The meaning of AD is Anno Domini or Year of our Lord referring to the year of Christ’s birth. The meaning of BC is Before Christ. CE is a recent term. It refers to Common Era and is used in place of A.D. the dates are the same i.e., 2009 AD is 2009 CE. BCE means Before Common Era. For example 400 BC is 400 BCE.
When did we start using AD and BC? Why?
Many different calendars have been used since man began tracking time. Most start with some epoch event or person. The use of BC and AD for numbering calendar years was invented by Dionysius Exiguus in 525 AD. His purpose was to determine the correct date for Easter under the direction of Pope St. John I.
Prior to this time, one method for determining Easter was based on a 532 year calendar cycle stemming from the Alexandrian era. Other methods were also used which led to the confusion. Dionysius was asked to determine a method for calculating Easter that would then be used by the entire church. Dionysius did not want to perpetuate the name of Alexander, the Great Persecutor. He decided to start his 532-year cycle from 753 years after the Founding of Rome.
Today, based on historical evidence relating to Herod and astronomical data from the study of eclipses and star novas, most historians believe Christ was born a few years earlier. Dionysius named the years relating to his cycle, BC meaning Before Christ, which starts with year 1 and AD meaning Anno Domini, the year of Our Lord referring to the year of Christ’s birth. This is also a year 1. There is no year 0. That’s the reason purists insists the 21st century began January 1, 2001. For example, the first year began in 1 AD and ended the beginning of 2 AD. So the first year of the 21st century begins in 2001 AD and ends with the beginning of 2002 AD. It took about 400 years for the dating system devised by Dionysius to reach common usage. In combination with the Julian Calendar system that determines the beginning of months and years, this continued until 1582 AD. The number of each year is based on the Dionysius numbering system.
For more information on how it spread read our article What Did We Use Before BC and AD. The need for the introduction of the Gregorian Calendar came about because a year is not exactly 365 days long. It is 365 and a quarter days long. Every four years, March 1st moved behind a day until after centuries instead of being early spring March 1st was now the beginning of winter. Something had to be done. The Gregorian Calendar was introduced in the Catholic parts of Europe in 1582 A.D. by Pope Gregory XIII (then the religious leader of the Roman Catholic faith). It was an improvement upon the Julian Calendar to keep the average length of the calendar year better in line with the seasons.
Now here's a rule that will drive you crazy. The rules, months, and days of the Gregorian calendar are the same as those of the Julian Calendar, except for the leap year rules. In the Gregorian calendar, a year is a leap year if the year number is evenly divisible by 4. However century years follow a different rule. The number must be divisible by both 100 and 400 to be a leap year; otherwise it is not a leap year. For example, 1600 and 2000 are leap years, but 1700, 1800, and 1900 are not.
"The legal code of the United States does not specify an official national calendar. Use of the Gregorian calendar in the United States is a result of an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom in 1751, which specified use of the Gregorian calendar in England and its colonies. However, its adoption in the United Kingdom and other countries was fraught with confusion, controversy, and even violence. It also had a deeper cultural impact through the disruption of traditional festivals and calendrical practices." (Seidelmann, P. Kenneth, Explanatory Supplement, United States Naval Observatory. Nautical Almanac, pg. 578)
The widespread use of the Gregorian calendar and the use of BC and AD throughout the world came about thanks to the colonization practices of Europe. And economic pressures of a worldwide economy led by Europe and the United States. This is gradually changing as more and more academic writers prefer the use of CE rather than AD.
Related Articles:
What Did We Use Before BC and AD
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Thank you so much for making this website it really helped me
This change from B.C. To BCE, and A.D. To A.C.E. has much more to do with elimination of Christian Doctrine and Beliefs than it does any “scientific” reason.
We have seen a steady decline in Academia for decades; the literal rewriting of and changing of Our Timeline itself. It is a shame.
I happened upon this web site because of AD. I’ve kept thinking it was “after the death” of Christ but knew it wasn’t and wanted to make sure I got it right and I find this change from BC to. BCE and CE. What’s up with that! You know what the BIBLE says about adding to or taking from Gods Word. I don’t like these changes and I certainly don’t understand why these changes.
The number of non-Christian people around the worl is increasing heavily, so there is no reason to keep AD and BC – even though they have always worked perfectly – been used throughout the world. Let’s remember that Chineses and Jews also have their time mark.
Thank you so much Marco. You’re the only person on this thread that posted something for others to learn from.
