The Roman Crucifixion

[placebofactor]

The Crucifixion:
I wrote the following some 25 years ago. I do not recall the name of the doctor who did the research concerning the human body when put through the torture of crucifixion. But I remember how it moved me. We read casually about the punishment and crucifixion, not fully getting the impact and degree of suffering.

The Persians between 539 B.C. and 335 B.C. were the inventors of the Crucifixion. They tied their victims to a single stake and left them there to die a slow and agonizing death. Eventually, around 100 B.C., the Romans picked up on this form of torture and death, then brought it to a new level of pain and eventual death. The word ‘excruciating’ did not exist until Christ was crucified. Excruciating interpreted means, “Pain out of the cross.”

Jesus' suffering began in earnest at Gethsemane. It was the day before the Jewish Passover, in early April of 31 A.D. Luke 22:44, “And being in agony he (Jesus) prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood.” because blood may have been mixed with his sweat, he would have been under great physiological stress.

He was then blindfolded and then taken to the high priest’s palace where he was falsely accused of blasphemy, spit on, and beaten. He was then taken to Pilate, and here was Pilate’s offer to the people.
Matthew 27:17, “Who will you that I release unto you? Barabbas or Jesus which is called Christ? And the crowd answered “Barabbas.” They also cried out, “Let his blood be on us, and on our children.”

Barabbas means “son of the Father.” The people called for the “son of God, so they called for Barabbas. The Roman soldiers mocked him, stripped him, put a scarlet robe on him, then made a crown of thorns and placed it on his head. The thorns that grow in that area are two inches in length. The soldiers would have pressed the thorns down on his head cutting deeply into the flesh. They then bowed down mocking him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

Isaiah gives further details concerning Jesus' punishment. Isaiah 53:3, He was despised, rejected,” --- Verse 4, “Surely he hath born our griefs and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten”--- wounded, bruised, and “with his stripes” we are healed.”

The Roman whip consists of three braided pieces of rawhide, attached to a round wooden handle, the last 12 inches were not braided. At the ends of the three lashes were tied pieces of sheep bone and iron lead balls. The iron balls would cause deep contusions in the skin tissue, and the bone would cause deep lacerations in the skin, tendons, and muscles under the skin.

The victim was tied to a post, and the Roman soldier doing the lashing would whip the upper back and work their way down the legs. He would move to the other side and repeat his work. When finished, there would be deep cuts and trauma to the back and legs. The blood loss would be significant, causing a significant drop in his blood pressure. Normally 39 lashes were required by law, but the Romans were not obligated to Jewish law, and depending on their mood no count was necessary.

The crossbeam Jesus carried is estimated to weigh 75 to 100 lbs. When they arrived where the sentence was to be carried out, the crossbeam was nailed to the vertical beam that lay on the ground. He was then laid down on top of the vertical beam his arms in a horizontal position before being nailed to it. The nails used were about 6” long and ¼ inch square. They were driven into the wrist just below the carpal bones, considered part of the hand back then. The nails crushed the median nerve and carpal tunnel causing a great deal of excruciating pain. Then the feet were nailed down into the vertical beam. But before they were nailed down, the knees would have to be bent to bring the feet down flat on the beam. The driven nail would crush the medial plantar nerve causing great pain throughout his body.

When finished, the vertical beam was lifted and set in place. When this happened, the weight of Jesus' body would be pulled downward, placing a great deal of pressure on the elbow and shoulder joints, as well as the nails in his feet being driven up into the bones of the feet. It is estimated that the load on his elbow and shoulder joints was between 150 to 200 lbs. on each arm. This would cause the bones of his joints to separate, lengthening his arms six inches. What prevented the arms from tearing off were the tendons and muscles.

In this position, breathing out was much more difficult than breathing in. To exhale, the Lord had to push down on the nails holding his feet to the beam to raise himself. Each time he would make this move, the open flesh on his back would rub up and down on the beam.

