It is often explained that BC stands for “before Christ” and AD stands for “after death.” Although people say it, the fact is that this is only half correct.
BC does stand for “before Christ.” But AD is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase Anno Domini, which means “in the year of our Lord.”
The BC/AD dating system is not taught in the Bible. It was, in fact, not fully implemented and accepted until several centuries after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension.
The BC/AD dating system aimed to make the birth of Jesus Christ the dividing point of world history. This intention is interesting. However, when the BC/AD system was being calculated, scholars made a mistake in pinpointing the year of Jesus’ birth.
Later scholars determined that Jesus was born 6—4 BC, not AD 1.
Actually the precise date is a minor issue. The main point is that the life of Christ is the turning point in world history. He truly changed the world.
It is fitting that the life of Jesus Christ is the separation of “old” and “new.” The appearance of the Son of God incarnate brought forth significant change. The Light shined in darkness (John 1:5). The Shepherd began gathering His lambs. The Victor commenced His conquest (1 John 3:8).
The world “BC” was quite different. Since Jesus’ coming, we have truly been living “in the year of our Lord.” Jesus influenced world history in profound ways, and He reigns supreme as the Lord of creation.
One day all created beings will recognize His lordship. “At the name of Jesus every knee [will] bow, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. Every tongue will acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10–11).
In recent times, there has been a push to replace the BC and AD labels. The new labels are BCE and CE. They mean “before common era” and “common era,” respectively. The change is simply one of woke and progressive semantics. AD 100 is the same as 100 CE. Only the label changes.
The advocates of the switch from BC/AD to BCE/CE argue for the change. They say the newer designations are better because they lack religious connotations. This helps avoid offending other cultures and religions who may not see Jesus as “Lord.”
The irony, of course, is that what distinguishes BCE from CE is still the life and times of Jesus Christ. He is still the turning point.
We see the principle of BC/AD at work on the micro level in the personal stories of individual believers. The dividing line in every believer’s life is his or her faith response to Jesus Christ. Before a person is saved, he lives in his own particular “BC” era, as it were.
Paul describes our condition before faith in Christ: “You were dead in your transgressions and sins. . . . [You] followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, . . . gratifying the cravings of [your] flesh and following its desires and thoughts, . . . by nature deserving of wrath” (Ephesians 2:1–3).
But after a person is saved, everything changes. The grace of God transforms us. In the “AD” part of our lives, Jesus is Lord. “The new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
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Thank you for sharing this.
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Clever Journeys 
Interesting. Thanks for sharing.
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Yeah, I’m not a fan of the new nomenclature. What does “common era” even mean? As you say, the turning point of history is still the life of Yeshua. The individual application is a good one. I’ve heard people refer to their own lives BC.
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What a beautiful teaching! Thank you.
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Interesting information! The advocates for change must not be bothered by the months named after non-Biblical gods or goddesses-January, March, May, and June. 🙂
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Good point!
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That IS beautifully put. And we use B.C. and A.D. to honor Him; the idea they have is to dethrone Him. As Psalm 2 says, “The LORD sits in the heavens and laughs; He sees their day is coming,”, because now, as you said, every year is His year. Nothing can change that. Wow, when I think of what I was B.C., and what I would be W.H. (without Him)
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Don’t care what the heathens say or do, it is and always be Before his death and In the year of our Lord. remember when pbs started doing the change, heck even some theologians are using the fake new stuff, how sad, in the end the Most High will make it right
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Amen
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~~>>… “The dividing line in every believer’s life is his or her faith response to Jesus Christ. Before a person is saved, he lives in his own particular “BC” era, as it were.”
Ooh! I really, really like that!
So then, for me, personally, everything prior to April 6, 1994 was B.C. Ha! Going forward, I could definitely have some fun with this B.C. idea.
DIVINE IRONY (Or, HOW I FOUND GOD IN HELL.A.)
https://xtremelyun-pcandunrepentant.blogspot.com/2024/08/divine-irony-or-how-i-found-god-in-la.html
~ D-FensDogG
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