What do BC and AD stand for?

Definition and Overview

BC and AD are chronological notations used in many English-speaking contexts to distinguish historical dates before and after the birth of Jesus Christ. “BC” stands for “Before Christ,” indicating all years before the traditional understanding of the birth year of Jesus. “AD” is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase “Anno Domini,” meaning “in the year of the Lord.” Thus, 1 BC is the year supposedly ending right before Christ’s birth, and AD 1 begins immediately after.

These designations have been fundamental in Western calendars for centuries. They provide a historical framework that anchors world history around the birth event of Jesus Christ as a pivotal moment in time.

Historical Origin of the Terms

Before the current BC and AD styles of dating came into popular usage, various ancient cultures employed numerous methods to mark the passage of time, such as counting years from the founding of a city (e.g., Rome) or based on the reign of a specific king or emperor.

1. Dionysius Exiguus

In the 6th century AD, a monk named Dionysius Exiguus proposed a new numbering system for years. His goal was partly to determine the correct date for Easter, but he also wanted to create a timeline centered around what he believed to be the year of Jesus’ birth. This system began to replace older systems (like dating by the reign of Diocletian) and slowly gained prominence.

2. The Venerable Bede

In the 8th century, the English historian known as the Venerable Bede further popularized Dionysius’ system by using BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini) throughout his works, including his “Ecclesiastical History of the English People.” Bede’s influential writings helped cement BC and AD in scholarly contexts and across Europe.

3. Wider Adoption

Over the centuries, the Church, various governments, and institutions embraced these designations. By using Jesus’ birth as the dividing line of historical eras, a Christ-centric view of history emerged in the Western world. This system was eventually carried worldwide, especially through European exploration and colonization, although some parts of the world continue to employ alternative dating systems alongside the Western one.

Theological Significance of Anchoring Time to Christ

1. Centrality of Christ

By marking time around the birth of Jesus, BC and AD underscore the monumental significance He holds. Galatians 4:4 says, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son…” This passage indicates that Jesus’ coming was a precise and divinely ordained event, pivotal not only in Christian theology but also in how human history is recorded.

2. Symbolic Representation

AD literally means “in the year of the Lord,” emphasizing that every year after Christ’s birth is lived in recognition of His lordship. Likewise, BC (“Before Christ”) signifies the anticipation or waiting period leading up to His incarnation, reflecting the scriptural narrative of hope for the Messiah’s arrival as prophesied in the Old Testament.

3. Reflection of a Sovereign Creator

From a biblical viewpoint, God is the Author of time and existence (cf. Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”). By aligning our calendar with Christ’s birth, the recognition of God’s sovereignty and redemptive plan is woven into the fabric of historical recordkeeping.

Common Alternatives and Cultural Shifts

In modern academic and secular contexts, there is sometimes a shift towards using “BCE” (Before Common Era) and “CE” (Common Era) instead of BC and AD. Nevertheless, these designations still revolve around the same historical point (the traditional birth year of Christ). The impetus for this change often arises from efforts to make dating systems religiously neutral in multi-faith or secular environments. However, the historical foundation remains rooted in the significance of Jesus’ life.

Chronological Precision and Debate

While BC and AD were formulated to hinge on the year of Jesus’ birth, a number of scholars note that the actual birth year of Christ could range between 6 BC and 4 BC based on historical and astronomical calculations—such as the reign of Herod the Great as cited in Matthew 2. Archaeological and historical studies, including findings about Herod’s death, attempts to match the Star of Bethlehem with specific celestial events, and textual evidence from the ancient Jewish historian Josephus, raise discussion around the exact timing. Despite these variations, the notations BC and AD remain a widespread and practical method for referring to historical dates.

Archaeological and Historical Corroborations

Although the question focuses on BC and AD, it is worth noting that archaeological and textual evidence consistently illuminate the ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman contexts, confirming the general historical setting of biblical events.

• Discoveries such as the Dead Sea Scrolls corroborate Old Testament writings and support the reliability of the biblical text within their historical frames.

• Roman records, ancient coins, and inscriptions also place events mentioned in the New Testament within verifiable historical dates. These elements indirectly affirm the overall timeframe in which Jesus was born, ministered, and was crucified, thus integrating neatly with the BC/AD chronology.

Why These Terms Continue to Hold Significance

1. Historical Continuity

Much of Western history, scholarship, and documentation relies on BC and AD. Efforts to reinterpret the calendar terms do not change the calendar’s fundamental chronological anchor.

2. Shared Cultural Reference

Regardless of individual faith persuasions, the BC and AD system remains a common point of reference enabling shared understanding of timelines in literature, historical documents, and archaeology.

3. Focus on Christ’s Identity

BC and AD testify to an ancient and enduring recognition of Jesus as not merely a historical figure but the focal point of redemptive history. It reflects an underlying acknowledgment—present for many centuries—that His birth, life, death, and resurrection hold transformational importance for humanity.

Practical Use and Continuation

Despite debates over abbreviations, the BC and AD system remains deeply ingrained in academia, religious practice, and everyday life. Educational institutions, official records, and even many scientific studies continue to use the BC/AD (or BCE/CE) framework. Both references underscore that the timeline around the birth of Christ is a significant benchmark for marking world history.

Conclusion

BC, “Before Christ,” and AD, “Anno Domini,” are chronological notations that place the life and birth of Jesus Christ at the center of recorded time. Their origin traces back to early Medieval scholars, primarily through Dionysius Exiguus, and became embedded in the fabric of Western civilization, with the Venerable Bede popularizing their usage. While modern culture sometimes adopts secular variations, the historical rationale for BC and AD remains rooted in the recognition of Jesus as a pivotal figure in world history.

By defining all events leading up to Jesus’ birth as “Before Christ” and all years since as “in the year of the Lord,” this calendar system quite literally underscores the profound impact of the birth of Christ. The Hebrew Scriptures foretold a Messiah, the New Testament recounts the fulfillment of these prophecies in Jesus, and the dating framework itself reflects that fulfillment within the timeline of human history.