For JW's. How many nails were used to hang Jesus on the tree?

Question

If Jesus was on a cross I say three, if on a stake, I say two. What say the Witnesses?

Answer 1

This question is worded in a very interesting way, noting that Jesus was impaled on a "tree". You may be interested to see how your own copy of the bible translates Acts 5:30, Galatians 3:13, Deuteronomy 21:22, 23, and Acts 10:39. The King James, Revised Standard, Dyaglott, and Jerusalem Bible translate the instrument of Christ's death simply as "stake" or "tree" because the original wording simply does not support the idea that this was more than a piece of upright wood.

The exact shape of Christ's instrument of death (or number of nails used) is hardly a central doctrine of the faith, but Jehovah's Witnesses do happen to believe that Jesus was almost certainly impaled on a simple stake, rather than a cross of two intersecting beams. Of course the Romans had the ability to create a cross, and probably did. But ask yourself: why they would have bothered when a simple stake would have worked just as well or better?

It is also eye-opening to examine how the first-century Christians felt about idols of any kind, much less one that glorified an instrument of death.

(1 John 5:21) Guard yourselves from idols.

(Acts 17:29) We ought not to imagine that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, like something sculptured by the art and contrivance of man


Like the bible, Jehovah's Witnesses do not denounce the cross 'per se', or advocate some particular number of "nails" that must have been used. Instead, Witnesses believe that the bible plainly forbids idolatry of any kind, including the worshipful use of icons such as crucifixes.
http://watchtower.org/bible/1jo/chapter_005.htm?bk=1jo;chp=5;vs=21;citation#bk21
http://www.watchtower.org/bible/ac/chapter_017.htm?bk=ac;chp=17;vs=29;citation#bk29


Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/200604a/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20050508a/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19960715/article_01.htm

Answer 2

As the person above said, since it is not stated, it is not important. A better question would be how long would it take to died on a cross compared to a state? The one other well known historical instance of the significant use of the cross was the slave rebellion led by Spartacus. According to the History Channel, it took upwards of a week for those thousands of rebels who were crucified to die, which is why it fell out of favor for almost 150 years, until about 40 years after Christ died.

Jewish tradition required those put to death to actually die before the new day starts, which is at sun set. Hanging from a stake collapsed the lung, suffocating you. For this reason, if a person was using his legs to push themselves up, solder were instructed to break them.

Though Rome controlled Israel, as well as many others, they did not force them to do things that went against the religious beliefs. The cross simply would not have been used, and even today, Judaism states that a stake was used.

Answer 3

The bible doesn't say.

As a carpenter I hardly ever use only one nail to hold anything.

especially something as heavy as a 180 - 190 pounds.

I don't see anything wrong with 2 or even 3 nails used.

It depends on the size of nails used.

Many movies use spikes and not nails when they show only one being driven into the hand.

Did they use spikes or nails? Thomas said nails.

Did they actually hold the hands together and use one or two nails / spikes?

or did they separate the hands above his head and used one or two nails in each? (what you saw is an artist rendering, not a photo of the event)

And how does the number of nails effect my faith in the ransom paid by Jesus?

Will Jesus condemn me for not knowing how many nails were used in his death?

The issue you are trying to solve is why translate a word that means stake into cross, especially since crosses were used in false religion 1000 of years before Christ?

Instead of adding preconceived ideas to God's word,

Isn't it better to let it speak for itself?

Answer 4

For the Witness to be honest, they have to say two nails were used. One for his wrists, one for his feet. Page 52 of their book "What Does The Bible Really Teach?" shows a drawing from one their artists with Jesus on the starous and ONE nail keeping both of his arms on the stake.

John 20:25 and the words of Thomas give us a different viewpoint when Thomas says “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails and stick my finger into the print of the nails and stick my hand into his side, I will certainly not believe.” (NWT). So even Thomas knew that there were nails used, giving a stronger case for those who say Jesus was hung not on a stake, but upon a cross.

Answer 5

It's not recorded in the Bible cause it's not a detail we need to know to know that he died for our sins.

The ransom sacrifice and how it affects us is what we focus on.

Acts 5:30 - "The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew, hanging him upon a stake." (NWT)
Acts 5:30 - "The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree." (NIV)

Answer 6

Two. They've said two ever since they decided to get rid of the cross.

Answer 7

Presumably 2, however no where does the Bible specify