What do BC and AD (B.C. and A.D.) stand for?

Fall Worldview

TL;DR:

BC means “Before Christ,” and AD means “in the year of our Lord,” marking time around the coming of Jesus. Dionysius introduced AD to create a Christian calendar of observances, which later spread into everyday use in the West, followed by BC to refer to dates before Jesus.

what does the bible say?

BC means “Before Christ,” and AD stands for Anno Domini, Latin for “in the year of our Lord.” Before these markers, dates were commonly identified by the reign of a ruler. We see such examples in Scripture, such as when Luke said, “in the days of Herod” (Luke 1:5) or when the author of Esther said, “in the days of Ahasuerus” (Esther 1:1). Such references worked locally but were not universally recognized and changed with each new ruler.

AD came into use because Dionysius Exiguus desired to create a calendar for Christian observances by counting years from the incarnation of Christ. That system gradually spread beyond church use and became the standard in much of the Western world, with BC being added later to mark earlier dates.

Making Jesus the transition point is logical because He represents the change in the relationship between humanity and God. He was prophesied (Isaiah 9:6–7; Micah 5:2), and His coming was the peak of history (Galatians 4:4; Luke 2:1–7). Modern scholars have attempted to diminish Christ’s importance by using BCE (“before the common era”) and CE (“common era”) notations. However, even secular calendars still place Jesus at the center of history.

from the old testament

From Genesis and the promise of a seed (Genesis 3:15) to the promises given to Abram (Genesis 12:1–3), and the expectation of a final King in the line of David (2 Samuel 7:12), the Old Testament pointed forward to the coming of a promised Savior. The prophets spoke clearly of that Messiah, saying that salvation would come through Him (Isaiah 53:5–6) and that He would rule humanity (Isaiah 9:6–7). Thus, describing history as pointing toward Jesus, that history is rightly called BC, “before Christ.”

from the new testament

Before AD/BC, dates were often identified in relation to rulers and their reigns or by the period in which something occurred. For example, Luke did this when he started Luke 1:5 by saying, “in the days of Herod.” While dates based on a particular ruler were clear in a local context, they were not universally recognized.
Scripture shows that Jesus is the center of history, making the AD designation logical. For example, Matthew opens up by showing how Jesus was the culmination of Israel’s story (Matthew 1:1–17).
Paul referred to Jesus’ coming “in the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4), a reference to God's significant transition in His relationship to humanity at that time. Indeed, when Jesus arrived, the angels announced, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14). When Jesus came, a way of peace opened up between humanity and God. The use of AD marked that transition.

implications for today

When Jesus first came into the world, He brought peace (Luke 2:14). That peace was the restoration of a broken relationship between humanity and God. From that moment forward, history was no longer about wondering how to fix its problem with God, but about looking back to God’s provided solution. Even secular history, whether it acknowledges Christ or not, still measures time by His arrival.

Before Jesus came, humanity was in rebellion with God, separated from relationship with Him because of sin. While He provided temporary means of forgiveness to the Israelites, the rest of the world remained without even that small (and imperfect) hope. Jesus came to die as a sacrifice in place of repentant sinners. The peace the angels declared was made possible by Him living perfectly and then dying in the place of sinners (Romans 5:1; Colossians 1:19–20).

This is what makes AD so significant: it marks the time in history when the olive branch of salvation is offered to everyone. Those who trust in Christ cease being God’s enemies and become part of His family (John 1:12; Romans 8:15). BOne day, history will end, and that chance for salvation will be gone forever. But for now, all who accept Christ as Savior should repent now while there is still time.

understand

BC means “Before Christ,” and AD means “in the year of our Lord.”
AD was introduced by Dionysius Exiguus for a Christian calendar; BC was later added for earlier dates.
Jesus is the biblical turning point of history, so time is measured around His coming.

reflect

How does realizing that history is centered on Christ shape the way you view your own life story and priorities right now?
How are you living as someone who exists on the AD side of history—after Christ has brought peace with God?
How does seeing Jesus as the turning point of all history influence your urgency to repent, trust Him, and live faithfully today?

engage

How does the BC/AD framework help us understand the Bible’s story as one unified plan pointing to Christ?
What does it reveal about Jesus that even secular history still measures time around His coming?
How should viewing Christ as the center of history shape our message, mission, and sense of urgency in sharing the Gospel?

More Resources

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What year was Jesus Christ born?

The Bible does not explicitly teach the exact day or even the exact year in which Jesus was born, but Jesus Christ was most likely born between 6 and 4 BC, based on historical clues. While the exact year isn’t certain, what matters most is that Jesus came into the world to fulfill God’s redemptive plan—a truth we can celebrate every day.

God’s Plan

What is the basic timeline of the New Testament?

The New Testament traces Jesus’ life, ministry, and resurrection, followed by the rapid growth of the early church and Paul’s missionary journeys. The timeline of the New Testament reveals God’s purposeful work in history and invites us to faithfully live out His plan today.

God’s Plan

What is the basic timeline of the Old Testament?

The Old Testament timeline traces God’s unfolding plan from creation through key events like the Flood, the Exodus, the monarchy, and the exile, leading to the promised Messiah. Understanding the Old Testament timeline reveals centuries of prophecy and covenant, showing God’s faithful and sovereign work throughout history.

People in the Bible

Did the people in the Bible have last names?

Most people in the Bible did not have last names. People with surnames had them to identify ethnicity, parentage, or where they were from.