Harmony of the Gospels
Preface

The Christian Era.

The Christian Era is usually supposed to begin with the birth of Christ. But the exact date of this event has given rise to much controversy. Dionysius the Little, a Roman abbot, introduced into Italy, during the sixth century A.D., the epoch or commencement as on the first of January in the fourth year of the 194th Olympiad, the 753rd from the foundation of Rome, and the 4714th of the Julian period. His epoch, which secured wide adoption in Christian countries, evidently places the birth of Christ at a period four years too late, for it seems to have happened very shortly before the death of Herod the Great, which occurred in the 750th year from the foundation of Rome, or about four years before the usual period fixed as the beginning of Christian chronology. Some authors make this difference as much as five or six years. The agreement is general that at least four years must be counted between the first year of the Christian Era and the birth of Christ; that is, that He was born about B.C. 4.

Fortunately there is no such uncertainty about the starting point of Christ's ministry, since it is set forth very clearly in Luke 3:1. Tiberius Caesar reigned jointly with Caesar Augustus from A.D. 11-14, when the latter died. Add fifteen years to the first year of Tiberious' reign and it brings us to A.D. 26, at which time Pilate was procurator of Judea, herod Antipas tetrarch of Galilee, Caiaphas high priest, and Annas probably president of the Sanhedrin, as related by Luke. These historic facts, fitting so nicely together, support the conclusion that John the Baptist began his work of baptism A.D. 26. That work fixes the baptism of Christ and beginning of His ministry.

It would also fix the date of His crucifixion and resurrection in A.D. 29 or 30, but owing to diverse meanings placed on John 5:1, there is doubt as to whether Christ's ministry extended over a period of two and a half or three and a half years. If the "feast" mentioned by John was the Passover, then His ministry must have been three and a half years in length. If, however, it was not the Passover, it could not have been over two years and a half in length. The larger body of critics incline to the conviction that it was not the Passover. In the R.V. of John 5:1 it is suggested marginally that many ancient authorities read "the feast" without any qualifying words.

 

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