Re: New comment on Justus Lipsius' De Cruce Liber Tres

Adam

Thanks for your comment under my March 2008 post,

[Above: Caravaggio: Crucifixion of St. Peter, Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome: Wikipedia]

Justus Lipsius' De Cruce Liber Tres. I have decided to respond to it in this separate post. Your words are bold to distinguish them from mine.

----- Original Message -----
From: Adam
To: Stephen E. Jones
Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 6:34 AM
Subject: [Jesus is Jehovah!] New comment on Justus Lipsius' De Cruce Liber Tres.

>Your scripture reference at John 20:25 seems to support your assertion.

Yes. Even the Watchtower Society's New World Translation of Jn 20:25 has "nails" (plural):

"... Unless I see in his hands the print of the NAILS and stick my finger into the print of the NAILS and stick my hand into his side, I will certainly not believe." (my emphasis).

>though I don't know why we assume either way that they would only need 1 nail in each hand.

One large Roman nail through each hand (i.e. through the bony area at the heel of the hand near the wrist), or both hands, WOULD be sufficient to hold a man on a cross or a stake, respectively. But that is not the issue. The Bible in Jn 20:25 says there were NAILS (plural) in Jesus' hands, yet the Watchtower consistently depicts Jesus as having only ONE NAIL through both hands ABOVE HIS HEAD on a single-beamed stake.

[Right: Jesus depicted by the Watchtower Society as having both hands affixed by a SINGLE nail with the charge ABOVE HIS HANDS: WB&TS, 2005, "What Does the Bible Really Teach,"p.52].

And if Jesus was crucified on a two-beamed cross, with his arms outstretched on each side, He would have to have been affixed by at least TWO nails, one for each hand.

>Matthews 27 is not a logical argument. no reason whatever that should make any more sense in either scenario.

Disagree. Mt 27:37 NWT says:

"Also, they posted ABOVE HIS HEAD the charge against him, in writing: `This is Jesus the King of the Jews.' (my emphasis).

But if Jesus was affixed by one nail through both hands above his head, as consistently depicted in Watchtower publications, then the verse would say, "ABOVE HIS HANDS," because Jesus' hands would be closest to the charge and His head would be an arm's length distant from it:

"Matthew also notes, `Above his head they placed the written charge against him..' (Matthew 27:37 NIV) If Christ had been nailed to an upright stake with his hands above his head as in Watchtower illustrations, Matthew would more likely have said that the written charge was placed above his hands; since he actually did say `above his head,' this would imply that Jesus' hands were someplace else-at the ends of a crossbeam." (Reed, D.A., 1996, "Answering Jehovah's Witnesses: Subject by Subject," pp.86-87).

"In keeping with a cross-crucifixion instead of a stake-crucifixion, we read in Matthew 27:37, `Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS' (emphasis added). If Jesus had died on a stake, the text would have said, `Above His hands.' But it clearly says, `Above His head,' showing that a cross-crucifixion is meant." (Rhodes, R., 1993, "Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah's Witnesses," pp.397-398. Emphasis original).

"Matthew 27:37 also supports the idea of a cross rather than a stake when it says; `Above his head they had put the charge against him in writing: "THIS IS JESUS, KING OF THE JEWS." In the picture of the crucifixion the plaque is above Jesus head, whereas in the Watchtower representation it is necessarily above his hands. If Jesus were impaled on a stake it would be stated that the titilus was placed above his hands, not his head." (Grundy, P., 2008, "Cross or Stake, "Facts About Jehovah's Witnesses, 18 February. Emphasis original).

"The Watchtower always portrays Jesus with one nail in His hands. If His hands were above His head, there would be no reason to use two nails. Matthew 27:37 `And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, `THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.' If Jesus had His hands above His head, wouldn't the sign be above His hands and not His head?" (Walker, K. & B., 2005, "The Cross," Evidence Ministries. Emphasis original).

