Did Jesus Die on a Cross? I herd from someone he died on a single beem. What does Non-Biblical history say?

Question

Cross, Non-Biblical History, History of Executions

Answer 1

Actually even the Bible shows that it was an upright stake. Check the original Greek, the word "Sturos" that some translators interpret as cross really has the connotation of upright beam. Even in the King James Bible the correct thought is given at Acts 5:30, where it says:
"...Jesus whom ye slew and hanged on a tree."

Answer 2

There are 4 types of crosses that are known to have been used for crucifixions in the ancient world; Latin, Greek, St. Anthony's and St. Andrew's.The English word cross is used to translate the original Greek word, transliterated as stauros, which actually means post or stake. The literal meaning of the original New Testament word has led some to believe that Jesus Christ was actually crucified on a stake, not a cross. This would mean that His arms would have been fastened directly overhead, rather than outward as traditionally believed.Although either could be right without in any way affecting the fact that Jesus Christ was crucified. To save the time and repetitive work that would result if done individually each time, the Romans often had the very heavy and cumbersome upright post/stake already in place, and it was the cross-section that is described as being carried to the site with Jesus. Once there, our Savior was nailed to the horizontal beam which was then lifted up and fastened to the upright stake, thereby forming the cross - the symbol of our Savior's Sacrifice.

Answer 3

Crucifixion
Roman Crucifixion to be precise was a very painful way to go

There are two pieces that are used to crucify someone...
The Transom- the horizontal piece keeping the guys arms out
The Upright- the vertical piece keeping the guys feet off the ground

You need both or the guy just WONT DIE.....

Nails are driven into the uprights to keep the arms outstretched. These nails were put through probably the carpal bones since the hand would have just ripped through the nails. Once the transom is attached to the upright, more nails are driven through the feet into a small pedestal on the upright. This is so the guy doesn't slide down off the thing and die too quickly.

I mean come ON, you went to all this trouble... the guy could have the common decency not to die so quickly ...am I right?

In this position, the guy has to lift up just to breathe, because in this position you cannot inhale properly. So you are not bleeding to death, you are suffocating slowly.

Most executioners would finally break the guys legs after awhile just to put them out of everybody's misery.

If you REALLY want to know a painful way to go......look up "Broken on the Wheel".....

Give me crucifixion any day of the week...... and twice on Sunday.

Answer 4

A single beam would have dislocated his arms, and the extreme position would mean that he died alot quicker due to the pressure on the lungs. Part of being crucified with only a little hang was that it prolonged the agony of the person, so that the lungs would fill up slowly but inexhorably (sic).

And his wrists were probably tied to the cross so that the pressure would be placed on them, although the palms could have easily been nailed as a 'extra' punishment. The block of wood at the bottom of the cross would be a place for the prisoner to stand so that they could be allowed to struggle against what was happening. Again, the semi-suspended hang meant the prisoner suffered longer before dying.

Answer 5

Jesus is traditionally said to have died on a cross - but it may have been a "T" (or 'tau' cross,after the Greek letter it resembles), rather than one woth a top piece, as usually shown.

The Romans took the Persian idea and used it widely. They mainly used the "tau" and/or trditional cross - using just an upright and no cross beam would have been very rare.

History, as much as Christian teaching, bears out the 'cross', not the 'torture stake' claimed mainly by Jehovah's Witnesses as the means of execution.

The skeleton of a man was discovered in Jerusalem showing signs of 'traditional' crucifixion about 20 years ago.

In Pompeii, covered in ash in 70AD only decades after Christ's execution, a graffiti artist had made fun of someone else "worshipping his God" by showing him at the foot of a traditional cross with a donkey-headed figure on it.
I'll stick with history, Church tradition - and a 1st century scoffer's wall drawing - and say Jesus died on a cross!

Answer 6

The Romans had a history of either nailing or tying people to a cross as a method of execution.

People get their knickers in a twist over whether it's a tree or a cross, but as trees and crosses are both wood... both "tree", I don't think it really matters. Also, it's kind of unlikely that he would have carried a whole tree through town to the hill where he was executed.

Anyway. whether it was a cross or a beam or a tree, he was still nailed to a piece of wood. He wase executed and he died.

When a prisoner dies in with lethal injection, do we make a fuss over whether it was 20CC of chemical or 22CC?. Does it matter if it's in a plastic or glass syringe?

I just don't think that the details are so incredibly important.

Then again, I'm not a Christian.

Answer 7

Crucifixion occurred on a crossbeam. This could have been in the shape of a capital "T" with no extension on the top, or it could have been a cross much like we all have come to know. What is a great misconception is that Jesus was forced to carry the entire cross to the site where he was crucified... this is not true. The condemned were usually made to carry the crossbeam to the site where they would either be attached to an upright post which was reused from crucifixion to crucifixion. The image of Jesus carrying a giant "t" is a myth. If anything he was carrying an "I."

I think this may be the root of your confusion.

Answer 8

Non Biblical history says that the Romans Crucified folks on a cross.

Answer 9

There were two types of crucifixion in the Roman empire, one was a single upright beam, and the other involved a cross-member. The latter was reserved for more important criminals, such as a "King of the Jews".

Answer 10

At that time, most people were executed on a single beam. There was no purpose in having two beams. We have no specific evidence if Jesus was crucified normally or on a special cross.