Christianity Current Event Project by Chemelli, Kiersten

Summary: Unpacking a Crucifixion Controversy

kchemel1 — 2025-04-23 21:26:12 UTC

In the article titled "Yes, Jesus Was Crucified With Nails," the author critiques a news article from Christianity Today titled "Was Jesus Crucified with Nails?" In the Christianity Today article, the author claims that early Roman accounts of crucifixions do not mention the use of nails and do not specify how Jesus was attached to the cross, suggesting that ropes may have been used instead. This argument is based on the observation that the Greek and Latin words for crucifixion often mean "attached" rather than specifically "nailed" (Manning 1).

Summary: Counterargument

kchemel1 — 2025-04-23 21:42:46 UTC

This article refutes the claim by pointing to eyewitness evidence in the Gospel of John, where Thomas sees Jesus’ nail marks after the resurrection. In John 20:25, 27, “Thomas wanted to see the nail marks, and Jesus showed him the nail marks” (Manning 1). This account supports the author's argument that Jesus was indeed crucified with nails, not tied with ropes. The article also strengthens its case by referencing historical sources like Josephus, Philo, and Herodotus, who mention the use of nails in crucifixions or executions well before AD 66, proving it was not a later development.

Summary: Faith and Facts

kchemel1 — 2025-04-23 21:52:52 UTC

The author explains that, although nails are not the most important part of Christian faith and do not prove salvation or Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, getting the historical details right still matters. The Gospel of John describes Thomas seeing the nail marks on the resurrected Jesus, supporting the account's truth. The author argues that this should be taken seriously as eyewitness testimony, not dismissed as symbolic. Therefore, the claims made in the Christianity Today article should not cause us to doubt the reliability of the Gospel.

The Apostle's Creed

kchemel1 — 2025-04-23 22:32:12 UTC

One of the course readings we explored was the Apostles’ Creed, which states that Jesus “suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead, and buried” (Wright 159). The article I summarized argues that Jesus was nailed to the cross, supporting the idea that his crucifixion was a real and brutal, historically documented event. This supports the Creed’s focus on Jesus’ suffering as something concrete and not just an idea or metaphor. The article and the Creed show how Christian beliefs are grounded in events that happened and carry deep meaning.

The Gospel of John

kchemel1 — 2025-04-23 23:28:12 UTC

In Religion Matters, we learn that the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—each tell the story of Jesus’s life from different perspectives, offering theological insight and historical detail (Prothero 289). The article directly relates to this by focusing on the Gospel of John, which includes the account of Thomas seeing the nail marks in Jesus’ hands after the resurrection. Since the Gospels are presented in our course as key sources for understanding Jesus’s identity and mission, this passage reinforces the importance of John’s account in affirming the physical reality of the crucifixion and resurrection. The article supports the Gospel’s historical credibility, a central theme in studying how the Gospels function within the Christian tradition.

Why Jesus Died Matters Most

kchemel1 — 2025-04-23 23:41:03 UTC

At the end of the article, the author explains that whether Jesus was nailed or tied to the cross, what matters most in Christian faith is the reason he was there. In Religion Matters, we learn that Jesus “took all human sin on his own sinless frame” (Prothero 229), showing that his death is understood as a sacrifice for others. Both the article and our course highlight that the meaning behind Jesus’s crucifixion is more important than the exact method. This connects to what we are learning about the purpose of Jesus’s death and its central place in Christian beliefs.

Sources and News Article Link

kchemel1 — 2025-04-23 23:57:32 UTC

(News Article Link)

https://churchleaders.com/voices/exchange/510002-yes-jesus-was-crucified-with-nails.html
Manning, Gary. “Yes, Jesus Was Crucified With Nails.” Chruchleaders. 2025.

(In-Class Reading Material)

Wright, Beth. A Study Companion to Introduction to World Religions. Fortress Press. 2011.

(Class Book)

Prothero, Stephen. Religion Matters. W. W. Norton & Company. 2020.

Use of AI

kchemel1 — 2025-04-24 00:02:05 UTC

I did the first draft of my work, but then I used AI to make suggestions. I used AI to help me generate ideas for the titles of each of my slides. I also used AI for grammar.