There is also the evidence of Jesus' prophecy of Peter death in Jn 21:18-19 NWT:

"`Most truly I say to you, When you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk about where you wanted. But when you grow old you will STRETCH OUT YOUR HANDS and another [man] will gird you and bear you where you do not wish.' This he said to signify by what sort of death he would glorify God." (my emphasis).

which I state in "Was Jesus executed on a cross or a stake? #2B: Linguistic," that Peter's manner of death would involve him `stretching out his hands':

"Jesus predicted in John 21:18-19 that Peter's `death' would involve him `stretching out his hands,' signifying Peter's death also by crucifixion (Leolaia, 2005b; Kruse, 2003, p.392 & Hendriksen, 1964, p.489). The same Greek word ekteino, according to my Parsons NT Greek-English dictionary, means `to extend:--cast, put forth, stretch-forth (out)' which includes reaching out (Mt 8:3; 14:31; 26:51; Mk 1:41; Lk 5:13), stretching out (Mt 12:13; Mk 3:5; Lk 6:10; Ac 4:30), or pointing with (Mt 12:49), one's hand."

I neglected to mention that Church history records that Peter also was crucified on a cross:

"Death In the epilogue of the Gospel of John, Jesus hints at the death by which Peter would glorify God, [Jn. 21:18-19] saying `when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and take you where you do not want to go.' This is understood as a reference to Peter's crucifixion ... The death of St. Peter is attested to by Tertullian at the end of the second century, and by Origen ... `Peter was crucified at Rome with his head downwards, as he himself had desired to suffer'... Martyrdom ... The mention in the New Testament of the death of Peter says that Jesus indicated its form by saying: `You will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go., Early church tradition ... says Peter probably died by crucifixion (with arms outstretched) at the time of the Great Fire of Rome of the year 64. " (Saint Peter: Death, Wikipedia).

"[Jn 21:18-19]. Following the reinstatement of Peter, Jesus said to him, I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go. ... Stretching out the hands is an allusion to the way those to be crucified were forced to stretch out their arms and bear the cross beam to the place of execution ... Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Peter is known to have suffered a violent death ... by crucifixion ..."(Kruse, C.G., 2003, "The Gospel According to St. John," pp.392-393. Emphasis original).

"John 21:18-19 The last text under consideration ... does not even refer to Jesus' crucifixion but it is important because it a kind of death or execution involving a `stretching of the hands': ` 'Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands (ekteneis tas kheiras sou), and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.' This he said to show by what kind of death (poio thanato) he was to glorify God. ...'. As we saw above, the word ekteneis `you will stretch out' here is the same verb that Epictetus used to refer to refer to men who have been crucified (estauromenoi) ... and Artemidorus ... mentioned that those who will be `crucified' (staurothesetai) have `outstretched hands' (ton kheiron ektasin). .... Since the death being described ... is that of Apostle Peter, and since Christian tradition otherwise claims that Peter was crucified upside down ... John 21:18-19 would appear to refer to crucifixion as involving a `stretching of the hands'." (Leolaia, 2005, "The facts on crucifixion, stauros, and the `torture stake'," Jehovah's Witnesses Discussion Forum, 11 June).

"[John 20:18-19]...`But when you will have become old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish (to go).' In his old age the moment would arrive when ... Peter would have to raise his arms, so that ... he could be fastened to a cross ... the expression `to stretch out the hands' is often used by Greek authors and by the early fathers to indicate crucifixion. .... The manner of Peter's death is related by the church-fathers, as follows: Eusebius: `But Peter ... at last, having come to Rome, he was crucified head downward, far so he himself had asked to suffer' ... Tertullian: `At Rome .. is Peter girt by another when he is made fast to the cross' ...." (Hendriksen, W., 1964, "A Commentary on the Gospel of John," pp.489-490).