In other words, BECAUSE it has to do with Christ, do away with it. That is the only reason. Why does it bother anyone? It’s been used by Christians and nonChristians alike. Obviously, because the world is increasingly sensitive against anything of Christ. As a Christian, I do not worry about, for instance, the days of the week and months being named after pagan deities. I know that those gods are nothing and I don’t worship them. I am not super sensitive about them. Those names are just names to me. None Christians needn’t worry…Christ knows those who don’t respect for Him or want any remembrance of Him. The world has become quite silly about things. So what if we use AD and BC.
There is no Chineses
The right usage would be Chinese.
So you don’t use them and leave the Christians alone. I say don’t mess with something that works. It is a way that time is measured.
So the name of the planet mars should be changed because we no longer believe in those mythological gods?
We don’t need a reply by every christian on planet. some people believe in Christ while others don’t. I don’t know about anyone else but it has already changed to there is no point in complaining OK. Gosh
This isn’t directed to you marco
We are using the Gregorian calendar which is a Catholic Calendar, introduced by pope Gregory XIII. It does not make sense to change the meaning of year zero of a religious calendar to suit the needs of the political correct msm and establishment.
Lol Chineses
Actually, Marco yes and No. In Western developed countries, yes Christianity is shrinking but in the developing world Christianity and to a greater extent Islam are growing. By Mid century 4 our of every 10 Christians will come from Africa. Meanwhile, Western populations are shrinking and with them the ‘unaffiliated’. It is noted that China will become the largest nation of Christians by 2030-50 with an estimated 250 million Christians of various denominations. As for calendars, the Muslims have a calendar system, the Chinese, Jews and literally thousands of other ethnic groups do as well. Fact of the matter is the Gregorian calendar is the standard at which commerce and governments operate. However, I am sure there is a support group for those developed world delicate flowers who feel oppressed by the Christian influenced Gregorian calendar. Me, myself, believe we should adopt a psuedo-Judaic style calendar starting from A.L. O up to 5billion plus. That would steam-line things wouldn’t ?
The “new age of enlightenment” based on what is “politically correct” or “convenient” to satisfy minorities is increasingly erasing the symbols and values adopted by the Greco-Roman culture and inherited by the Christian Western civilization. Simultaneously these “mind destroyers” are rewriting history! This is happening every day and everywhere! It’s based on hypocrisy and double standards! Remember the revolt shown by the West when the Taliban destroyed the 1700 years old Buddha’s statues in Afghanistan in 2001? Now these so called “westerners” are doing the same here, in Europe, and elsewhere!
The only time mark that matters is God’s time mark. He is the creator of everything. As far as God’s creatures and their set time mark doesn’t even come into play!
And I would suppose the various religions from other cultures have their particular references, too. Will they remove any specific references to their leader’s time frame and simply refer to years as numbers a d call historical periods “eras’? That tends to wash out any reference to the importance of the object of their worship, doesn’t it? Why would one want to sterilize their religion?
As I am sure you have already found out AD means Anno Domini, in other words the year of our Lord. It is specifically Christian and therefore unsuitable for use when talking about other faiths or timelines that have starting points that are significant to other faiths.
Agree
Either way….the calendar still has Jesus as the center. No matter whether it is called bc bce ad or ce.
It’s a unit of measure like inches or meters. If someone feels uncomfortable with it, don’t say “Before Crist”, just say “BC”. Keep it simple and don’t make a political or emotional issue of it.
Paul C Bentall, thank goodness for your post and for those of the other enlightened posters on this page who recognize that the world is larger than someone’s little Christian congregation.
Well, actually this time dating system is not biblical. It is a man made system to keep up with time. However I do understand what you are saying about adding or taking away from God’s word.
Then the other religions should have found an event to measure time first.
I agree with Wanda.
That Correct, All believer of any religion have a Calendar,
The Islamic, Muslim, or Hijri calendar (Arabic: التقويم الهجري at-taqwīm al-hijrī) is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used (often alongside the Gregorian calendar) to date events in many Muslim countries. … The current Islamic year is 1439 AH.
Absolutely agree with you, because this is fact!
I always thought the same, but then after decent/diciple (of christ) e.g. A.D. But indeed its after birth not dead, after dead would mean his life it self wasnt recorded or whatever age jesus was in bc terms. Anyway this website made it clear for me thanks!
Its not gods word.
Its the word of men.
Always has been.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God. 2 Timothy 3:16. Knowing no scripture is of private interpretation. 2 Peter 1:20.
No its God’s word as The Holy Spirit Gave it to man and Man recorded it !!! God Knows the Day and Time so who cares about the prefixes stupid people use what ever floats their boat that day I am tired of all the hate God will decide who is right and wrong He is the Judge of all the world .and Jesus Christ is his Son
I’m guessing you believe that nothing created everything. It is scientifically impossible for the world to be created from nothing. The big bang theory and evolution are two of the biggest lies ever told. If the Bible was, in fact man’s word, then men some how have predicted the future time and time again. Jesus has been proven to have existed and was crucified. If Jesus wasn’t God, he must have been a really special man.
