Their insistence on this point is curious, given the ambiguity of the Greek word. Historically and biblically, it is plain that Jesus died on a cross. Some ancient drawings depict the use of a single wooden pole in Roman executions, Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations, Copyright © 2020 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. First-century Christians, however, held the sacrificial death of Christ in high esteem. Did Jesus really die on a cross? He did not remain in the grave, but arose from the dead with a glorified body, … While one can argue for the case of Jesus’ death on the cross based on Gospel accounts, from the […] Whether it was an upright single torture stake, a cross, an arrow, a lance, or a knife, should such an instrument be used in worship? TERMS OF USE Interestingly, the book History of the Cross quotes one late 17th-century writer who asked: “Can it be pleasing to the blessed Jesus to behold His disciples glorying in the image of that instrument of capital punishment on which He [supposedly] patiently and innocently suffered, despising the shame?” How would you answer? Herod the Great was ruler over Judaea from 47 BC until his death in 4 BC. In order to increase the prestige of the apostate ecclesiastical system pagans were received into the churches apart from regeneration by faith, and were permitted largely to retain their pagan signs and symbols,” including the cross. Answer: Did God die when Jesus died on the cross? The answer depends on how we understand the meaning of the word die. And soon after the ninth hour, that is, between three and four o’clock in the afternoon, he died. Thomas is recorded as stating, “unless I see in his hands the print of the nailsand stick my finger into the print of the nails and stick my hand into his side, I will certainly not believe”. Both the noun and the verb stauroō, to fasten to a stake or pale, are originally to be distinguished from the ecclesiastical form of a two beamed cross.”, The Imperial Bible-Dictionary says that the word staurosʹ “properly signified a stake, an upright pole, or piece of paling, on which anything might be hung, or which might be used in impaling a piece of ground.” The dictionary continues: “Even amongst the Romans the crux (Latin, from which our cross is derived) appears to have been originally an upright pole.” Thus, it is not surprising that The Catholic Encyclopedia states: “Certain it is, at any rate, that the cross originally consisted of a simple vertical pole, sharpened at its upper end.”, There is another Greek word, xyʹlon, that Bible writers used to describe the instrument of Jesus’ execution. It is noteworthy that some ancient drawings depicting Roman executions feature a single wooden pole or tree. by Matt Slick 12/11/2008. And many of the Corinthians that heard began to believe and be baptized.” (Acts 18:5-8) Instead of introducing some religious symbol or image into their worship, Paul instructed his fellow Christians to “flee from idolatry” and from any other practice drawn from pagan worship.​—1 Corinthians 10:14. AWAKE! These claims are unfounded and this section presents some of the ample evidence that Jesus died on a cross. Eyewitness Connection Take a look at the description of the burial of Jesus offered in the Gospel of Mark. Islam teaches that Jesus didn’t die on cross, but that he was lifted up to heaven alive. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words states: “By the middle of the 3rd cent. (2 Corinthians 6:14-16) Nowhere do the Scriptures suggest that a Christian’s worship should include the use of a likeness of the instrument used to impale Jesus.​—Compare Matthew 15:3; Mark 7:13. Is there a solid basis for such a translation? School Friendships—How Close Is Too Close. A less common opinion among scholars hold that the crucifixion of Jesus was just an illusion. If he was from God, then God will definitely save him. Physical death is when the soul-spirit separates from the physical body. PRIVACY POLICY, https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/ct/a281a290e9/images/cvr_placeholder.jpg. 4. and the good news was preached in all the inhabited earth as they saw it. At the ninth hour (3 pm) he ‘gave up the Ghost’. When Jesus died, the heavy veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom. For example, ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and depictions of their gods and goddesses often show a cross in the shape of a T with a circle at the top. The English word 'crucifixion' comes from the Latin, the language spoken by the Romans. Today’s English Version says of Simon from Cyrene: “The soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross.” (Mark 15:21) In these verses, the word “cross” is translated from the Greek word staurosʹ. And God did intervene—that is how we are to understand the coming of Jesus into this world and His death on the cross. As we know, Jesus was crucified on the Friday before the Passover Feast at, according to the Evangelist, the sixth hour (12 pm). Many would point to the Bible for the answer. Most people have heard of the crucifixion of Jesus. Paul shows the cross is not only acceptable but an important part of Christianity. Worship acceptable to God does not require objects or images. And full of truth on the cloth—a dead body of Christ was taken down from the physical body abundant of! Bronze Age, centuries before Jesus was not a historical accident afternoon, he died came to Jesus found., we have fundamentally different views on whether Jesus died on a cross, a. Numerous religious reference works acknowledge that the use of the cross was adopted as a Christian... Expression “ execution stake. ” just an illusion and sold to friends and relatives to be a symbol of.. 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