>as for the rest, The Watchtowers entire argument is that cross and the imagery it implies is not a valid translation of crux

That is NOT the Watchtower's ENTIRE argument. And if it was it would be WRONG: As I pointed out in "Was Jesus executed on a cross or a stake? #2C: Linguistic," leading Latin dictionaries give "cross" as a meaning of "crux":

"crux ... In gen., a tree, frame, or other wooden instruments of execution, on which criminals were impaled or hanged ... In partic., a cross ...." (Lewis, C.T. & Short, C.S., "A Latin Dictionary," Clarendon Press: Oxford, 1890, pp.485-486. My emphasis)

"crux ... Any wooden frame on which criminals were exposed to die, a cross ... Death by the cross, crucifixion ..." (Glare, P.G.W., ed., "Oxford Latin Dictionary," [1968], Clarendon Press: Oxford, 1982, p.463. My emphasis)

>and posit crux simplex to be the most viable interpretation

A crux simplex, i.e. a single upright stake, is NOT a viable interpretation, because again: 1. Jesus had the prints of NAILS (plural) in His hands; and the Watchtower's depiction of Jesus' affixing to a crux simplex is by only one NAIL (singular); 2. the charge was above His HEAD (which would be the case in crucifixion on a two-beamed cross), not above His HANDS (which would be the case as depicted by the Watchtower on a crux simplex); and 3. Peter (who Church history records was crucified) died with his arms STRETCHED OUT, in the sense of on each side (see above).

>because they obviously are only referencing Lipsius book as an early illustration of crux simplex I don't believe honesty begs they state his position in the matter,

The Watchtower was NOT "only referencing Lipsius book as an early illustration of crux simplex". The Watchtower, by its:

"... A single stake for impalement of a criminal was called in Latin crux simplex. ONE SUCH INSTRUMENT of torture is illustrated by Justus Lipsius (1547-1606) in his book De cruce libri tres, Antwerp, 1629, p. 19 ..." (WB&TS, 1985, "Kingdom Interlinear Translation," p.1150. My emphasis)

was DELIBERATELY intending to give the FALSE impression to its readers that Justus Lipsius had ONLY ONE illustration, the crux simplex, when in fact he had MANY illustrations of two-beamed crosses and actually stated that "the Lord's cross" was the traditional two-beamed Roman cross (crux immissa). The Watchtower's omission of this highly relevant information, through several revisions, is DISHONEST.

>weather or not the two beamed crux was the most common form of execution at the time. It is not unreasonable to at least imagine that unusual methods may have been used in this situation.

The two beamed crux WAS the most common form of execution at the time, but it is not necessary for me to argue that. All that is necessary to argue is that JESUS was executed on a two-beamed cross, as evidenced by: 1. the reference to NAILS (plural) in Jn 20:25; 2. the charge being above His HEAD, not above His HANDS, in Mt 27:37; and 3. Peter's death involved his arms being STRETCHED OUT (Jn 21:18-19) and Church history records he was crucified on a cross.

And it IS unreasonable to simply IGNORE the Biblical evidence in Jn 20:25; Mt 27:37 and Jn 21:18-19, as the Watchtower Society does.

>Pontius Pilate was disgusted with the whole thing. He saw no reason why the Jewish leaders should demand he be executed. He placed the sign labeling Jesus the king of the Jews in spite of protests from the Sanhedron Its not unlikely that he may have used a more local less Roman form of torture.

There WAS NO "local less Roman form of torture." The Jews' method of execution was by stoning (Jn 8:5-7, 58-59; 10:31-33; Acts 7:54-59;14:19). And under Roman rule the Jews had no power to execute, which is why they had to get the Romans to do it.

And again, there is BIBLICAL EVIDENCE (Jn 20:25; Mt 27:37 and Jn 21:18-19) that Jesus was executed on a TWO-BEAMED CROSS, not a SINGLE-BEAMED STAKE as the Watchtower claims.

>I believe that the most important thing to note is that the bible doesn't say.

The Bible does INDICATE in Jn 20:25, Mt 27:37 and Jn 21:18-19, that Jesus was executed on a TWO-BEAMED CROSS.