Inspired by God!
Come on, man wrote the Bible/any scripts made. Why else do you think it is being updated from time to time. Bible refers to OX and other horrible things being allowed as this was ‘normal’ at time of writing. So, on natural to evolve the BC,AD thinking.
All Scripture is God-Breathed
10But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of [them] all the Lord delivered me. 12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned [them]; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable {5624} for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Thank you L you are only persecuted if you are following Jesus because He said the world will hate you on My(Jesus’s) account and My sheep know my voice and wont follow a stranger you are on the right road L keep running the race and you will finnish on the right side God help those who Hate Him !!!! Repent for the day of judgement is at hand BC AD BCE or CE God knows the Day Maranatha !!!! Come Soon Lord !!!!
The terms BC, and AD are not in God’s Word so changing them to BCE and ACE (respectively) would not take away from God’s Word. However, I do agree that the change is an act of taking God out of everything they can.
Precise Jerry, my thoughts exactly!
So true! Ernest I pray Come on Lord! Show this world the truth of you word!
The Bible calendar is not the one you’re on if you’re upset about BC and AD. If you’re concerned about adding to or changing God’s Word and His calendar, get on the Feasts of the Lord.
And keeping the correct Sabboth. ???!!!
Where in the Bible can you find the division of months and years defined as BC and AD? Please be factual in your oppositional statements.
You must be kidding right!
There is nothing in God’s word about whether the times should be labled AD, BC, CE, BCE, or ABC. These modes of marking time are man-made labels, not a biblical or God-required one. What His word IS clear on is the 7 day week and what constitutes an actual day (by the way, in the Bible, NONE of the days have names, except for the 7th, and the ONLY one blessed and hallowed by Him as sacred. That day is Sabbath). Changing what the Bible labeled as “the Lord’s Day” from the 7th day of the week to the 1st day (or the day of the sun = Sunday) of the week by Constantine and religious leaders is an example the type of self-important man-made action that the scriptures are warning against when they highlight those who would seek to “change times” (found in Daniel) or add to/take away from the scriptures. And yet, there are countless non-scriptural-based “religious” traditions and dogmas held as gospel truth, as cherrished and sacred, with no understanding of their history, by so many “religously-indignant” people who find the change from a man-made BC/AD to a man-made BCE and CE so offensive. It is crtical for those who profess to be Christians to understand the difference between what God’s word actually says and requires, in its proper context, versus what is man-made tradition, and not to confuse the two.
You are the only one, in this page, who has some knowledge about the 6000 years of actual history of the world.
The July 2018 comment posted by ‘Tee’ is spot-on. Thank you.
I fully agree with you! Just when I think we’ve reached the bottom of the barrel of stupidity, I’m proven wrong. The Lord must be shaking His head in disgust. Come Lord Jesus, come!
I don’t either, but it is the result of the digression and degradation of this world system and its culture, which the Bible says is under the influence of the “evil” one, Lucifer. Mankind, that is, those “without” GOD, has always attempted to remove any reference to GOD and CHRIST from their consciences. Read Romans 1, “they are willingly ignorant of the truth”. So, we should always fight to retain the knowledge of GOD, but we should never be surprised when unbelievers want to erase JESUS CHRIST from their memories.
I could wish and say the same to those people you really did help me with my misunderstandings thanks.
It has nothing to do with “taking away from God’s word”. B. Anthony’s response above is more applicable.
The “elimination of Christian Doctrine and Beliefs”
Are you sure there is a passage of the Bible supplying you of BC & AD?
Many Israelites do not believe in the New Testament’s Messiah. They are still awaiting His first coming. That is why they prefer CE (Common Era) instead of AD (Anno Domini) because it means Year of our Lord. Since they reject the New Testament, they reject any reference to Yahasha being their Lord. They are not adding to or taking away from the Bew Testament because they reject the New Testament as being the Words of our Father YaHaVaH. Let’s pray that ALL would come to know that Yahasha is the Messiah before it is too late.
It’s because of the non-believers who are teaching our youth at almost all the universities.But you probably knew that.
I totally agree with you.
Yes, I agree. This is pretty much a brand new “idea” which was born in the fall of 2016 (best I can tell), although I know many have been thinking about a way to take God out of our dating system for decades. One interesting thing is that the “CE” (common era) systems still NEEDS a “B” to describe the fact of “before something”, i.e. BEFORE CHRIST, so there is no getting away from His birth which the entire world agrees has redefined both time and lives since. Also, we would not really want to be the society that accomplished the elevation of “self” at the denial of God, as history tells many stories of how that has not gone well for anyone that tried to do that – Tower of Babble, the flood, Sodam and Gomera, Hamen (from Esther’s time), and many others. God Bless America.
