Jesus Died by Crucifixion (Mainstream Apologetics)

Jesus Died by Crucifixion

Claim ID: HIS-IS23

Claim: Jesus Died by Crucifixion

Summary: Jesus died a violent and certain death based on the preponderance of evidence from both extra-biblical and biblical sources. These sources corroborate the claim that Jesus died by crucifixion.

Description: The case for the death of Jesus can be established on the basis of extra-biblical sources alone. Historians such as Tacitus [HIS-EV61], Lucian [HIS-EV62], Josephus [HIS-EV64] and the Jewish Talmud [HIS-EV63] all corroborate the death of Jesus by crucifixion. The addition of forensic analysis of Jesus physical condition resulting from a severe scourging and crucifixion [HIS-EV65] makes it abundantly clear that Jesus was dead before the Roman soldier pierced Jesus' heart and lung with the sword. The availability of biblical evidence [HIS-EV66], [HIS-EV55] only reinforces the facts already established from extra-biblical sources.

Flogging (scourging) was a legal preliminary to every Roman execution. Crucifixion was a form of torture and capital punishment that was designed to produce a slow death with maximum pain and suffering. When extra-biblical sources state that Jesus was crucified, they imply he was also scourged. The combination of scourging and crucifixion are fatal.

Therefore, we conclude that Jesus died a violent and certain death based on the preponderance of evidence from both extra-biblical and biblical sources.