No, Jesus was not born in 0 BC. In fact, there is no year 0 BC or 0 AD in the calendar system commonly used today; the numbering goes directly from 1 BC to 1 AD. Historical and scholarly consensus, based on various analyses, suggests that Jesus was born earlier than previously thought, specifically around 7–6 BC.
Understanding the Anno Domini Calendar System
The system of dating years as BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini, meaning "in the year of the Lord") was not established at the time of Jesus' birth. This method of reckoning time, which later came into international use, was developed centuries later.
- Origin of Anno Domini: The Anno Domini system was created in A.D. 525 by a monk named Dionysius Exiguus. He calculated the year of Jesus' birth as the starting point for this new calendar era.
- The Absence of Year Zero: When Dionysius Exiguus devised the system, the concept of zero as a placeholder or a numerical value was not widely adopted in Western Europe. Therefore, the calendar progresses directly from 1 BC to 1 AD without a year zero.
- Historical Accuracy: It's important to note that the exact year of the calendar, as calculated by Dionysius, is not considered a matter of religious faith but a historical calculation that has since been refined.
Why the Discrepancy in Dates?
The discrepancy arises because Dionysius Exiguus's calculations, made over five centuries after the events, were based on the information available to him at the time, which was less precise than modern historical and archaeological methods. Modern historical and astronomical research indicates that the original calculation was off by several years. Scholars now rely on various historical cues, such as the reigns of Roman emperors and client kings like Herod the Great, to pinpoint a more accurate timeframe for Jesus' birth, placing it between 7 and 6 BC.
