BCE stands for “Before the Common Era,” which is a term used in place of “BC” (Before Christ) to refer to dates before the birth of Jesus Christ. The use of BCE in the Bible is a way of referring to events that occurred before the birth of Jesus without implying a specific religious belief.
The Bible is divided into two main sections: the Old Testament, which is made up of books that were written before the birth of Jesus, and the New Testament, which is made up of books that were written after the birth of Jesus. BCE is used to refer to events that took place in the Old Testament.
The use of BCE in the Bible reflects a broader trend in scholarship and academia towards using non-religious terms to refer to historical periods. The term BCE was developed as a way to provide a neutral and non-sectarian way of referring to dates in history, particularly in interfaith and intercultural contexts.
The use of BCE in the Bible also reflects the growing recognition that the Bible is a text that has been interpreted and used in different ways by different communities throughout history. While the Bible is a central religious text for Christians, it is also an important cultural and historical document that has been studied and analyzed by scholars from a variety of fields.
BCE is used throughout the Old Testament to refer to dates and events that took place before the birth of Jesus. For example, the Book of Genesis, which describes the creation of the world and the early history of humanity, begins with the words “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” This phrase does not provide a specific date for the creation of the world, but it is commonly believed to have taken place thousands of years before the birth of Jesus.
The use of BCE in the Bible is particularly relevant for scholars who study the historical and cultural context in which the Bible was written. By using BCE instead of BC, scholars can avoid the implication that the Bible is primarily a religious text and instead focus on its historical and cultural significance.
While the use of BCE in the Bible is becoming increasingly common, it is worth noting that some Christian communities still use BC as a way of referring to dates before the birth of Jesus. However, the use of BCE is growing in popularity as more people recognize the importance of using neutral and non-sectarian language when discussing historical events.
In conclusion, BCE is a term used in place of BC to refer to dates before the birth of Jesus. It is a non-religious term that is used in academia and other contexts to provide a neutral and non-sectarian way of referring to historical periods. The use of BCE in the Bible reflects the growing recognition that the Bible is a cultural and historical document that has been interpreted and used in different ways by different communities throughout history. While the use of BCE is becoming increasingly common, some Christian communities still use BC as a way of referring to dates before the birth of Jesus.
