BCE and CE
BCE is an abbreviation which actually means "Before the Christian Era"—originally B.C., meaning "Before Christ.
CE is an abbreviation which actually means "(of the) Christian Era, an abbreviation which exactly corresponds to A.D. anno domini, the Latin term for "year of the Lord (Jesus Christ)".
Christian witness
Christian students and academics and professional persons concerned about the change in designation of the numbered years of the common western calendar when in the public forum at school or work can easily adapt the abbreviations BCE and CE to Christian reality by always understanding them as a Christian dating system. As occasion presents itself they are encouraged to say "Before the Christian Era (BCE)" and "Christian Era (CE)" as a simple, incidental, non-confrontational witness when giving oral presentations relating to historical periods with dates that are the same as dates B.C. before Christ and dates A.D. anno domini (year of the Lord).
Examples:
- This article was written 2018 CE. "This article was written Twenty Eighteen of the Christian Era, C.E.."
- "The Exodus occurred sometime around Sixteen Fifty Before the Christian Era, B.C.E., though most researchers now commonly place it around Twelve Fifty."
- "The birth of Jesus Christ is now commonly placed by most historical researchers as Four before the Christian Era, but some disagree and place it as early as Twelve before the Christian Era, B.C.E., and as late as One before, or as One of the Christian Era, C.E.."
In similar form of presenting incidental written Christian witness in composing papers, documents and books, the notations "Christian Era" and "Before the Christian Era" can be placed after the abbreviations in parentheses.
Examples:
- Pharaoh Smenkhkare reigned 1337-1333 BCE (Before the Christian Era).
- About 100 BCE (Before the Christian Era) Su-ma Ch'ien wrote a biography about Sun Tzu, the author of Art of War.
Origin of BCE and CE
The use of the BCE and CE abbreviations started with Jewish scholars not wanting to use BC and AD as it would mean calling Jesus "Our Lord"[1]
