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The Crucifixion ✦ The earliest Christian records of the crucifixion (the Apostle Paul’s seven letters and the Synoptic Gospels) never mention nails to attach Jesus to the cross. ✦ Dr. Andrea Berlin (Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota) and Dr. Jodi Magness (Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) state in their article, Two Archaeologists Comment on `The Passion of the Christ’ (Archaeological Institute of America, March 2004), “…many victims were tied by ropes to the cross, not nailed.” ✦ Dr. Jeffrey P. Arroyo Garcia (Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at Gordon College) states in his article, Nails or Knots – How was Jesus Crucified? (Biblical Archaeology Review, Spring 2025) “…when ancient texts and archaeological evidence are examined together, it appears that nailing a victim to a cross may not have been as common as most people think. And it might have been introduced in Judea only after the time of Jesus.” – around the time of the First Jewish Revolt (66 – 70 CE). ✦ Roman crucifixions were cruel and inhumane. The victims remained on the cross for days, or indefinitely, to slowly die in pain, agony, and humiliation. They were usually denied the dignity of burial. However, this is not the type of crucifixion described in the Gospel accounts. ✦ Jesus spent a relatively short period (six hours) on the cross, from the third hour of the day[1] to the ninth hour.[2] ✦ The women who knew Jesus[3] and all of Jesus’ acquaintances[4] watched from a distance. ✦ Roman soldiers[5] and a Roman centurion[6] stood guard at the cross. ✦ In Matthew, Mark, and Luke no form of physical violence was committed against Jesus while he was on the cross. ✦ A Roman centurion pronounced Jesus’ supposed death.[7] ✦ Pontius Pilate directed who was allowed to take Jesus’ body from the cross.[8] ✦ A heretofore unknown person, Joseph of Arimathea, took Jesus’ body, not a member of Jesus’ family. He is documented as being: [1]Mark 15:25 [2] Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34, Luke 23:44-45 [3] Matthew 27:55-56, Mark 15:40-41 [4] Luke 23:49 [5] Matthew 27:36 [6] Matthew 27:54, Mark 15:39, Luke 23:47 [7] Mark 15:45 [8] Matthew 27:58, Mark 15:45, Luke 23:52, John 19:38 [9] Matthew 27:57 [10] Mark 15:43, Luke 23:50 [11] John 19:38 |
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