If Jesus was nailed to a cross Why does Paul say he was hung on a tree?

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   vveaseyposted 9 years ago

   If Jesus was nailed to a cross Why does Paul say he was hung on a tree?
   
   Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: Galatians 3:13
   
   
   

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   Rich kelleyposted 9 years ago

   Deu 21:22  And if a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death and [afterward] you hang him on a tree, [Josh. 10:26, 27.]
   Deu 21:23  His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day, for a hanged man is accursed by God. Thus you shall not defile your land which the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance. [Gal. 3:13.]
   
   Paul was just quoting Old Testament. My assumption would be that the cross and a tree would both be a curse. Reading the OT verses kind of help.

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      vveaseyposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      The question is about the discrepancy, between the Christian crucifix and Paul saying Jesus was hanged. Christians should be wearing the image of a hanged man, on their neck chains, instead of a man nailed to a cross .

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   cobrienposted 9 years ago

   The tree is a metaphor, sort of. The Bible is full of them. Jesus was hung on a tree cut into the shape of a cross and hanged by nails in His wrists and ankles. The Bible has gone through many interpretations, and their idea of "hanging" does not necessarily include rope.

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      Norine Williamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Amen!  Matters not to me what He died on, Fact remains "He DIED for the remission of our sins!"  Wish ALL would stop looking at "THE LETTER" which "KILLETH!" (II Cor 3:6).
      
      This is a SPIRITUAL JOURNEY folks!

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   nrsparks130posted 9 years ago

   Not to sound flippant, but Paul was being fairly liberal in his translation of the above listed OT texts by modern standards.  However, by the time of Roman occupation, Jewish rabbis had already interpreted the Deuteronimic text to imply crucifixion.  Paul was simply using preexisting rabbinic categories to address the situation of Christ's crucifixion.  Jesus died on a cross, made of wood, hewn  as it were from a tree trunk. 
   
   A person who was crucified was hung from the cross to slowly asphyxiate not to die from blood loss or other injury.  It was a humiliating way to die reserved for only the worst offenders, such as political rebels, this is why the Romans chose the title king of the Jews to be hung over the cross.  It was an accusation of political rebellion, a statement of the charges against him.  The Pharisees objected because they considered "king of the Jews" a messianic title.  They wanted him executed as a blasphemer yet the charge of the Romans ironically confirmed the claims of Christ to be the chosen Son of Man/Son of God, thus undermining the reasons the Pharisees sought to have him crucified.  Paul thus says he became a curse in Galatians because he was unjustly crucified, framed as a rebel and blasphemer (according to he Gospels) and his death was an innocent sacrifice by which the curse of sin and death is overcome. 
   
   As a side note to also help understand the tree comparison beyond material composition.  The typical cross as a lower case "t" is incorrect though.  The cross would have been more like an upper case "T".  The vertical beam would have been a permanent fixture - not unlike a gallows - with a rope system used to hoist the horizontal beam, with the accused attached, into place.  In the distance, the vertical beams would resemble dead tree trunks and served as an ominous reminder of how Rome treated those in occupied territories who dared oppose them.
   
   Does this answer your question?

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      Norine Williamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Tree, wood, timber, cross, why remain shortsighted? The point is HE DIED FOR THE REMISSION OF OUR SINS! 
      
      II Cor 3:4-6!  "The letter killeth!"

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   Soraya Gazzazposted 9 years ago

   I truly believe that Jesus is not God nor God's begotten son. He was/is a man, and a loved prophet. Moreover he wasn't cursed, nor crucified nor hanged on a tree.
   Lets say Jesus is God, how can the God die? how can the God be cursed? and if holiness was cursed, cursed by who? And how can a bunch of Jews kill the one that created them and created life? Why would God let himself be killed? And when God was dead, who was controlling or watching the world?
   Lets say Jesus is the son of God. How can a loving father sacrifice his son to forgive our sins? Why would Jesus pay for our mistakes? Does that make God fair or loving? Is God's power limited that he had to do a sacrifice to be able to forgive?
   Sorry if I have offended anyone. I just really need answers to my questions.

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      nrsparks130posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Because of character limitations here, it would be difficult to answer your questions on a satisfactory manner.  If you truly want to discuss this further, I'd be happy to talk about it.  You can email me through my profile and I'd be happy to discus

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      Norine Williamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      OMNIPRESENT SPIRIT!  Spirit NEVER dies! Can manifest into flesh! Flesh died but SPIRIT NEVER died! Yes, it shows us His love for us! No not limited wanted to exp 1st hand sufferings n flesh!

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