Did Jesus
die on a stake or a cross?
Jesus died on a cross, not a stake. In
particular, the non-Christian cult of the Jehovah's Witnesses
teach that Jesus died on a stake, not a cross, (Reasoning from the
Scriptures, 1985, pp. 89-90). It really doesn't
matter which Jesus died on. The issue is whether or not He shed His
blood for our sins.
The Greek word used in many Bibles which is translated into "cross" is
the Greek word "stauros" which means, "an upright stake, esp. a pointed one,
a cross."1 If a stake were used, instead
of a cross, then Jesus' hands would have been placed above His head with a
nail driven through His wrists. Since the wrists would most likely
overlap, only one nail is needed through both wrists. However, John 20:25
says,
"The other disciples
therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them,
except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my
finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his
side, I will not believe."
Notice the use of the word nails (plural) in reference to hands (plural).
It makes far more sense to say that Jesus was crucified on a cross with
outstretched hands and one nail in each hand placed above each other on a
stake. That is why it says "...in his hands the print of the
nails..."
Therefore, it is most logical to state that Jesus died
on a cross with outstretched arms.
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1. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon,
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