Actually, the transition to “common era” was adopted in 1615 by European Christians.
i cant believe how the calendar was changed according to jesus birth.
Absolutely, 100% correct. Is a blatent attempt of Jewish power brokers in the media to diminish Christ as the defining figure of Western civilization, and shoud be subtly resisted at all levels. The good news is that a tremendous backlash is occurring, and you very rarely hear “BCE” in academia and scientific television in the last few years. A small but relevant victory for the Christian majority.
Could you add any proof to that, please?
In my view: That is just antisemite b.s.!
I Totally Absolutely Agree with you.
They,the Atheists/Mohammedans,and the Leftists,Communists Complex are ganging up against the Christian Traditional Doctrine and is trying to rewrite history.
I hope god bless you, but what do you mean “atheist/Muhammadans”?
What is the heck with mentioning Mohammedans. You mean Muslim. Maybe you don’t know that Muslims has to believe in Christ to be a Muslim. It is not an option. I never knew Christ turned away anybody whether Muslim or Atheists. Politics sucks. Read the Bible and follow it.
Exactly… However it has been written that men would lie with men and women with women and that the world will be a violent and perverted place… Well… Did you not believe the word – Just another prophecy come true is all.
It’s just another way of taking Christ and God out of every day life. I wonder how they’re going to take Christ out of Christmas.
Donald they have taking Christ out of Christmas already, as if He was in it to begin with. Remember, “XMAS”.
I agree with you. The world is taking every step they can come up with to try and get rid of Christians. I praise God that no matter what they try, Our God is still on the throne and one day we will all bow down to the King.
I am a Christian. I truly believe, nay, I truly know, that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Son of the Living God, and my Savior. I also know that the devil is the author of confusion. He is on a mission to cause Christians to lose their way with God, and he wants everyone else to never find their way to God. He will do his best to keep us confused. Satan would love for the world to remove Jesus in each and every way possible, including, but not limited to, our calendar. In fact, the devil wishes Jesus would be removed from all of human history. And it seems as if his anti-Jesus campaign is actually working sometimes. But just as the devil is the author of confusion, Jesus is the author of Peace, and He promises us a sound mind. The Bible also teaches us that all things work together for the good to them that love the Lord, Jesus Christ. So even if it appears that the devil is successfully removing Jesus from our time counting method of using BC AND AD, this situation will ultimately serve to work for the good of Christians. In fact, it seems to have stirred debate surrounding the issue, and is causing the birth and death of Jesus to be discussed more rather than less. Perhaps this will instill in some a need to learn more about Jesus and to cause many to call upon His name.
BTW: Debate should be tempered with love and humility.
Obviously Jesus Christ is a fictional character, invented, not born. This can easily be proven by common sense and simple examination of both the New Testament and history.
Outside the Gospels, there is no record of a single person seeing Jesus or talking to him. No contemporary writer mentions him. Even God never mentions the name Jesus to his best friends Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and prophets in the entire Jewish Scripture aka Old Testament.
The gospels were not inspired by God as betrayed by the numerous inconsistencies, contradictions, absurdities and failed prophecies contained therein.
If there is a god that truly ‘begat’ Jesus, and sent him to earth to save humanity from sin, and to overcome death, then that god humiliated, defamed and blasphemed Self!
Surely, how could a son of god, like Jesus:
1- be born of a mortal woman, cry and accuse his father of abandoning him on the cross, and then die (Matt.27:46) when he is part of the ‘Trinity’ (3 in 1 who are all the same in substance and equal in power according to the church)?
2- promise to return to earth with power and glory before his generation passed away (Matt.24:34), then absconded to this day?
3- display blatant bias towards Romans and against his Jewish race (for example, telling Jews to continue paying taxes to their Roman colonizers)(Mk.12:14-17), adding salt to injury?
4- inspire Paul to preach a gospel of salvation by faith and grace alone (Eph.2:8-9; Gal.2:16) contradictory to his own (Lk.18:18-30) and also inspire James (2:14-26) to preach yet another different gospel of salvation?
5- love apostle John (19:35), a crude liar (21:25) with a diminished memory such that he forgot to mention in his gospel key points in Jesus’ ministry (eg prayer in Gethsemane, Jesus’ promise to return before his generation passed away, earthquake at death of Christ, ascension, or Pentecost)?
6- humiliate himself and waste his time appointing Peter his church rock and heaven gatekeeper (Matt.16:16-19) and praying for him to strengthen his faith so he could strengthen his brethren (Lk.22:32), then the bugger disowned him in public the very same day?