>for some reason the gospel writers or early translators didn't see a need for the more descriptive modifiers i.e. simplex, decussata, or immissa.

That's because EVERYONE in Jesus' day KNEW what Roman crucifixion was: affixed by NAILS (plural) [Jn 20:25] through one's OUTSTRETCHED hands [Jn 20:25; 21:18-19] to a TWO-BEAMED CROSS.

>Perhaps they believed it would be a distraction, a hinderance to future followers who might attribute it too much significance.

No. It was UNNECESSARY to record what EVERYONE of that day KNEW.

>(1 Corinthians 2:14) a physical man does not receive the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot get to know [them], because they are examined spiritually. -NWT

An apt description of Jehovah's Witnesses. They do "not receive the things of the spirit of God" because the Watchtower has deceived them into believing that the Holy Spirit is a mere "FORCE," like "ELECTRICITY":

"The holy spirit ... can also be likened to electricity. It also serves for illumination, as a means of communication, and represents a powerful force that can accomplish great things.." (WB&TS, "The Holy Spirit-Third Person of Trinity or God's Active Force?," The Watchtower, July 15, 1957, pp. 434-435).

"We cannot see energy itself; yet, when it is put to use, we can easily see the results it produces. When Jehovah's dynamic energy, though invisible, activates humans, we can readily recognize its effects. In this respect holy spirit from Jehovah has been likened to electricity, which may serve for illumination, or as a means of communication, or as a powerful force accomplishing great amounts of work.." (WB&TS, "Become Activated by the Spirit of Jehovah," The Watchtower, July 15, 1961, p. 433).

"What is the holy spirit? ... the holy spirit is the active force of God. It is not a person but is a powerful force that God causes to emanate from himself to accomplish his holy will ...." (WB&TS,1989, "Reasoning from the Scriptures," pp.380-381).

when the Bible teaches the Holy Spirit is a PERSON (Jn 14:26; 15:26; 16:8,13-14; Ac 5:9; 13:2; Rom 15:30; 1Cor 12:11; Eph 4:30; Heb 10:29; Rev 2:7), and indeed GOD (Mk 3:29; Lk 12:10; Ac 5:3-4; 1Cor 2:11; 2Cor 3:17; Heb 9:14; 2Pet 1:21; Heb 3:7-9), i.e. the Third Person of the Trinity (Mt 28:19; 2Cor 13:14; 1Pet 1:2)!

>Adam

Thanks for reading my blog. I presume you are a JW, in which case, my aim is to help you (and other JWs) to: 1. Leave the Watchtower; and 2. Become a Christian (not necessarily in that order). And now that I have completed my science teacher training, I hope to resume my series, "Was Jesus executed on a cross or a stake?"

Stephen E. Jones.
My other blogs: CreationEvolutionDesign & The Shroud of Turin

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" A further indication of whether Jesus died on a cross or a stake can be seen by a comparison of the following picture with what is stated in the Bible. Look at the number of nails in each picture. Notice in the above depiction from the Watchtower publication Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life there is only one nail and it goes through the wrist and not the hands, due to it being a stake, not a cross. Compare this to what Thomas stated at John 20:25; `unless I see in his hands the print of the nails and stick my finger into the print of the nails and stick my hand into his side, I will certainly not believe'. Jesus was crucified with two nails, one in each hand, not a single nail through the wrist. That separate nails were in each hand is made clear by the use of the word 'nails' not 'nail'. This suggests that Jesus had his arms separated on a cross, not together on a stake as represented in Watchtower publications. Matthew 27:37 also supports the idea of a cross rather than a stake when it says; `Above his head they had put the charge against him in writing: 'THIS IS JESUS, KING OF THE JEWS' `. In the picture of the crucifixion the plaque is above Jesus head, whereas in the Watchtower representation it is necessarily above his hands. If Jesus were impaled on a stake it would be stated that the titilus was placed above his hands, not his head. J. H. Bernard observes that this scripture `suggests that the cross was of the shape called crux immissa, with a cross-bar for the arms, as painters have generally represented it to be' (A Critical & Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel According to St. John, 1929, Vol. 2, p. 628)." (Grundy, P., "Cross or Stake, "Facts About Jehovah's Witnesses, 18 February 2008. Emphasis original)

