Bible Discussion Thread

I was raised Catholic and always believed it was a cross that Jesus was hung on! It makes more sense because on his walk to the place where he died he had to bear the weight of the cross, he wasnt bearing a tree!!! The saying " it is my cross to bear" says alot !!!!!!!! and besides every movie Ive ever saw concerning his life and death always made reference and showed a Cross not a tree!!!!!!!!

I feel you're correct in your understanding of the Cross. The Acts 5:30 use of 'tree' would most likely be alluding to the Cross as shaped from the 'wood' of the trees. Of course, the shape of Jesus' Cross cannot be known as it's not revealed to us, but given the many forms of 'Cross executions' by the Romans, the Crux Commissa (or, the T shape) was the likely one which typified the way our Lord was crucified & allowed for the placement of the sign above his Head.

Chris,the bible does say he was nailed to the stake or tree at mark 15:25 and also at matthew 27:35.he would have had his arms straight above him and nails through his wrists.

Thank you Mark. I suppose Jesus' Wrists were pierced & nailed to the tree, as nails in the palm of the hand would just tear through the flesh because of the weight of the body. Then reading John 20:25-27, would mean His Wrists, rather than hands.

you are welcome Chris!

If you research the origin of the cross it goes back to the Babylonians and didn't enter into Christian religion until the 4th century. some bible writers used the Greek word Xy'lon which means "timber" stick, club, or tree. see also acts 10:39, acts 13:29, Galations 3:13 and 1 peter 2:24. It was under the pagan ruler Constantine that promoted the cross as a symbol of Christianity. see also Exodus 20:4,5

That's very interesting, Mark. Are you suggesting that Jesus hung on a tree (i.e. nailed to its trunk) & not with arms widespread, as it would be on a T shaped structure? If so, how should we account for the nails pierced into his hands/wrists?