Eventually, in his condition, the blood became filled with carbon dioxide causing him to suffocate. Also, from the loss of blood, he would become very thirsty as his tongue would cleave to the roof of his mouth. Due to the loss of blood, he would go into bulimic shock and eventually die of heart failure.

The Roman guard then plunged a spear into the right side of his heart causing blood and water to come out through the wound, proving that he was dead. If he had been alive, they would have broken both of his legs.
So, the next time you look at, or speak of the man hanging from the cross, understand fully what he suffered for every one of us. Also, have you ever considered how the Lord feels when we fail him in words, deeds, motives, and love?

[JehovahsWitness]

The word translated in scriptures by many as "CROSS" is actually the Greek word "stauros". Greek: stauros (torture) stake; xylon: stake/log; Latin crux: upright stake*.

• 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. . . . --The Non-Christian Cross, by J. D. Parsons (London, 1896)

• The bible uses the word "Xylon" which simply means "timber, and by implication a stick, club or tree or other wooden article or substance--The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Strong.

• Jesus died on a simple deathstake: In support of this there speak (a) the then customary usage of this means of execution in the Orient, (b) indirectly the history itself of Jesus' sufferings and (c) many expressions of the early Church fathers. ---The Cross and Crucifixion, Hermann Fulda.
  
  • "STAUROS....denotes, primarily, an upright pale or stake. On such malefactors ware nailed for execution. Both the noun and the verb stauroo, to fasten to a stake or pale, are originally to be distinguished from the ecclesiastical form of a two beamed cross." - --Vines Complete Expository Dictionary o[/i]f Old and New Testament Words s:
  Although the ROMANS did uses crosses it was not commonly used until later periods.
  
  • "Even amoungst the Romans the crux{Latin from which our cross is derived}appears to originally been an upright pole". -- The Imperial Bible-Dictionary
  JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
  
  FURTHER READING
  https://louvrebible.org.uk/consultation/47

[placebofactor]

The word translated in scriptures by many as "CROSS" is actually the Greek word "stauros". Greek: stauros (torture) stake; xylon: stake/log; Latin crux: upright stake*.

• 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. . . . --The Non-Christian Cross, by J. D. Parsons (London, 1896)

• The bible uses the word "Xylon" which simply means "timber, and by implication a stick, club or tree or other wooden article or substance--The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Strong.

• Jesus died on a simple deathstake: In support of this there speak (a) the then customary usage of this means of execution in the Orient, (b) indirectly the history itself of Jesus' sufferings and (c) many expressions of the early Church fathers. ---The Cross and Crucifixion, Hermann Fulda.
  
  • "STAUROS....denotes, primarily, an upright pale or stake. On such malefactors ware nailed for execution. Both the noun and the verb stauroo, to fasten to a stake or pale, are originally to be distinguished from the ecclesiastical form of a two beamed cross." - --Vines Complete Expository Dictionary o[/i]f Old and New Testament Words s:
  Although the ROMANS did uses crosses it was not commonly used until later periods.
  
  • "Even amoungst the Romans the crux{Latin from which our cross is derived}appears to originally been an upright pole". -- The Imperial Bible-Dictionary
  JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
  
  FURTHER READING
  https://louvrebible.org.uk/consultation/47

Sorry, wrong again.

The cross was an ancient instrument used for capital punishment. The Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Egyptians, and Persians used a pointed stake to kill their victims (stauros).

The Romans hundreds of years later improved on this method of torture and death. They used three different forms of the cross.

1. The crux immissa, this type in which the upright beam extends above the cross beam, is traditionally the one upon which Jesus suffered and died.

2. The crux commissa, its construction was that of the letter T.

3. The crux decussata, was in the shape of the letter "X."

In Matthew 27:32 and Luke 23:26 we read about a Cyrenian named Simon, “And on him, they laid the cross (stauros).”

The Roman form of crucifixion was carried out on two separate posts, the weight of which no single man could carry. So, the cross (horizontal) piece was given to the condemned person to carry to the place of crucifixion. There it was nailed to another post. The victim's hands would be nailed to the horizontal post, the one he carried, and then they would bend his legs, so the feet lay flat on the vertical post and both feet nailed to it.
A small piece of wood was used for a seat so the victim could lift himself with his feet and take the weight off his arms and shoulders. Then the whole thing with the victim was lifted and set in the ground.

