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== Epoch in Chronology ==

== Epoch in Chronology ==

In [[chronology]], an epoch is an event from which a [[calendar]] numbers its years. The most common epochs used in ancient societies were the accessions-to-the-throne of particular kings; hence a scribe might mark a date as "in such-a-year of the reign of such-a-king." The [[Rome|Roman]] Republic used as its epoch the year of the founding of Rome itself; hence the ''ab urbe condita'' date, but later abandoned that system and simply named each succeeding year after the [[consul|consuls]] who governed the state in that year. For example, the year we number as 70 BC was called ''annum consulatis Gnaei Pompeii Magni et Marci Licinii Crassi'', because the Roman statesmen Pompey and Crassus were consuls in that year. With the coming of the Empire under [[Augustus]], Romans marked their years as "in such-a-year of the Principate of such-an-Emperor." The First Republic of [[France]] briefly used as an epoch an arbitrary year in which they instituted the [[Joseph Lagrange]] [[French Republican Calendar]]. Finally, [[Islam]] uses as its epoch the [[Hegira]], or the flight of [[Muhammad]] from [[Mecca]] to [[Medina]]. This occured in 632 AD.

In [[chronology]], an epoch is an event from which a [[calendar]] numbers its years. The most common epochs used in ancient societies were the accessions-to-the-throne of particular kings; hence a scribe might mark a date as "in such-a-year of the reign of such-a-king." The [[Rome|Roman]] Republic used as its epoch the year of the founding of Rome itself; hence the ''ab urbe condita'' date, but later abandoned that system and simply named each succeeding year after the [[consul|consuls]] who governed the state in that year. For example, the year we number as 70 BC was called ''annum consulatis Gnaei Pompeii Magni et Marci Licinii Crassi'', because the Roman statesmen Pompey and Crassus were consuls in that year. With the coming of the Empire under [[Augustus]], Romans marked their years as "in such-a-year of the Principate of such-an-Emperor." The First Republic of [[France]] briefly used as an epoch an arbitrary year in which they instituted the [[Joseph Lagrange]] [[French Republican Calendar]]. Finally, [[Islam]] uses as its epoch the [[Hegira]], or the flight of [[Muhammad]] from [[Mecca]] to [[Medina]]. This occured in 632 AD.

=== Biblical epochs ===

=== Biblical epochs ===

==== New Testament ====

==== New Testament ====

The obvious epoch of the New Testament is the Birth of [[Jesus Christ]]. With the establishment of a form of Christianity as the state religion in the [[Rome|Roman]] Empire by Emperor [[Constantine]], this epoch was arbitrarily reckoned as corresponding to the thirtieth year of the Principate of [[Augustus]]. The rationale was as follows: {{Bible ref|book=Luke|chap=3|verses=1}} says that "in the fifteenth year of the reign of [[Tiberius]]," [[John the Baptist]] began his career. In that year, or so the scholars assumed, Jesus came to the [[Jordan (river)|Jordan]] and asked John to baptize him. {{Bible ref|book=Luke|chap=3|verses=23}} says that Jesus was "about thirty years old" at the time. Thus the scholars counted backward thirty years from the fifteenth year of Tiberius--which was the thirty-first year of Augustus--and designated that year as 1 AD (for ''anno Domini'', literally "In the year of the Lord.") This remains today the epoch of the [[Julian calendar]] and the later [[Gregorian calendar]] that most of the world uses.

The obvious epoch of the New Testament is the Birth of [[Jesus Christ]]. With the establishment of a form of Christianity as the state religion in the [[Rome|Roman]] Empire by Emperor [[Constantine]], this epoch was arbitrarily reckoned as corresponding to the thirtieth year of the Principate of [[Augustus]]. The rationale was as follows: {{Bible ref|book=Luke|chap=3|verses=1}} says that "in the fifteenth year of the reign of [[Tiberius]]," [[John the Baptist]] began his career. In that year, or so the scholars assumed, Jesus came to the [[Jordan (river)|Jordan]] and asked John to baptize him. {{Bible ref|book=Luke|chap=3|verses=23}} says that Jesus was "about thirty years old" at the time. Thus the scholars counted backward thirty years from the fifteenth year of Tiberius--which was the thirty-first year of Augustus--and designated that year as 1 AD. This remains today the epoch of the [[Julian calendar]] and the later [[Gregorian calendar]] that most of the world uses.

However, historical records of the reign of [[Herod|Herod the Great]] show that he died in what is now called 4 BC--four years earlier. [[James Ussher]] thus reckoned that Christ was actually born in 5 BC. This is the best estimate we have to synchronize this epoch with modern times.

However, historical records of the reign of [[Herod|Herod the Great]] show that he died in what is now called 4 BC--four years earlier. [[James Ussher]] thus reckoned that Christ was actually born in 5 BC. This is the best estimate we have to synchronize this epoch with modern times.