"[John 20:18-19]18. I most solemnly assure you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and to walk where you wished (to walk); but when you will have become old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish (to go). ... Now Jesus says, as it were, `In your younger days, whenever you wished to go out, you used to gird yourself (literally, `you used to put on your belt,' but here probably somewhat broader: `You used to get dressed for travel') and would walk wherever you desired to walk.' The implication is that, on the whole, Peter did much as he pleased when he was younger. ... This description of Peter's past uninhibited conduct is in sharp contrast with the prediction which immediately follows: `But when you will have become old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish (to go).' In his old age the moment would arrive when, far from enjoying freedom of movement, Peter would have to raise his arms, so that a rope could be tied around him (or possibly: so that he could be fastened to a cross; thus Tertullian). Contrary to the wish of the flesh, he would then be brought to the place of execution. In this connection it is interesting to note that the expression `to stretch out the hands' is often used by Greek authors and by the early fathers to indicate crucifixion. 19. (This he said to signify by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) The passage clearly indicates that when it was written Peter had already passed from the scene of history. In his death God had been glorified (an expression also used with reference to Christ's own passion and death, 18:31, 32), for in this apostle's willingness to suffer martyrdom for the cause of Christ God's grace was magnified. The manner of Peter's death is related by the church-fathers, as follows: Eusebius: `But Peter seems to have preached in Pontus and Galatia and Bithynia and Cappadocia and Asia, to the Jews of the Dispersion, and at last, having come to Rome, he was crucified head downward, far so he himself had asked to suffer' (The Ecclesiastical History III, i). Tertullian: `At Rome Nero was the first who stained with blood this rising faith. Then is Peter girt by another when he is made fast to the cross' (Antidote for the Scorpion's Sting XV). Cf. also Origen, Against Celsus II, xlv)." (Hendriksen, W., "A Commentary on the Gospel of John: Two Volumes Complete and Unabridged in One," [1954], Banner of Truth: London, Third edition, 1964, pp.489-490. Emphasis original).

"[Jn 21:18-19]. Following the reinstatement of Peter, Jesus said to him, I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go. This enigmatic statement contrasts Peter's experience during his youth when he dressed himself and went wherever he pleased, with what was to happen to him when he grew old. His independence would be stripped away. He would be forced to stretch out his hands and others would 'clothe' him and lead him to a place he would not wish to go. Stretching out the hands is an allusion to the way those to be crucified were forced to stretch out their arms and bear the cross beam to the place of execution (cf. Barnabas 12:4; Justin, I Apology, 35). The evangelist leaves us in no doubt about the intention of this saying: Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Peter is known to have suffered a violent death (1 Clement 5:4) by crucifixion (Tertullian, Scorpiace xv.3), and 21:18-19 is the earliest testimony to his martyrdom by this means."(Kruse, C.G., 2003, "The Gospel According to St. John: An Introduction and Commentary," The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Inter-Varsity Press: Leicester UK, pp.392-393. Emphasis original).

