Inclusive Counting
The Bible counts dates inclusively, whereas the modern world counts dates exclusively.
In the Bible, 10 AD plus 5 years equals 14 AD because 10 AD is counted as the first year.
1) First year: 10 AD
2) Second year: 11 AD
3) Third year: 12 AD
4) Fourth year: 13 AD
5) Fifth year: 14 AD
In the modern world, 10 AD plus 5 years equals 15 AD because 11 AD is counted as the first year.
1) First year: 11 AD
2) Second year: 12 AD
3) Third year: 13 AD
4) Fourth year: 14 AD
5) Fifth year: 15 AD
The ancient Greeks and Romans also counted dates inclusively.
Counting Dates on a Calculator
Due to Biblical inclusive counting, when adding two dates in the Bible using a calculator, one year must be subtracted. For example, when using a calculator to calculate 10 AD plus 5 years, the formula entered into the calculator must be: “10 + 5 – 1 = 14.”
Due to the absence of the year 0 BC/AD, when adding years on a calculator starting with a BC year and ending with an AD year, one year must be added, and the BC year must be entered as a negative number. For example, when using a calculator to calculate 10 BC plus 15 years, the formula entered into the calculator must be: “(-10) + 15 – 1 + 1 = 5.” In other words, negative 10 for 10 BC, plus 15 years, minus 1 year for inclusive counting, plus 1 year due to the absence of the year 0 BC/AD, equals 5 AD. For simplicity when calculating years from BC to AD only, since the inclusive counting and absence of year 0 BC/AD cancel each other out, the calculator formula could also be: “(-10) + 15 = 5.”
Biblical Counting
Many instances in the Bible show how the Bible uses inclusive counting.
Peter and Cornelius
Cornelius referred to a span of 72 hours as 4 days, whereas the modern world considers a span of 72 hours to be 3 days. Cornelius saw an angel on the 1st day at the 9th hour, and 72 hours later, on the 4th day at the 9th hour, Cornelius said he saw an angel 4 days ago.
Day 1
An angel speaks to Cornelius at the 9th hour, and Cornelius sends men to Peter.
Acts 10:3 He saw in a vision openly, as it were about the 9th hour of the day, an angel of Gd coming in unto him, and saying to him, Cornelius.
Acts 10:7-8 And when the angel that spake unto him was departed, he [Cornelius] called two of his household-servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; and having rehearsed all things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
Day 2
Peter sees a vision, and the men arrive to Peter’s house.
Acts 10:9-10 Now on the next day, as they were on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray, about the 6th hour: and he became hungry, and desired to eat: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance.
Acts 10:17 Now while Peter was much perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men that were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate.
Acts 10:22-23a And they said, Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man and one that feareth Gd, and well reported of by all the nation of the Jews, was warned by a holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words from thee. So he called them in and lodged them.
Day 3
Peter travels with men towards Cornelius.
Acts 10:23b And on the next day he arose and went forth with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
Day 4
Peter meets Cornelius at the 9th hour, and Cornelius says he saw an angel 4 days ago.
Acts 10:24 And on the the next day they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kinsmen and his near friends.
Acts 10:30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the 9th hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel.
Conquering of Samaria
In modern counting, from the 4th year to the 6th year is considered to be 2 years. In Biblical counting, from the 4th year to the 6th year is considered to be at the end of 3 years.
2Kings 18:9-10 And it came to pass in the 4th year of king Hezekiah, which was the 7th year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it. And at the end of 3 years they took it: in the 6th year of Hezekiah, which was the 9th year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.
Circumcision on the 8th Day
The Bible says that a male child is 8 days old on the 8th day of his life, whereas the modern world says that a child is 8 days old on the 9th day of his life.
Gen. 17:12 And he that is 8 days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any foreigner that is not of thy seed.
Lev. 12:3 And in the 8th day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
Luke 1:59 And it came to pass on the 8th day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
Luke 2:21 And when 8 days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called Jsus, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
In Biblical counting, a baby is 8 days old on the 8th day of his life.
1) Day of birth: 1 day old
2) Second day: 2 days old
3) Third day: 3 days old
4) Fourth day: 4 days old
5) Fifth day: 5 days old
6) Sixth day: 6 days old
7) Seventh day: 7 days old
8) Eighth day: 8 days old
In modern counting, a baby is 8 days old on the 9th day of his life.