Jesus and then Simon carried the (stauros) to the place of crucifixion. There, it was attached to another post (stauros) forming what is called a cross. History and archeology prove that Roman style crosses as described above were used. They have been found etched on the walls of the catacombs, on early Christian gravestones, ancient jewelry, and art.

[JehovahsWitness]

The word translated in scriptures by many as "CROSS" is actually the Greek word "stauros". Greek: stauros (torture) stake; xylon: stake/log; Latin crux: upright stake*.

• 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. . . . --The Non-Christian Cross, by J. D. Parsons (London, 1896)

• The bible uses the word "Xylon" which simply means "timber, and by implication a stick, club or tree or other wooden article or substance--The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Strong.

• Jesus died on a simple deathstake: In support of this there speak (a) the then customary usage of this means of execution in the Orient, (b) indirectly the history itself of Jesus' sufferings and (c) many expressions of the early Church fathers. ---The Cross and Crucifixion, Hermann Fulda.
  
  • "STAUROS....denotes, primarily, an upright pale or stake. On such malefactors ware nailed for execution. Both the noun and the verb stauroo, to fasten to a stake or pale, are originally to be distinguished from the ecclesiastical form of a two beamed cross." - --Vines Complete Expository Dictionary o[/i]f Old and New Testament Words s:
  Although the ROMANS did uses crosses it was not commonly used until later periods.
  
  • "Even amoungst the Romans the crux{Latin from which our cross is derived}appears to originally been an upright pole". -- The Imperial Bible-Dictionary
  JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
  
  FURTHER READING
  https://louvrebible.org.uk/consultation/47

Sorry, wrong again.

QUESTION #1. Which of the specific published quoted references above are inaccurate?

QUESTION #2. Can you provide peer reviewed published documentation in supoort of your response to question #1?

[placebofactor]

The word translated in scriptures by many as "CROSS" is actually the Greek word "stauros". Greek: stauros (torture) stake; xylon: stake/log; Latin crux: upright stake*.

• 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. . . . --The Non-Christian Cross, by J. D. Parsons (London, 1896)

• The bible uses the word "Xylon" which simply means "timber, and by implication a stick, club or tree or other wooden article or substance--The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Strong.

• Jesus died on a simple deathstake: In support of this there speak (a) the then customary usage of this means of execution in the Orient, (b) indirectly the history itself of Jesus' sufferings and (c) many expressions of the early Church fathers. ---The Cross and Crucifixion, Hermann Fulda.
  
  • "STAUROS....denotes, primarily, an upright pale or stake. On such malefactors ware nailed for execution. Both the noun and the verb stauroo, to fasten to a stake or pale, are originally to be distinguished from the ecclesiastical form of a two beamed cross." - --Vines Complete Expository Dictionary o[/i]f Old and New Testament Words s:
  Although the ROMANS did uses crosses it was not commonly used until later periods.
  
  • "Even amoungst the Romans the crux{Latin from which our cross is derived}appears to originally been an upright pole". -- The Imperial Bible-Dictionary
  JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
  
  FURTHER READING
  https://louvrebible.org.uk/consultation/47

Sorry, wrong again.

QUESTION #1. Which of the specific published quoted references above are inaccurate?

QUESTION #2. Can you provide peer reviewed published documentation in supoort of your response to question #1?

Your whole premise is that Jesus died on a "death stake." Another phrase made to order for the Witnesses. According to you, I would be correct in saying Jesus died on a club or a stick. That's your definition of what a Roman cross is. Jesus carried the cross beam of his "death stake." Then Simon was told to carry it. The other part of his "death stake" was waiting for him when they reached Calvary." The two "death stakes were made to look like a T or a cross. His hands were stretched out on the horizontal beam and his feet nailed to the vertical pole. Check any encyclopedia or go to the Internet and ask, "How did the Romans crucify their enemies?"