"John 21:18-19 The last text under consideration is the most ambiguous and does not even refer to Jesus' crucifixion but it is important because it a kind of death or execution involving a `stretching of the hands': 'Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands (ekteneis tas kheiras sou), and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.' This he said to show by what kind of death (poio thanato) he was to glorify God. And after this he said to him, `Follow me'. As we saw above, the word ekteneis `you will stretch out' here is the same verb that Epictetus used to refer to refer to men who have been crucified (estauromenoi) (Dissertationes, 3.26.22), and Artemidorus (Oneirocritica, 1.76) mentioned that those who will be `crucified' (staurothesetai) have `outstretched hands' (ton kheiron ektasin). We have also seen similar phrases used by Lucian, Plautus, and Seneca. Since the death being described in John 21:18-19 is that of Apostle Peter, and since Christian tradition otherwise claims that Peter was crucified upside down (Acts of Peter 36-37; Tertullian, De Praescriptione Haericorum 36.12, Scorpiace 20, Adversus Marcion 4.5; Lactantius, De Mortibus Persecutorum, 2; Origen, Commentary on Genesis, 3; Eusebius, De Theophania, 5.31, Ecclesiastical History, 2.25.5; compare Seneca, De Consolatione 20.3, which refers to upside-down crucifixions), the understated text in John 21:18-19 would appear to refer to crucifixion as involving a `stretching of the hands'." (Leolaia, 2005, "The facts on crucifixion, stauros, and the `torture stake'," Jehovah's Witnesses Discussion Forum, 11 June).

"Which instrument of execution fits the biblical accounts of Christ's death? Thomas said, `Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails...' indicating that there was not just a single nail in Jesus' hands as in Watchtower illustrations, but two or more nails such as would be needed to pin his hands to the opposite ends of a crossbeam. (John 20:25 KJV) Matthew also notes, `Above his head they placed the written charge against him..' (Matthew 27:37 NIV) If Christ had been nailed to an upright stake with his hands above his head as in Watchtower illustrations, Matthew would more likely have said that the written charge was placed above his hands; since he actually did say `above his head,' this would imply that Jesus' hands were someplace else-at the ends of a crossbeam. In addition to the above, Scripture indicates that Jesus set out for Calvary `carrying his own cross.' (John 19:17 NIV) A man could not carry the massive cross that illustrations sometimes show Christ nailed to. Nor could a man carry the Watchtower's `torture stake'-any more than a man could carry a telephone pole. But a man could, with great difficulty, carry a crosspiece that he would be nailed to and that would then be hoisted by ropes onto an upright piece that was permanently set in the ground. This, according to scriptural and archaeological evidence, is the sort of instrument on which Christ died." (Reed, D.A., 1996, "Answering Jehovah's Witnesses: Subject by Subject," Baker: Grand Rapids MI, Second printing, 1998, pp.86-87).

"To support the view that Jesus died on a cross and not a stake, you might want to ask the Jehovah's Witness to open the New World Translation and read aloud from John 20:25: `Consequently the other disciples would say to him: `We have seen the Lord!' But he [Thomas] said to them: `Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails and stick my finger into the print of the nails and stick my hand into his side, I will certainly not believe' (emphasis added). Now, if Jesus was crucified not on a cross but on a stake, then only one nail would have been used for His hands. Our text, however, says that nails were used (one for each hand). This verse is extremely problematic for the Watchtower position-especially since their own New World Translation has the plural form of `nails.' ... It is also significant that when Jesus spoke of Peter's future crucifixion, He indicated that Peter's arms would be outstretched, not above his head. Jesus told Peter: `'I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.' Now Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God' (John 21:18,19, emphasis added). ... In keeping with a cross-crucifixion instead of a stake-crucifixion, we read in Matthew 27:37, `Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS' (emphasis added). If Jesus had died on a stake, the text would have said, `Above His hands.' But it clearly says, `Above His head,' showing that a cross-crucifixion is meant." (Rhodes, R., 1993, "Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah's Witnesses," Harvest House: Eugene OR, Reprinted, 2006, pp.396-398. Emphasis original).

