基督纪元体系包括两大部分: “基督纪元”与“基督纪元前”, 该纪年体系从出现到最终形成经历了1000多年, 与基督教史学由盛而衰的历程相应。基督教史学的历史年代体系一开始是以创世纪元为纪年基础的, 作为最能够体现基督教史学特征的一种独特的纪年方法, 基督纪元是随着基督教教徒“自觉意识”的提高而被提出、并随着基督教史学的日趋成熟而被确立起来的。基督纪元前是在基督教史学历史年代体系的危机日益加剧的情况下、作为一种辅助手段而被推广开来的, 它的使用和推广方便了历史年代的标计、促进了对古代历史的研究, 却加速了基督教史学的衰落。

The system of the Christian Era consists of "Christian Era"and "Before the Christian Era".It went through more than 1000 years from its initial establishment to final accomplishment and accompanied a course of the rise and fall of Christian History. As a unique way of numbering the years that could best embody characteristics of Christian History, the Christian Era was put forward with an enhancement of Christians' "consciousness", and was set up in the wake of maturity of Christian History. The "Before the Christian Era" was put forth and popularized as an auxiliary means when Christian History's chronological system had bogged down more deeply in crises. It hastened the decline of Christian History though it made the way of numbering historical years convenient and promoted studies of ancient history.