why do many people believe jesus died on a cross when there is no mention of it in the bible?

Question

all i can see in there is the greek word stauros, which means upright stake. is it something to do with earlier religions?

do the modern crosses we see today come from the egyptian ankh or the tao, is this pagan symbol used to attract others to christendom?

Answer 1

wasn't called a "cross" in those days.... it was actually a stake as you've stated..... But, keep in mind too, that the so-called "cross" was used before Christ's day... and many others also found a fate quite similar.......

Also note that for one to hang on the "cross" meant that one was either a slave or some kind of servant...... it was the "capital punishment of the days"........

A roman citizen was forbidden to have to undergo this form of punishment... it was called a "leges Sacratoe"....

More on the history of the "cross" can be found here.....
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04517a.htm



Your sister,
Ginger

Answer 2

Your information is only partially correct. A stauros was ORIGINALLY an upright stake; at first a crossbar was not used. By the time Jesus came to the earth, the word stauros was used to refer to any and all torture stakes which included upright stakes with appendages, crossbars, seats, etc.

In the first century, Seneca wrote about stauroses "made in many different ways." (Imperial Bible Dictionary, page 84)

The Bible doesn't describe Jesus' particular stauros, but tradition dating back to shortly after Jesus' death indicates that it had a crossbar. There is no definitive proof either way, however.

EDITED:

Although the ankh (an oval or loop shape with a cross-shape suspended) was used in Egypt, there is not any real evidence that Christians adopted the cross-shape because of Egyptian influence. (Nevertheless, there is a widespread view otherwise., simply because it COULD have happened.) In spite of the opinions of fundamental Protestants such as Alexander Hislop, no written or archaelogical evidence makes any connection between the ankh and the stauros which happened to be cross-shaped,

The belief that Jesus died on a stauros with a crosspiece dates back to very early in Christianity when Christians were still very much anti-pagan. The 'cross' was not impressive to pagans who considered it an extrememly disgraceful manner of death and ridiculed Christians for their teaching that Jesus' death on the despised instrument was the means by which Jesus had redeemed the world.

Answer 3

The Romans typically crucified people on a cross, or at least on something closely resembling a cross.

And the Bible is clear that Jesus was crucified.

Also, the very earliest Christians began using the symbol of the cross to represent their faith. These people were alive when the crucifixion took place; a few of them may have even witnessed it.

So, their use of a cross to symbolize Christianity is most likely very accurate.

.

Answer 4

The Romans used several methods to crucify. The classic t-shaped cross was one popular one, they also used, as you mentioned, a stake, or an x-shape...sometimes, if they had several criminals to execute at once, they put them side by side on a structure that looked something like a rail fence.
Gory.
I wonder, though....does it really matter so much the shape of the wood He was nailed to? Isn't the real important issue the fact that He laid His life down willingly in place of ours?
Besides, a straight stake would make a very ugly necklace......

Answer 5

σταυρος - a stake; a cross (Matt 27:32, 40, 42; Phil 2:8); the punishment of the cross, crucifixion (Eph 2:16; Heb 12:2); the crucifixion or doctrine of the cross (1 Cor 17:18; Gal 5:11, 6:12, 14); to take up the cross (Matthew 10:38; 16:24)

Also means to fix stakes, to crucify, to affix to the cross (Matthew 20:19, 23:24); to crucify, mortify, sacrifice (Gal 5:24) to cut off or violent death (Galatians 6:14)

Answer 6

Nailing a victim to a cross was a popular form of Capital Punishment used by the Romans during the Roman Empire.

Your own organs slowly suffocate you by pushing down on your diaphragm making it increasingly difficult to breathe.

The spikes driven (usually through the hands) and feet cause a lot of blood loss and the thorns were added for a bit of colour by the Church.

Its assumed that given Jesus was sentenced to death- that he would have been done away with in this fashion.

(Though personally I'd have fed him to the Lions. Having said that he'd probably sit down and have a chat with them. His dad being so powerful and all...)

The Iceman.

Answer 7

Roman history is a good place to start. It tells us that there were methods used to kill so called criminals. Crucifixion was one of the methods. Was it a cross as we know it or something different? Don't know exactly, but from what I've studied, it's pretty close....Also, you may want to look up crucifixion and study why this design of the cross was used and the terrible pain it brought before death finally came.

Answer 8

Crucifixion was the common form of execution at the time Rome ruled that part of the world. The Epistles say that he died on the cross, and they were written by eye witnesses. Paul never comes out and says that he was at the crucifixion, but many think he was since he persecuted the church before his conversion.

Answer 9

Well if his hands was nailed to a stake the stake had to be in the form of a cross. You cannot nails hands into thin air. I dont have my concordance pulled up but I believe in KJV it says cross.

Answer 10

Acts 2:23

23. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,[a] put him to death by nailing him to the cross.