7- praise John the Baptist, who could not recognize him as the true messiah (Lk.7:19-20) despite the Baptist being a cousin of Jesus (Lk.1:36), filled with the Holy Spirit from birth (Lk.1:15), seeing the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus’ head at the River Jordan and hearing god say, ‘This is my son …’(Matt.3:16-17)?
8- sacrifice his own life to save sinners misled by Satan when, logically, it is the troublemaker Satan who should have been crucified/ destroyed to keep humanity safe?
9- fail to stop sin and overcome death to this day which was his chief mission and the reason his blood was shed?
10- fail to impress contemporary historians who never noticed him, resulting in the story of Jesus being found in the Gospels only, and nowhere else? Yet we have recorded histories of Alexander the Greek, Julius Caesar, Hammurabi, Aristotle, Plato, Egyptian pharaohs, born long before the fiction of Jesus was created!
And is it possible that the same god who sent Jesus to Judea also sent angel Gabriel to prophet Mohammed of Arabia to tell him a different gospel, that-
1- As God is not begotten, similarly he did not begat Jesus (sura 19);
2- Jesus was not crucified on the cross, though it appeared so to his tormentors (sura 4:157)
3- Jews and Christians had misrepresented God’s true word (sura 98)?
Faith cannot turn fiction into fact! Let’s use our God-given intellect more.
Lameck Remigo, for someone who hate God and his children (Christians), fighting profusely to deny His existence, you show great faith by your knowledge in the very scripture of God you are attempting to deny. If I was not already a servant of God, your dissertation would certainly make a believer out of me. Well done, mate.
You are a wise person Naomi.
Please read the first eighteen chapters of Revelations to find who is in charge, and will rein for ever
AMEN
Totally agree, this is a very sinister development, and I immediately stop reading or watching articles or documentaries that use these anti-Christian and ambiguous neologisms in their narration, their epystemological integrity just cannot be trusted.
I agree whole-heartedly.
It is not a shame and very much long overdue! Christian doctrine is nothing more than ideas, desires, thoughts and feelings of the corrupt, power hungry early Roman church leaders and politicians. Those who created a storybook in order to control people. Yes, we are finally moving past all that rubbish and nonsense. Those same corrupt individuals placed all their own laws, rules and ideas into that old book and beat it into the people of those days in certain regions until the lies and bullshit became truth to many and even millions still living here and now in our day and time. They placed BS in that book like “false prophets” so that you will never read any other book but theirs. Fact! Let me ask you christians, when God or Jesus speak to humanity how can you christians ever hear them, when you have been brainwashed into believing that they only spoke one time and then went silent forever? You people have slammed the door on God and Jesus thinking they went silent long ago. How stupid is that? I mean, who told you this? Your church? School teachers or your parents? LOL, do you really believe that “inspiration” stopped at some point? How can you make that decision? Who told you that? Do we not have art, music, movies, inventions, medical breakthroughs and many other things in our lives here now all inspired by the Highest Source? Yes or No? Please tell me! Not because I want to know, but because I want to see what is your answer and the Source of it. We have millions of people living here now who can look at a book cover or title and tell the rest of the world, No that is not from God or No that is not something God has said or would say. Is that not hilarious? If God inspired Me would you know it? Hell no! You don’t have a clue! You do understand that the only thing you can do with the bible is form opinions? Fact! And every church has their own opinions. Opinions are not Truth. Man that sucks for you all. Living your life with opinions only. Which church speaks the truth? Yours? LOL, do you really think that God and Jesus do not see the HUGE mess that is the bible? They don’t see it? How everyone who attempts to read or understand it can only form opinions? Do they see this mess? And yet they have done nothing about it right? WRONG! Here is a hint; Jesus was born in the fall and not the spring or in April. He said so himself. He and God have never gone silent. They speak to us all the time and in many ways. Get caught up! The stagnation and decline started with the brainwashing and power play by those very Romans who you all think were inspired by God! Tell me why the most spiritual place in the world, India, has no bibles? There have been many living Masters there walking among us who are and were no different than Jesus. We have one here right now and He has Millions of followers all over the world. He represents no faith or religion. You christians are so far behind it might take you two or three more lifetimes to get caught up with Reality, what is True and what is Not.
Whoa! Jeff, Roman Catholic religion is not the true religion of Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact, Jesus specifically said “I will build my church and THE GATE OF HELL WILL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT”. Jeff, their is a true followers of Jesus Christ that make up his “CHURCH”, then their is Satanic counter religion attempting to prevail, usurp over the true church, which is the gate of hell- The Roman Catholic church.
Yes indeed. This is the first time I’m seeing this and it’s saddening to see it get this far. But ah well, The Father’s will, will be done and Christ shall reign again. God bless!
