Were there 400 years between writing the Old Testament and the New Testament?

Answer 1

Opinion

The 400 years period is the approximate period of silence between the time of Malachi (circa 430 BCE) and the New Testament period. In Malachi 3:1, it is written that a messenger will prepare the way, which according to Christian tradition is John the Baptist as described in the New Testament. The time period between Malachi and John the Baptist is roughly 400 years.

Answer 2

No. This is a common misconception, based on traditional dates for the writing of some of the Old Testament books. For example, scholars say that the Book of Daniel was not really written until the second century BCE. So, the intertestimonial period can be shortened to less than 200 years.

Several of the deuterocanonical books, accepted as scripture by the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches, were also written during this period, so the alternative name, "silent period", is not entirely true.