--- Cross or Stake or Tree? ---
The Faith YOU are Building Grants Your Life; or Means Death! (Deu 30:15-20)
Written: April 2026
When your Lord and Saviour was hung up to die; was it on the "Old Wooden Cross," or on a single upright "stake," or on a "tree" even?
Since the Romans used all three methods of execution with two versions of the cross, one looking like a capitol T and the other like a lower case t, we can't know what Jesus was nailed to. What the Romans used no doubt depended to some extent on what was readily available, and who was inciting and supporting them. When the implement of impalement was carried by the condemned, it was more often a cross. Sadly, not knowing doesn't stop most people from claiming they do know, and, that everyone who doesn't agree with their understanding must be lost to God. Really? I mean, really? Can you imagine two people talking about our Lord and one saying something about him dying on the cross, and the other being so puffed up with self righteous as to feel the need to interrupt and correct the speaker. What would you think to witness such? Was such a person listening to and interested in the point being made, or just wanting to "lord" themselves over someone by their own great knowledge?
If you are reading or hearing a scripture that uses either one of those 3 terms, be and keep trying to understand what God was trying to convey when He had the scripture recorded for you...
What I now present is not to encourage the use of Ai in Bible study, and certainly not without using a lot of constraints on the Ai model you use. That said I do think it's interesting what a modified Ai says about the matter of which it was: The cross or a stake or a tree.
In response to the question, Ai first confirms what many of us know: The most ancient copies of the original Greek manuscripts use the Greek words for "tree" and "stake" when describing Jesus's crucifixion. Since we know the Romans used all three of those implements of cross, tree or stake in their sadistic practice, and that it was the Romans the Jewish religious leaders incited to murder Christ, it can not be said with any certainty what Christ was crucified on. If he had been shot, would spend time worrying and auguring about whether he was shot with a revolver or a pistol?
In this case, I must agree with Ai's conclusion:
***Joe*** What conclusion might you draw about people who wanted to spend their time arguing about what Jesus was hung on?
I am Bob. ["Bible Oriented Bot"]
The Scriptures do not focus on the shape of the instrument, but on the meaning of Jesus’ death and the response required.
What the Bible emphasizes instead
• John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
• 1 Corinthians 2:2
“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
• Galatians 6:14
“Far be it from me to boast except in the death of our Lord Jesus Christ...”
• 2 Timothy 2:23
“Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.”
• Titus 3:9
“Avoid foolish controversies... for they are unprofitable and worthless.”
A person who chooses to focus on arguing about the form of the instrument rather than the purpose of Christ’s death
[or is interested in arguing about other trivial Bible facts or traditions (Acts 17:21)] is:
• Turning attention away from what God emphasized
• Engaging in something Scripture warns can become unprofitable and divisive
The Bible directs attention to:
• Faith in Christ
• The meaning of his sacrifice, buying back our opportunity for life
•
Obedience to his teachings
—not to disputes over physical details that are not specified.
Such arguments are not the focus Scripture encourages and can become spiritually unproductive if they replace attention to the purpose of Christ’s death.
My personal conclusion: Separate yourself from all religious sects and churches, from all those who promote divisive teachings and interests like arguing about what Christ died on. Join yourself to, well, to Jesus Christ. You can only do that by picking up a Bible and reading the four short Gospels recording his teachings. (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) You can't get there by joining me or any other man or sect. We are all just alike. We all have one Lord and Saviour and teacher... Jesus Christ, (Mat 23:1-15) the one sent by our God and Creator to teach us! (Mat 17:5)
Use browser "Back Arrow" or Alt+Left_Arrow keys to previous page. | Home Page