I’m not a religious person by any means, but have to say that changing the timeline is as idiotic as changing our vocabulary to suit the needs of individuals that don’t agree with it such as the many recently created “genders.” As far as Im concerned, the decline of religion is a move in a positive direction for society, however, the newfound need to adapt to the will of anyone who considers themselves “offended” is not.
But year zero is still there no matter the terms used. And even though it is probably not exact, year zero still is our reference point and that point points to Christ!
You’re exactly right.
My thought exactly!
B. Anthony, you are exactly right on point. As a young Christian in Theology School in the 80’s, I often had no small disagreement with my professors, because I saw first hand how crafty they were in changing scripture interpretation to align more closely to Roman catholic subversion.
Let it be. I hope Christians relate this to Christ forever. All nations, I would like to think, would be better served to use the same reference; however, if a nation wants to refer to it as B.C.E and A.D.E. removing the Christian association, should be tolerated, even by Christians, to promote and provide peaceful accords. What bothers me is that weak thinking professors, educators, historians, and leftist politicians promote and believe the changes to be a progressive advancement. There is an 8 letter word for this nonsense, which refers to the excretement of mail bovines.
true
I’m not in agreement to change from BC, AD to BCE and CE. It seems we are removing Christ Jesus our Lord GOD. This isn’t a good idea when you consider GOD protects this country USA.
Thank You So Much For Teaching On AD, BC, BCE AND CE?”
I am so grateful for all the research and time that you did to give such an excellent answer!
THANK YOU FOR SHARING AND EXPLAINING THIS IS SOMETHING WE ALL NEED TO KNOW, I NEVER REALLY UNSTOOD EXACTLY WHAT AD AND BC MEANT UNTIL NOW, THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU
Thanku so much for giving such important knowledge about AD, BC, BCE &CE.
The event or occurrence and the dividing line between BCE and CE has been, and will ever be, the birth of Christ! This alteration of thousands of years of history is another attempt by “progressive” liberals to alter history ending in a strictly secular society. Bad form. Bad form indeed.
CE has been in use for centuries to refer to time periods when comparing texts of different religious groups, and is equivalent to a term in both hebrew and latin religious orders. It stands for Common Era, which was used interchangeably with Christian Era and Vulgar Era for hundreds of years, and can be found as is in catholic texts from the 18th century. It is far more accurate, universal description when working with multiple groups not of european origin. The fact that you take it as a religious affront has zero basis in actual fact.
I was knowing meaning of BC only. Now it is very clear. Thanks.
Wish we could go back and correct any grammatical errors in our posts
Shiloh will check with the web master to see if there is some sort of setting.
Hahaha
Like “mail” bovines!?
Still Bull_ _ _ _
– manure:)
Thank you Jesus, I trust you & am following & giving my heart to you, with curiosity & love of a child that is within my heart. You know all that I don’t understand & you have patiently lead me on my path of service. Teaching me the merit of obedience to you Lord, even after decades of rebellious resistance & my willful ways. It is truly obvious to me now, thankfully, that you are in charge, not me. I may share in your Peace of Christ by allowing you to make me right, in your eyes. Each day, in every way, I get to make a choice to pay attention to your ways & many a prophet’s cautions.
You are my hope, salvation, & Love.
Thank you Holy Spirit for always being present, most especially when I have lost my way and succumbed to my broken & confused attempts, “at doing it my way!” You are a patient teacher Lord, my God. Temptation has won quite a few battles, and you Lord have won my heart and soul! You teach me how to be more patient, tolerant, & less alone in my human grief. You have taught me to, “run my story,” in service to others & you, Lord, for your Glory.
In Jesus mighty name! Amen & Hallelujah ♥️
Well explained. Thank you very much for this great information. Everyone must know this important fact. I salute you guys. GOD BLESS US ALL!!!
Ability to edit what you write would be good. At least when it comes to spelling.
I don’t think much can be done about grammatical errors, if people do not know they are making them.
No controversy JESUS CHRIST IS THE LORD.
Not true
Amen
You are right Vince
Jesus Christ is LORD of Lords and KING of kings.
Jesus The Christ is the only, only man who died and was raised from death and is alive with all power in heaven and earth. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man can get to the Father in heaven except through Him.
What if some don’t believe; let the True and Living God be true; and everyone who disagree is a liar, like their father the devil.
I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.
There is nothing to debate; believe and return to the Father; don’t believe and go with Lucifer, the devil, the dragon, the deceiver to hell. Your choice.
What Shiloh said. Why did we start using CE and BCE? Because our society is dominated by the politically correct clowns who are nazi-like in shoving that political correctness down everyone’s throat and just look for excuses to pitch a hissy fit to anyone who dares not to fall in line.
