalem.	38
4013	Herod kills Jacob the Greater; puts Peter in prison.	43
4018	Virgin Mary dies, 63 years old (?).	48
4019	Concilium of the Apostles at Jerusalem.	49
4026	St. Paul imprisoned at Jerusalem.	56
4028	Paul before Festus and Agrippa; appeals to the emperor; comes to Rome.	58
4038	Paul and Peter suffer martyrdom.	68
4041	Jerusalem and the temple are destroyed.	71
4066	St. John exiled to Patmos.	96
4068	St. John returns to Ephesus.	98
4071	St. John dies, 99 years old.	101
4077	The last of the apostles, Simon of Cana, is crucified, 120 years old.	107