Jehovah's Witnesses..I saw a question that states rather than ask that Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus

Question

was impaled not crucified..Is this what you guys believe? Please answer this and clear this up for myself as I didn't understand fully if this is actually what your religion believe..

I answered the question that was asked by a man..and said that I didn't think that this is what you believe..I did think that you believe he was on a tree or a single peice of wood. Too me, that is not really an issue..The fact that he died for us..a very painful death..for each and every person.

I understand the stake or pole or tree part..But being impaled is something totally different ..My question is do they believe that he was IMPALED?

Wayne...You know..You don't have to be so rude. I was not disrespectful to you in asking this question. In fact it gives you a chance to defend what some are thinking..
Why do you answer me so rudely?

Echo...Thank you for answering my question. I didn't think that is what you believed..but no one cleared it up in the other mans question..Thank you for being polite to me.

Wayne...Maybe you didn't mean to be rude..Maybe it was just the way that I read into it. Thanks to everyone for answering.

Answer 1

Yes, we believe he was nailed to a stau·ros´ properly signified a stake, an upright pole, or piece of paling. As you know already, impaling is something very different.

For me the concluding issue is the fact that many use the 'cross' as an icon. They are hung in homes, churches, some are huge on the landscape. People bow to them, kneel before them for prayer, etc. To me this is a form of idolatry.

1 Cor. 10:14: “My beloved ones, flee from idolatry.” (An idol is an image or symbol that is an object of intense devotion, veneration, or worship.)

Ex. 20:4, 5, JB: “You shall not make yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything in heaven or on earth beneath or in the waters under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them.” (Notice that God commanded that his people not even make an image before which people would bow down.)

How would you feel if one of your dearest friends was executed on the basis of false charges? Would you make a replica of the instrument of execution? Would you cherish it, or would you rather shun it?

In ancient Israel, unfaithful Jews wept over the death of the false god Tammuz. Jehovah spoke of what they were doing as being a ‘detestable thing.’ (Ezek. 8:13, 14) According to history, Tammuz was a Babylonian god, and the cross was used as his symbol. From its beginning in the days of Nimrod, Babylon was against Jehovah and an enemy of true worship. (Gen. 10:8-10; Jer. 50:29) So by cherishing the cross, a person is honoring a symbol of worship that is opposed to the true God. And I don't mean that to sound harsh, but as a perspective that might beg some further investigation as to the origin of the cross.

Thank you for your question and for allowing us to set the record straight.

Answer 2

I'm not a Witness, but studied with them for a time. From what they believe, Jesus was crucified on a stake and not a cross. His arms were over his head, not extended to the sides. The reasoning for this is that in those days, criminals were commonly executed in this fashion during those days. There "wrists" not their hands, were nailed over there heads with their arms stretched. There legs, just above the feet were also nailed to the pole. Afterward, there legs were broken with a club in order for there upper body to drop down a bit, which would facilitate death faster by making it difficult too breathe.
The two criminals that were beside Jesus had there legs broken. Before they could break the legs of Jesus, he has already passed away. This too was a prophecy in that "not a bone shall be broken."
The only impaling that happened was when a soldier stabbed Jesus with a spear to ensure he died. Supposedly water came out of the wound.
I know this sounds grizzly, but things were more harsher in those days. Hope this answers your question.

Answer 3

Let use some logic here. OK! Was Jesus killed at the urgings of the Pharisees and at the hands of the Romans?YES.
How was he killed? He was nailed to a single stake NOT impaled. Had he been impaled he would not have lived almost 12 hours on the stake. He would not have been able to speak. He would have been killed almost instantly. The comments about his hands and feet being nailed to the stake would have not been made had he been impaled.

Answer 4

When Christians refer to the "impalement" of Christ, they refer to the nails used to impale Jesus onto the torture stake. This form of "impalement" is a synonym of biblical "crucifixion".

When the term "crucified" is properly defined, Jehovah's Witnesses readily acknowledge that Jesus was crucified. For centuries, Christians have referred to the execution of Christ as "impalement", but admittedly there are alternate definitions of "impalement" which do not accurately describe the means of Christ's execution.

Interestingly, the term "crucify" comes from the Latin word "crux". The English word "cross" is a poor translation of both the Latin "crux" and the Greek "stavros", since both non-English words refer simply to a wooden instrument (rather than to a specific shape).

Jehovah's Witnesses do not distract from the message of the good news by going around denouncing the worshipful use of the cross and other idols. 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

(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


The exact shape of Christ's instrument of death 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?

The bible most assuredly does NOT offer any proof that the stake was actually a cross of two intersecting beams. The actual facts of the bible may be enlightening to examine...

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 English word "cross" is an imprecise translation of the Latin word "crux". Note this image of crucifixion performed with a "crux simplex", such as seems to have been used to execute Jesus:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Justus_Lipsius_Crux_Simplex_1629.jpg

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.

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 5

The fact is; is that they believe that they know or theorize because of studying common history and what was typical back then. The Romans employed many different means of Crucifixion or punishments.If a person was condemned to die or their punishments were to fit their crimes against others and their current rulers and laws. JW's don't believe in idolizing anything physical such as a cross,stake or piece of wood anyway. My ex-wife and my boss were a JW. I personally think Jesus may not have endured thru his being flogged consciously. He could have died from shock long before he would have on some cross. The movie; Passion of the Christ seemed excessive and unrealistic anyway. Some people feel that this is a moot point and cannot be proved but only speculated. Believing in something wrapped around your neck as having "spiritual powers" means it could be taken away as well. JW's seem to shed new light on the subject of faith and true spirituality even though I didn't usually agree with them.

I have also appeared to have witnessed to them myself about my life and views and they supposedly thought of me to be less worldly than my wife who was a JW. Although, it does appear that they typically favor males as being more valuable and superior than females and will use the females to: "work" on their spouses to join their fellowship. I never did join them and eventually quit working for the one JW. I was still friends with them and really preferred that over business anyway. I wasn't blinded either way and still miss their company as friends. They still have to live in the same world that we do and no matter how hard they try to avoid it; they are still in a material world and weakened by it.

Don't ever feel obligated or "Guilty" because you have or might study with them or any "religious" group. I found it easier to study "them" as examples of just being human afterall. Many people can be overwhelmed by any group that appears to want to help,change or control them. This isn't any reason to: "Backslide" either. Take religion a piece at a time if you want, and chew on it slowly. Many people go schizo over religion, Jesus and God way too fast.

Answer 6

we beleive he was hung on a stake, not cross, sence the bible indicates he died on a solid beam, or tree, not two peices of wood, ando tehr reasones, but as for being impaled, no he pretty much died the same way he would have on a cross, nailed to it and left to die.... the sodliers only impaled people after they were dead, to make sure they were.
if i wasnt clear enough or anything you can IM me, and ill answer any of your questions the best I can

Answer 7

According to their website, they say stake or pole.

http://www.watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_11.htm

Point #6

To further comment, I agree with you. I would take the position that it is immaterial WHAT was used for the cruxifiction, but what the POINT and sacrifice of it all is.

Too much bickering over little stuff and who is a 'true' Christian is just folly.

Answer 8

i was raised a JW but am not anymore so i dont remember all of it, but from what i recall, they believe he died on a stake, not a cross, but either way they still believe that he died for us