Originally Posted by Jabu Khan

I want to know how you drive a nail through someones hands and feet without breaking any bones.

Originally Posted by aa5874

I read through the crucifixion in the Synoptics (KJV) and actually there is no mention of nails at all. The actual type of crucifixion is not described. But what seems strange, is that the theives in gMatthew were actually cussing Jesus while they were on their crosses.

Jesus may have simply died from shock. Just imagine two criminals cussing Jesus on a cross and telling him to go to Hell.

Originally Posted by FordMadoxBrown

The more one examines the New Testament the more it can be seen to be based on the Old, Luke and Deuteronomy being a good example. But I don't think this means only that Christianity is 'dishonest'; it may mean that modern Christian Fundamentalists are mistaken in their view of it. After all, as Alan Bennett says 'just because something turns out to be not what we thoght it was, it does not mean it is a fake'.

So often I find the truth lies between two extremes. If we discard the idea that the Gospel narratives are meant to be accurate history such as we expect from news reports today, and open our minds to the posibility that they were written for their day, to encourage discipleship by setting the Jesus legends in the context of the persecutions of 70AD onwards, then their retelling of the OT stories and prophecies in a 'Jesus' context becomes more credible as an accepted literary device of the day.

It is because we know so little about Jesus (the Gospels don't tell us what he looked like or what sort of personality he had) that Christians have felt the need to cling to the idea that the Gospels are accurate history. they do not need to be. Here is a vivid image of someone preaching new ideas, a new way of making sense of life and death. naturally, his followers, preserving his memory, and steeped as they were in Hebrew culture and legends , would tell it in that way. It might give Christianity a new relevance for us if we could rethink not only what it meant to them, but also what it means to us.

Originally Posted by Cege

John 20:25, Acts 2:23, and Colossians 2:14 all refer to nails being used in Jesus' crucifixion.

Originally Posted by aa5874

John, Acts and Collosians are not part of the Synoptics (Matthew, Mark and Luke).

Originally Posted by FatherMithras

Holy shit... I was about to respond to magus55's quote and call him out... What a doozy tat would have been.