1) Day of birth: 0 days old
2) Second day: 1 day old
3) Third day: 2 days old
4) Fourth day: 3 days old
5) Fifth day: 4 days old
6) Sixth day: 5 days old
7) Seventh day: 6 days old
8) Eighth day: 7 days old
9) Ninth day: 8 days old
Amaziah
Jeroboam began to reign in Amaziah’s 15th year. Then Amaziah lived another 15 years. The Bible says Amaziah reigned 29 years, whereas modern counting would say Amaziah reigned 30 years.
15th Year of Amaziah
2Kings 14:23 In the 15th year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned 41 years.
Living 15 More Years
2Kings 14:16-17 And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead. And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel 15 years.
Reign of 29 Years
2Kings 14:1-2 In the 2nd year of Joash son of Joahaz king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah began to reign. He was 25 years old when he began to reign; and he reigned 29 years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem.
Battle Against Syrians
In the battle against the Syrians, the Bible equates a duration of 7 days with the 7th day.
1Kings 20:29 And they encamped one over against the other 7 days. And so it was, that on the 7th day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians 100,000 footmen in one day.
Rehoboam
Rehoboam told the assembly of Israel to return to him after 3 days. The assembly returned to him on the 3rd day. According to modern counting, the assembly would have returned on the 4th day.
Three Days
1Kings 12:5 And he [Rehoboam] said unto them, Depart yet for 3 days, then come again to me. And the people departed.
2Chr. 10:5 And he said unto them, Come again unto me after 3 days. And the people departed.
On the Third Day
1Kings 12:12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the 3rd day, as the king bade, saying, Come to me again the 3rd day.
2Chr. 10:12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the 3rd day, as the king bade, saying, Come to me again the 3rd day.
Joseph
Three Days
Joseph put his brothers in prison for 3 days, and he released them on the 3rd day.
Gen. 42:17 And he [Joseph] put them all together into custody for 3 days.
On the Third Day
Gen. 42:18-20 And Joseph said unto them on the 3rd day, This do, and live: for I fear Gd: if ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in your prison-house; but go ye, carry grain for the famine of your houses: and bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.
Egyptian Man
An Egyptian man did not eat or drink for 3 days and 3 nights. According to Biblical counting, he became sick 3 days ago, whereas according to modern counting he would have become sick 4 days ago.
For 3 Days and 3 Nights
1Sam. 30:11-12 And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they gave him water to drink; and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him; for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, for 3 days and 3 nights.
Three days ago
1Sam. 30:13 And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because 3 days ago I fell sick.
Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jsus said he would be 3 days and 3 nights in the earth. Jsus also said that he would rise up on the 3rd day.
Using Biblical inclusive counting, Jsus was in the earth for 3 days, and he was raised up on the 3rd day.
1) Day 1: From Friday at the 9th hour of the day until Friday sunset;
2) Day 2: From Friday sunset until Saturday sunset;
3) Day 3: From Saturday sunset until Sunday morning.
Three Days
Matt. 12:40 for as Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the whale; so the Son of man will be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth.
Matt. 26:61 and said, This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in 3 days.
Matt. 27:40 and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in 3 days, save thyself: if thou art the Son of Gd, come down from the cross.
Matt. 27:63 saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while he was yet alive, After 3 days I rise again.
Mark 8:31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after 3 days rise again.
Mark 9:31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered up into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and when he is killed, after 3 days he shall rise again.
Mark 10:34 and they shall mock him, and shall spit upon him, and shall scourge him, and shall kill him; and after 3 days he shall rise again.
Mark 14:58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in 3 days I will build another made without hands.
John 2:19-21 Jsus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in 3 days I will raise it up. The Jews therefore said, Forty six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou raise it up in 3 days? But he spake of the temple of his body.
On the Third Day
Matt. 16:21 From that time began Jsus to show unto his disciples, that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the 3rd day be raised up.
Matt. 17:23 and they shall kill him, and on the 3rd day he shall be raised up. And they were exceeding sorry.
Matt. 20:19 and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify: and on the 3rd day he shall be raised up.
Matt. 27:64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the 3rd day, lest haply his disciples come and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: and the last error will be worse than the first.
Luke 9:22 saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the 3rd day be raised up.
Luke 18:33 and they shall scourge and kill him: and on the 3rd day he shall rise again.
Luke 24:7 saying that the Son of man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the 3rd day rise again.
Luke 24:21 But we hoped that it was he who should redeem Israel. Yea and besides all this, it is now the 3rd day since these things came to pass.
Luke 24:46 and he said unto them, Thus it is written, that the Chrst should suffer, and rise again from the dead on the 3rd day;
Acts 10:40 Him Gd raised up on the 3rd day, and gave him to be made manifest,
1Cor. 15:4 and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the 3rd day according to the scriptures;