Scholars: Crucifixion Portrayal Inaccurate

AP News ^ | Feb 19th,2004 | PETER ENAV

[Mr. Lucky]

...and the significance of this criticism is?

[JmyBryan]

"Early Christians believed that Jesus was nailed to the cross," he said. "But there is absolutely no proof of this."

Excepting the small fact that early Christians believed it ... duh!

[missyme]

Just to let us all know what were up agaisnt...

[sinkspur]

My reading, 30 years ago, also indicated that there was no basis to conclude that Jesus was nailed to a cross.

He was likely tied, with a small platform for his feet. He died of asphyxiation.

As the scholar says, the weight of a human body pulling on nails in hands, or in wrists, would, within a very short time, tear through the tendons and muscles, and the body would fall.

Besides, tying the arms to the cross-beam would put all the pressure on the lungs, which is what made crucifixion an excruciating death: gradual suffocation.

[onedoug]

Guess one can't even think about it by such foolish criteria.

[Jagdgewehr]

"The point is we simply don't know," he said, "not in general cases and not in the case of Jesus either."

So then how do they make the claim that the portrayal is "inacurrate?"

[smith288]

"Experts say....[blah blah blah]"


Well that does it...im going to turn to Islam now... *rolling eyes*

[KantianBurke]

Maybe these guys know!

[TheGunny]

There is also a great deal of archaeological evidence to support the use of nails. Yes they were probably put through the wrists, but that is splitting hairs.

[safisoft]

Zias said the question of whether Jesus was nailed to the cross or simply tied to it remains a mystery. "There is no evidence whatsoever he was nailed," he said. "The Gospels say he was crucified and leave it at that."

Like the Jesus Seminar, so many of these people are too obvious in the laziness. The only record of Y'shua' [Jesus] crucifixion is in Scripture - but then they ignore Scripture when it speaks. Of course He was nailed!

The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"

John 20:25-27

It makes you wonder about both the reporter and the so-called "expert". Hey, if they don't have a Bible, they can check their hotel drawer.

[Stone Mountain]

I couldn't find the story from the link. Just wondering if the "Critics Never Stop" line was in the story or something you provided. Thanks...

[missyme]

Well the point is that he really did not die anyways, he suffered and lost his human body which was G-d's will and
He lives on every day and for eternity...It is truly not the killing of Jesus's human body that is the central point of faith it is the resurrection that is the focal point of Christianity.

[Godzilla]

Zias said the question of whether Jesus was nailed to the cross or simply tied to it remains a mystery. "There is no evidence whatsoever he was nailed," he said. "The Gospels say he was crucified and leave it at that."

Kinda hard to show Thomas his scars, you think

John Dominic Crossan, emeritus professor of religious studies at DePaul University in Chicago, agrees with Zias that little is known about Jesus' execution. "Early Christians believed that Jesus was nailed to the cross," he said. "But there is absolutely no proof of this. The only skeleton of a crucified person ever recovered indicated that the two arms were tied to a crossbar, and two nails were used in either shinbone. There was no standard procedure in any of this. The only common feature in the different types of crucifixion is intense sadism."

Crossan is one of the fringe 'theologians' of the Jesus Seminar. There is documented archaeological proof showing the wear on the bones in the wrist that resulted from the nail. How could one tell from bones if the arms were tied? You can't.

[sinkspur]

Excepting the small fact that early Christians believed it ... duh!

The early Christians also believed Christ was coming back within their lifetimes.

I don't see what difference it makes whether there were nails; the gospels do not mention nails.

Crucifixion could take days. Christ was weakened from the scourging, and had lost blood, so his death came fairly quickly.

To add to the humiliation, it was also fairly common to completely strip the person who was to be crucifed. There's no reason to think Christ was spared this insult.

And the Romans did not take the bodies down after death. If a family member didn't remove the body, it simply hung on the cross, for vultures and other vermin to pick at.

[missyme]

I wonder when these critics will realize Jesus is not Dead?

[swampfox98]

"The Gospels say he was crucified and leave it at that."

Then why did the risen Jesus show St. Thomas the nail prints in his hands, and asked him to touch them? Deliver me from scholars! Read your New Testament! If you can read.

[Republican Wildcat]

The liberal press is always quite selective in the 'scholars' and 'experts' they consult.

[missyme]

Yes twas me :-)

[So Cal Rocket]

I wonder when these critics will realize Jesus is not Dead?

Judgement Day