You don’t see Christians whining because there are names of days and months not Christian based…..but God forbid we use BC and AD just because it was originated by the Catholic Church. The horror! (I actually know atheists who won’t say “God forbid” because of an equally idiotic aversion to saying the word “God”…..unless of course it’s in a derogatory way. hey no silly hypocrisy there, lol) It’s all PC idiocy to the point of absurd, but again that’s our society all over. And to be honest I’m not sure which is worse: the PC nazis or those who allow themselves to be bullied by the PC nazis. Sad.
I wrote a reply earlier but it never got published. There really is no such time frame as BC ( Before Christ ) as there was no time before Christ. Christ has always been, yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever. I prefer to say BC as (Before Crucifixion ) and instead of AD I prefer to say AR as ( After Resurrection ).
As a teacher I was surprised several years ago at the use of BCE and CE. Even in public school I taught the meanings of BC and AD. I honestly believe that BCE and CE were instituted not for clarity, or for historical sake, but only to remove the Latin and the word “Christ”. I have never agreed with the change and will never use it.
Here In Malawi, and as it might be with many African countries with no record of early civilisation, have always used BC and AD ever since they were introduced. I came to this website when i head rumors of CE and BCE usage.
As a Christian am not suprised at all with the coming in of CE and BCE, the world is hostile to Christ and his disciples even from the start.
And I also know that this antchrist wave will soon reach Africa just like many immorality cases destroying many african societies.
But i don’t lose faith because “JESUS IS LORD”
It may be that Christianity remains predominate is because when an atheist truly becomes a dedicated atheist he or she does their very best to disapprove Christianity. When that occurs they often discover that Christianity is the truth. Example CS Lewis. There are others. This is perhaps why Christianity remains the predominant faith.
I don’t have a problem with it anyway, cause BCE can actually and very naturally mean “Before Christ Era” and CE can easily mean “Christ Era”. So basically, no change there, and apparently, when thinking of it, those coming up with it, were divinelly affected to come up with something solidifying the meaning.
Scripture says, and I believe, that Christ was in the beginning. Everything was made by and for Him. May be what is not clear, is that He existed before time was created along with God and Holy Spirit…..The Trinity. For which we cannot measure……..
I would like to think that BC can refer to events before Christ was born on earth; as well as before the crucifixion. AD can refer to events after his death. And would even consider AR.. after resurrection….for understanding purposes. As for Christian Era…with out Christ there would be no such era.
Really, we can’t place time frames on Christ…. all present, all knowing, all present…..God the Son. However, it helps us understand and see his Glory and how it affects us.
Outstanding and accurate answer lady.
The Bible made it clear in the book of Revelation 22:13 that Jesus Christ is : The Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End of all things. So it is not a coincidence that everything refers to him through the use of BC and AD in the calendars. Nothing can have historical meaning without him because through him all things were made and as such He is the beginning and the end of everything. Even things that happened before his coming into the world must refer to him before it can have historical meaning because all Authority in Heaven and on Earth have been given to him as the King of kings and the Lord of lords, John 1:1-14, Matthew 28:18
So, um, i get what BC and AD and all that mean, but I wouldn’t get on a high horse about the use of BCE etc as a way to “dis” Christ. People existed and counted years long before he was around. Lots of cultures that didn’t know he had ever existed seem to have been able to adapt and get on with the common system as we know it globally. Who cares what its called, as long as we know what the date is today and how many years ago stuff happened for history’s sake?
Hear,hear.most sensible thing said out of everything
Thanks God! I would love to use BCE / CE instead BC / AD. Because it is much easier for me to remember and cause not confusing. BCE abbreviation for ” Before Christ Era ” and CE abbreviation for ” Christ Era “. Thanks for whoever made that changed.
It seems to me that the reference to “Our Lord” or “Jesus Christ” is historical in nature (BC & AD) and caused no controversy in its day. Because regardless of different world religions, the 1st advent of Christ from a histosrical perspective was commonly recognized, even by Muslims. To change it now, some 2000 years later, signifies erasing the fact that Jesus walked this Earth. It is not any different from taking “In God We Trust” off the USA coins or trying to say the Holocaost never really existed. Modifying historical events does not negate they ever happened.
Denise, you are correct.
To those who are not Christians –
Jesus said to love one another, and to love your neighbor as yourself. Not to be selfish, even to give the coat off your back to one who needs it. To care for the orphan and widow because this was true charity.
Don’t confuse Jesus with the many crazy’s over the last 2000 years. They only used his name because it was a means to their own selfish ends.
