Gawen

Acts 5:30 and Acts 10:39 both state, quite flatly, that Jesus was killed and then hung upon a tree. The word used in the Greek for 'tree' in these two passages is 'xulon' which is the word used for a living tree (as used in Revelation 22:2 in the 'tree of life'). Is this correct?
If so, this seems to indicate two things. First Jesus was already dead when he was hung on a tree (not a cross) and those who slew him were Jews (not Romans) since the reference in the passages is to the Sanhedrin.
And secondly, Acts 13:29 refers to taking Jesus down from the tree and once again the word used is 'xulon' as in a living tree.

Doesn't Origen, quoting Celsus say something along the lines of someone stoned to death by the leaders of the mainstream religious community and his body was hung on a tree...and that the body was lost for a brief period of time, after which rumors began to be circulated by his remaining followers that he had arose from the dead?

Which stories lend the most credence?

Toto

There's been a lot of discussion on this topic.

An old thread from 2001: Hanging on a tree... (formatting problems)

2003: Crucifiction

Some references here: Origins of the Passion Narrative.

If Jesus had been guilty of blasphemy, he would have been stoned and then his dead body humg on a tree, which fits a possible model for Jesus from 100 BCE. The whole crucifixion story doesn't hang together.

Smullyan-esque

Odin from the Norse mythology was a god of wisdom who hung himself from a tree as an offering to himself. If the authors of the Bible had some chance to speak to Norse travellers, they might have borrowed this idea...

Gawen

Thanks for the links Toto

premjan

sounds a bit like the Vedic idea of Purusha...

steph s.

seneca called the crucifix "the accursed tree" in epistle 101.

http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistle...l#%E2%80%98CI1

CaliNORML

Here is a subject that has trapped my intrest as well, plants in reference to Myth and religion. The entire story of Jesus has so many plant based concepts he was also a carpenter, working with wood, born in structure of wood in hay. He immediatly knew his disciple standing under a tree, he was called to by a gentile in a tree and healed his daughter, palm fronds paved his way when he came to the holy city. He was the fruit the vine and the wine, all he was is plant based, and most of his teachings used botany as example on (where else?) the Mount of Olives before his last night in a garden.

Eastern views also hold plants as sacred, lotus bloom and trees are found there as well always connected with purity and compassion.

There are facts I have found, such as plants do not see green light, to them it is white as they only use red and blue spectrum. If we did not see green light reflected to us of the photosynthesis process and only the invisible outer structure of plants all would seem invisible as the covering of plants are transparent. Plants are the base of all our energy and have a connection opposite of ours to the planet. Where our light spectrum starts at the red, plants first use blue light to grow leaves and store energy. Plants produce their fruit in this light and color of the fall and the red from the sun. Stored energy that provides the foundation of our own energy to live at the base of the food chain.

Physicaly as well the structure of plants is linked to all elements, they build earth out of air in the exchange of carbon to oxygen, the carbon removed from respiration is used to create substance of form. In a nutshell plants are made from air and then make earth, and are able to find water even on the land in solid ground as well as pull it from the air. The heat needed to germinate starts in the dark ground and then to the sun overhead. Plants are connected to water above and below and fire above and below making their cycle one of total connection and in total reverse to our own.

The one plant that went "animal" first even before fungi is yeast. Like other life after this form, yeast lives unconnected to the Earth and is still found everywhere, in the soil, in the air, in water, inside and on animals and humans, yeast makes CO2 and does not make its own food and lives in the dark. While there are many strains of yeast only a few have helpfull properties and are cultivated for use. "Wild" yeasts will sour wine, and produce bad bread, not to mention the overabundance can cause even infection or death.

There sems to be a basis for fear of these yeasts which Jesus ascribes to those who would harm him. The unleaven bread seems to hold a new concept for me now as well, nothing so animalish as yeast could be taken with those leaving Egypt to be allowed to spread. Beware of them as the parasites they truly are seems to be the message.

I am collecting bits here and there from every belief that contains a plant based teaching just to contrast and compare them. Everyone needs a hobby I guess, myself maybe more than most, so please humor me and add some others if found. I would appreciate the effort.

Thanks,

KMS

NZSkep

don't forget Jesus simply hated that fig tree too.

CaliNORML

Ty,Ty joted that one down.

KMS

Toto

The fig tree is generally considered to be a symbol of Israel.