What is the transition between BC and AD? I spent several days and many hours investigating this until I believe I found an answer. Many sources gave textual answers but none explained graphically what they meant causing me confusion for a few weeks.
So the answer most sites gave is that we went from 1 BC straight to 1 AD. I was confused since I also knew that the AD reference was supposed to be the birth of Jesus so I (incorrectly) assumed that if AD is based on this, then there had to be a year 0. So the incorrect view is:
But after digging in more, I realize that the day of Jesus birth was year 1 AD which then meant that when Jesus turned 1 years old, it was year 2 AD. So the correct view is:
Clearly historians now believe that Jesus' birth was not 1 AD but rather 6-4 BC.
-- Tait - 2026-02-18
Clearly historians now believe that Jesus' birth was not 1 AD but rather 6-4 BC.
-- Tait - 2026-02-18