Do you believe that Jesus carried the whole cross or just the cross beam that was nailed to a tree and were?

Question

nails put through his hands or was he tied with ropes?

Answer 1

Jesus carried the whole cross although historically, the cross used by the Romans is not the "t"-shaped one we always envision today but more of a "T" - shaped one. He was not tied with ropes to the cross but nailed - this is verified by the nail holes in his hands. From my understanding of Roman history, the nails were usually driven into the base of the palms (wrist) rather than through the center of the palms as the weight of the body could not be supported by the palms and would be torn. Death by cruxifixion is caused by the weight of the body pulling the person down and causing difficulty in breathing.

To me, it is not so important what shape the cross was but whether we believe Jesus died on the cross for our sins? If He did, then the next important question we need to ask ourselves is, "What are we going to do about it - recieve Him as Lord and Savior or reject that He died to save us?"

I have accepted Him as Lord and Savior, what about you, friend?

Answer 2

The cross is loved and respected by millions of people. The Encyclopædia Britannica calls the cross “the principal symbol of the Christian religion.” Nevertheless, true Christians do not use the cross in worship. Why not?

An important reason is that Jesus Christ did not die on a cross. The Greek word generally translated “cross” is stau·ros′. It basically means “an upright pale or stake.” The Companion Bible points out: "Stauros" never means two pieces of timber placed across one another at any angle . . . There is nothing in the Greek of the New Testament even to imply two pieces of timber.”

In several texts, Bible writers use another word for the instrument of Jesus’ death. It is the Greek word "xylon". (Acts 5:30; 10:39; 13:29; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24) This word simply means “timber” or “a stick, club, or tree.”

The apostle Paul says: “Christ by purchase released us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse instead of us, because it is written: ‘Accursed is every man hanged upon a stake [“a tree,” King James Version].’” (Galatians 3:13) Here Paul quotes Deuteronomy 21:22, 23, which clearly refers to a stake, not a cross. Since such a means of execution made the person “a curse,” it would not be proper for Christians to decorate their homes with images of Christ impaled.

There is no evidence that for the first 300 years after Christ’s death, those claiming to be Christians used the cross in worship. In the fourth century, however, pagan Emperor Constantine became a convert to apostate Christianity and promoted the cross as its symbol. Whatever Constantine’s motives, the cross had nothing to do with Jesus Christ. The cross is, in fact, pagan in origin. The New Catholic Encyclopedia admits: “The cross is found in both pre-Christian and non-Christian cultures.” Various other authorities have linked the cross with nature worship and pagan sex rites.

Why, then, was this pagan symbol promoted? Apparently, to make it easier for pagans to accept “Christianity.” Nevertheless, devotion to any pagan symbol is clearly condemned by the Bible. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) The Scriptures also forbid all forms of idolatry. (Exodus 20:4, 5; 1 Corinthians 10:14) With very good reason, therefore, true Christians do not use the cross in worship.


For more information go to:
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/1998/3/15/article_01.htm

Answer 3

Well, either way, I am sure it was a difficult thing to do. A crossbar may not be as physically heavy as the whole cross, but its not something you can just sling over your shoulder while running up and down stairs. Also, the fact that he was 'scourged' beforehand meant that the crossbar (or cross) felt even heavier than usual (loss of energy usually occompanies loss of blood).

As for him being nailed or tied, most likely both happened; he was tied to the cross but was also nailed for being an extra-special criminal or simply given the extra attention as an example to others who might 'cause trouble'. Nails (even thick heavy spikes) would have tore right through the palms if he wasn't tied, or his feet weren't propped up artificially at the base. And even with the base, Jesus eventually would have exhausted his ability to hang there, so its most likely they tied him to the cross and nailed him as extra punishment.

Answer 4

This is what I believe...

There were nailmarks in Christ's hands & probably feet, but no crossbeam. His hands were over his head.
Jesus carried an entire single stake.

Why do I think so? Please consider:

The book The Non-Christian Cross, by J. D. Parsons, explains: “There is not a single sentence in any of the numerous writings forming the New Testament, which, in the original Greek, bears even indirect evidence to the effect that the stauros used in the case of Jesus was other than an ordinary stauros; much less to the effect that it consisted, not of one piece of timber, but of two pieces nailed together in the form of a cross."

Each of the Gospel accounts use the Greek word stau·ros′ when referring to the instrument of execution on which Christ Jesus died. (Mt 27:40; Ma 15:30; Lu 23:26; Joh 19:17,19,25)

At Acts 5:30, the word xy′lon, meaning “tree,” is used as a synonym for stau·ros′, denoting an ordinary piece of upright timber or tree, rather than a two-beamed cross.

Reliving Jesus' Last Days on Earth
- Nisan 9-14, After Sundown
http://watchtower.org/e/19980315/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/200604a/article_01.htm

Thank you for your consideration.

Answer 5

Scholars now believe that Jesus would of been crufied on a T shaped cross not a + same misconception about nails through hands when it was wrongly translated as it was through the wrists as the hands could not support the weight of the body. Nails where used in those days to increase suffering weakening person through even more pain and loss of blood. Horrific death

Answer 6

That is not how the Romans did crucifixions. They used the standard palings that were carried by every unit in the Roman Army for setting up the palisades around their camps. The cross they used for excecuting enemies of the Empire looked like an X not a T. Look again at the crucifixion paintings and ask if you would hoist somebdy who was about to die a horrible deat up a ladder and try to spike him into place. I think there would have been a lot of ladders hitting the ground from getting kicked over in the struggles.

Answer 7

'Tree' contained in the bible usually means an upright pole; it really is discovered contained in the former testomony too. Crucifixion replaced into primary on rebels and bandits, and Jesus, however convicted less than Jewish regulation for blasphemy, replaced into charged before Pilate with revolt and crucified for that crime; it truly is what the gospel money owed say. that's a threat Jesus replaced into crucified on a stake or a tree. The Romans could use something: a accessible tree, a roof-beam, a city gate, the wall of a house. In describing the executions of rebellious Jews after the autumn of Jerusalem, Flavius Josephus says the Romans nailed the victims to stakes. yet this can nonetheless be observed as 'held on a tree' in rhetorical speech. probable the 'fish' and 'chi-rho' symbols were more advantageous elementary, notwithstanding the go replaced into used as a Christian image contained in the early second century, and probably previously. Minucius Felix mentions it in his 'Octavius', and Tertullian describes the 'signal of the go' nonetheless utilized via Catholics in 'De Corona'. Catacombs in Rome were in certain situations marked with 'anchor crosses' fairly than fish. i don't know even as the go began to take priority, yet i trust it occurred even as Christian preaching began to emphasise lack of life over resurrection ... because the second one Coming did not ensue and the autumn of civilization did. The Egyptian ankh, the Celtic go and the Persian/Indian go symbols, all older than the Christian one, were symbols of life and stability, no longer suffering lack of life.

Answer 8

I don't know if that's a question of belief really, no one could prove either way a hundred percent unless it is states in the Bible. All I know for sure is that he died for me on the cross and I'm content with knowing that. Its very clear that nails were put through his hands cuz he shows his disciples the holes after he rises from the dead.

Answer 9

I believe that Jesus carried the whole cross!

Answer 10

I'm not really sure, because I'm looking into how much the disciples' and apostles' recollection was affected by their own experiences of life. Life is pretty tough and people do get neuroses and psychoses with intruding thoughts of violence and sex. The gospels all seem to be a little bit different about the time from Gethsemane to Calvary (is that where it was?)