I Was a Sunday-School Spy

✦ A study was performed to investigate modern-day perception of the crucifixion event and how people write about it versus what is documented in ancient texts.

✦ Several people from different Christian backgrounds (Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Non-Denominational) in two settings (Sunday-school class and Bible studies) were tasked to write paragraphs regarding the crucifixion.

✦ 100% mentioned nails used to attach Jesus to the cross.

✦ Roughly 50% to 60% emphasized the use of nails:

Explained details, and/or
Described “pain” Jesus felt. Some of these described excruciating emotions of pain, although three wrote Jesus took the pain without expression.

✦ None of the original accounts in the New Testament say anything about Jesus being nailed to the cross.

✦ When confronted with this, almost all of the participants were surprised.

✦ Why the difference in the modern-day written accounts versus ancient texts?

People today are fundamentally different? – Probably not to that level.
Not an important aspect of the crucifixion and, therefore, left out in original accounts? – If this is true, then why is it emphasized so much today and why did every modern-day writer include it?
Neglected to include it? – How can this be true for all four original accounts (presuming they were from different writers), while none of the modern-day accounts neglected to include it?
Some of the original accounts may have been based on hearsay and not personal witness? – True, but all of the modern-day accounts are based on hearsay.

✦ Is it possible the word-of-mouth perceptions of the crucifixion are different from the original event?