The birth of Jesus divides time

Dear Chaplain: I’ve been curious about something I hope you can explain. If all the years before Christ was born were dated B.C., and all the years after he died were dated A.D., what were the years called when Jesus was living on earth? — Signed, BC or AD

Dear BC or AD: Thanks so much for your question. Many years ago in the Middle Ages, countries and religions calculated dates and times differently, based on variety of things, because there wasn’t a unified dating system. Around the 6th century, Pope John 1 asked Dionysius Exiguus (Dennis the small), a Russian monk, to figure out a correct dating system so they could consistently celebrate Easter, the most important Christian holiday, which commemorates the resurrection of Christ. So the monk using his calculations, determined the date he thought Jesus was born. Any date that occurred before the birth of Christ he called B.C. “Before Christ.” And any date that occurred after the birth of Christ, he called A.D., “Anno Domino,” which means “in the year of the Lord,” in Latin. And thus, the B.C./ A.D. dating system began.

The abbreviation A.D. is often mistaken for “after death,” meaning “after the death of Christ.” Although on the surface this reference may seem appropriate and true, excluding the 33 years Jesus walked the earth, but it is not. The monk wouldn’t have separated time based on the birth and death of Christ. For one, it would have left a gap in time being neither B.C. or A.D., as you referred to in your question; and two) the death of Christ was not the end of Christ or the most significant marker in his life, but rather his birth and resurrection was. His physical death was only a short pause in his life, and not a permanent condition. Jesus was quickly raised, showed himself to many, and then ascended to heaven where he continues lives on, and reign. The monk correctly referred to years after the “birth” of Christ, as A.D., Anno Domino, “in the year of the Lord”... because every year after he was born belongs to him.

There are some who are trying to change the name of the dating system to BCE (before common era) and CE (Common Era). They want to remove all references of Christ because it underscores that indeed Jesus existed, and he was so significant that even his birth divides time. But despite these efforts, the B.C./A.D. dating system still remains the international standard for dates and years, known throughout the world today.

So, in answer to your question, A.D. after a date doesn’t refer to after the death of Christ, but after his birth. And therefore all the years Christ lived on earth were A.D. years, beginning with 1 A.D.

Ask the Chaplain is written by Rev. Dayna Spence, an ordained minister, licensed evangelist, and chaplain who’s served as a hospital chaplain and is currently serving as a hospice chaplain Chester County area. Please email “Ask the Chaplain” at 4thechaplain@gmail.com or write to, PO Box 1284, West Chester, PA 19380.