[JehovahsWitness]

The word translated in scriptures by many as "CROSS" is actually the Greek word "stauros". Greek: stauros (torture) stake; xylon: stake/log; Latin crux: upright stake*.

• 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. . . . --The Non-Christian Cross, by J. D. Parsons (London, 1896)

• The bible uses the word "Xylon" which simply means "timber, and by implication a stick, club or tree or other wooden article or substance--The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Strong.

• Jesus died on a simple deathstake: In support of this there speak (a) the then customary usage of this means of execution in the Orient, (b) indirectly the history itself of Jesus' sufferings and (c) many expressions of the early Church fathers. ---The Cross and Crucifixion, Hermann Fulda.
  
  • "STAUROS....denotes, primarily, an upright pale or stake. On such malefactors ware nailed for execution. Both the noun and the verb stauroo, to fasten to a stake or pale, are originally to be distinguished from the ecclesiastical form of a two beamed cross." - --Vines Complete Expository Dictionary o[/i]f Old and New Testament Words s:
  Although the ROMANS did uses crosses it was not commonly used until later periods.
  
  • "Even amoungst the Romans the crux{Latin from which our cross is derived}appears to originally been an upright pole". -- The Imperial Bible-Dictionary
  JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
  
  FURTHER READING
  https://louvrebible.org.uk/consultation/47

Sorry, wrong again.

QUESTION #1. Which of the specific published quoted references above are inaccurate?

QUESTION #2. Can you provide peer reviewed published documentation in support of your response to question #1?

.... That's your definition of what a Roman cross is. ...

My entire post is made up soley of quotations from published volumes so ... I repeat...

QUESTION #1. Which of the specific published quoted references above are inaccurate?

QUESTION #2. Can you provide peer reviewed published documentation in support of your response to question #1?

[servant1]

Many false religions have a form of a cross as the front for that religion.
Imagine Jesus who represents the God who is love having a pagan torture death device fronting his religion= NEVER.

[placebofactor]

Many false religions have a form of a cross as the front for that religion.
Imagine Jesus who represents the God who is love having a pagan torture death device fronting his religion= NEVER.

You need to start thinking of those who are not saved. That one glance at a cross, or seeing the word Christmas, (Christ-mas) may be what an individual needs in troubled times to reconsider their relationship with the Lord. All it may take is a glace or a word to draw a non-believer or a troubled person to Christ. I notice in many organized religions, the selfish attitude, "I don't celebrate Christmas." My response, "Who cares!" I don't wear a cross or won't go to a church that has a cross in front of it." My answer, "Who cares?" These are the words of the self-centered, and self-indulging. True believers don't need a sign, unbelievers do.

These things are signs for unbelievers, or weak Christians as reminders, that there is a God. If a cross in front of a church draws one person to the inside, or the word Christmas draws the attention of one person back to the Bible studies, or they begin asking questions about Jesus Christ, I believe the Lord would say to them, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

[servant1]

[Replying to placebofactor in post #8]

When one reads the encyclopedias on Christmas, they find plenty of additives straight off the table of demons were added to it- Thus in Gods view and Jesus' view=100% unacceptable-1Cor 10:21
Jesus started a new religion= his Fathers will( Matt 7:21)--One MUST be taught by these( Matt 24:45) or they remain in darkness and do NOT know Jesus.

[placebofactor]

[Replying to placebofactor in post #8]

When one reads the encyclopedias on Christmas, they find plenty of additives straight off the table of demons were added to it- Thus in Gods view and Jesus' view=100% unacceptable-1Cor 10:21
Jesus started a new religion= his Fathers will( Matt 7:21)--One MUST be taught by these( Matt 24:45) or they remain in darkness and do NOT know Jesus.

I never read the encyclopedia on Christmas but am aware of its origin. I have never thought of Christmas as something evil but as the setting aside of one day in the year, be it in January, March, June etc. to remind the pagan world that there is "Christ" who is our King and High Priest. I don't celebrate Christmas anymore, but not for the reasons you state above.