Peace to you
Just keep using what you have been taught to use…AD BC..and if someone wants you to change that just tell them to GFT….as you have been taught how to reply to people that want YOU to accept their beliefs…imo
There’s absolutely nothing common about the “common era,” so if we must use it, we should always refer to it as the “Christian Era,” which would make a lot more sense and be more accurate. And of course BCE means “Before the Christian Era.”
The initiators of the transition to CE/BCE just want to rid the history of Jesus Christ. The less He is mentioned the better – that’s their idea. But, believe it or not, the world’s cilture is a Christian culture (moral rules, priority of family, personal growth, progress of the mankind, the Ten Commandments, Seven dealy sins, etc.). Even if you are an atheist, you still share the same values. Now the idea is to remove the values out of the human mind and introduce other values (race for personal pleasure, power cult, human biology change, etc.). It’s a complex process, and the introduction of CE/BCE is just a small, yet important trait….
Common Era sound ridiculous to me! What did early Christians have in common with tribesmen in remote rainforests who used to kill enemies for meat? What did medieval Bysantine Empire have in common with guys in Africa who didn’t even have an alphabet?
The more I read some of these comments the more I shake my head. I don’t care how people refer to these time periods as long as they know what they mean. If I don’t know what they mean then I will ask them! Nobody can make you change what you think is the correct way, so don’t worry about it. Life is too short. I am going to stick with the Wiccan calendar.
Up here, most of you concerned about Christian affected. OK. Let’s remove everything that was created or related to Christian. Christian’s era was 2000 years only but if it was removed then our would world come back to the chaos of Stone Age that is certain.
Our world is in many ways coming back to stone age and our country is falling apart because we are so divided that we cant get anything accomplished. I pray everyday for this world and do not judge. What people to chose to believe and what they to use to judge their time A.D., B.C. or B.C.E. is their business. I can have discussions with people who believe like me and tell them what I believe but I also listen to them and give them the respect that I expect in return. Though I have had many things happen to me in my life. As a matter of fact I had a friend say to me me the other day, because of something that happened to me, he said, because of things like this is why i have problems believing in God, I told him you can’t believe in one and not the other. talking about Satan
and everything happens for a reason and that person is at home with God and we will see them again one day. I know where I am going and hopefully him also. I pray that we will all be one day. Pray for all our brothers and sisters. I will pray for those who I read all of their post. Lets start working together and enjoy the beauty of the world that the Lord has given us to enjoy instead of fighting and disagreeing upon everything and destroying this universe.
calm down christians. Jesus! would you feel better if someone told you that you still can use the terms bc & ad? because…you can! I’m fairly certain that you won’t offend anyone in the bubble you live in. lol. have a blessed day;)
Anonymous Agnostic; you need help. I am going to pray that your soul will be saved. In case no one has told you; Jesus is the reason you are. He is a Sovereign God; He doesn’t need my permission or your permission to do anything. He knows that you ignorantly spoke so he’s lol at you. Be blessed. Ask Jesus to introduce Himself to you. He can. Lol
One reason that I spend a little time reading these posts that people leave is to get a perspective on what the people that are visiting sites like this are thinking and believing enough to feel they should post their views. I dont mean the ones who attack and try to bully others with whatever words they can use to get into an argument or to prove that they feel they are something or someone that should be listened to and respected or even feared. I mean the ones that are easily recognized as concerned and educated and for the most part good people who dont use profanity or other forms of hatred in order to make their points. I respect and or abide by the fact that they have opinions as do I. I think its awesome that no one can change my views even after so many years and that the relationship I have with my God is ever growing and ever stronger. The Son has came , was crucified and died . There is nothing that I can say that any one doesnt already know in order to either save his own soul or to lose it. Probably the most important knowledge to possess in these final days. I can at least try to tell everyone at least through word of mouth and via this world wide web that if we are to survive as a race , as a planet that we need to stop all the hate because it breeds everything we really do not want at all in any way. Most dont even know they dont and continue hating . Christ asked God to “forgive them , for they know not what they do”. If thats not one of the most true proclamations ever then I dont know what can be because we really have no clue what we are doing most of the time and we run on co pilot and believe things we shouldnt be exposed to in the first place. Religion and cultural differences aside , if we are good people and good to each other then I think we can start to change for the better.
Sure. If we have accepted Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday…. January, February, March…why press hard to change BC and AD. These calendar features have now taken a standard format are are “widely” used across the globe. Even in case where people have other numbering systems, they certainly will be compelled to refer to this Gregorian calendar – if they are to be understood by people from other parts of the world. Jesus Christ is a key person known in many parts of the globe; if He should be the reference point for the calendar years, should there be any problem. If this has been the case in many places, for many centuries, why should we labor to change this? Will Monday, Tuesday, January… also come under scrutiny some day? PSK