" JW's believe that Jesus was impaled on an upright stake with His hands above His head and not crucified on a cross. A JW work mentions the following about the cross; `According to history, Tammuz was a Babylonian god, and the cross was used as his symbol. From its beginning in the days of Nimrod, Babylon was against Jehovah and an enemy of true worship. (Gen. 10:8-10; Jer. 50:29) So by cherishing the cross, a person is honoring a symbol of worship that is opposed to the true God.' (Reasoning from the scriptures p.92) Even if the origins of the cross are pagan, that is no reason to think that pagan Romans would hesitate to crucify Jesus on a cross. The question that should be asked is, `Does the Scripture support a death on a cross or death on an upright stake?' John 20:25 states, `So the other disciples were saying to him, `We have seen the Lord!' But he said to them, `Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.' Notice that Thomas mentions that there are `nails' and not a single nail that was placed into the hands of Jesus. The Watchtower always portrays Jesus with one nail in His hands. If His hands were above His head, there would be no reason to use two nails. Matthew 27:37 `And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, `THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.' If Jesus had His hands above His head, wouldn't the sign be above His hands and not His head? John 21:18-19 `Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.' Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, `Follow Me!' Jesus prophesies that Peter will die and even reveals by what means. The inspired narrative in verse nineteen points this out. What did Jesus say about Peter's hands? They were going to be stretched out, not up. By traditional accounts, Peter was crucified on a cross up-side-down." (Walker, K. & B., "The Cross," Evidence Ministries, 2005)

"ILLUSTRATING HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT OPERATES ... In considering the foregoing question, doubtless the use of illustrations will be helpful, even as the greatest Teacher that ever lived, Jesus, found to be the case. The holy spirit has been likened to wind. In certain respects it can also be likened to electricity. It also serves for illumination, as a means of communication, and represents a powerful force that can accomplish great things. We cannot tell whether a person is filled with the holy spirit merely by looking at him, even as we cannot tell whether a battery or a "third rail" is charged with electricity merely by looking at it. And even as electricity is used by certain governments to execute criminals, so Jehovah has at times used his holy spirit to execute the wicked, as in the case of Ananias and his wife Sapphira.-Acts 5:1-11." (WB&TS, "The Holy Spirit-Third Person of Trinity or God's Active Force?," The Watchtower, July 15, 1957, pp. 434-435. Emphasis original).

"MANIFESTATIONS OF JEHOVAH'S SPIRIT ... We cannot see energy itself; yet, when it is put to use, we can easily see the results it produces. When Jehovah's dynamic energy, though invisible, activates humans, we can readily recognize its effects. In this respect holy spirit from Jehovah has been likened to electricity, which may serve for illumination, or as a means of communication, or as a powerful force accomplishing great amounts of work. We cannot tell whether a person is filled with holy spirit by merely looking at him any more than we can look at copper power lines and tell whether they are `alive' or not. By merely looking at a battery one cannot tell whether it is charged or not. As electricity serves for illumination, so Jehovah's spirit can give enlightenment and clarification of God's Word in these dark times. (Ps. 119:105; Joel 2:28) That understanding and direction come only by holy spirit is evident when we observe the confusion and general lack of understanding and direction manifest in this world's various religious organizations. They are blind to the fact that God's kingdom is the only hope for mankind. They cannot see that the King of that kingdom has been installed in office and is now reigning in the heavens. They do not see the rapid approach of destruction of the present Devil-ruled system of things. They do not see that the promised literal paradise is very near at hand. They are altogether blind to such heart-cheering truths, for only by Jehovah's spirit are they revealed.-1 Cor. 2:9, 10." (WB&TS, "Become Activated by the Spirit of Jehovah," The Watchtower, July 15, 1961, p. 433. Emphasis original).

"What is the holy spirit? A comparison of Bible texts that refer to the holy spirit shows that it is spoken of as `filling' people; they can be `baptized' with it; and they can be `anointed' with it. (Luke 1:41; Matt. 3:11; Acts 10:38) None of these expressions would be appropriate if the holy spirit were a person. Jesus also referred to the holy spirit as a `helper' (Greek, pa-ra'kle-tos), and he said that this helper would `teach,' `bear witness,' `speak,' and `hear.' (John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26; 16:13) It is not unusual in the Scriptures for something to be personified. For example, wisdom is said to have `children.' (Luke 7:35) Sin and death are spoken of as being kings. (Rom. 5:14, 21) While some texts say that the spirit `spoke,' other passages make clear that this was done through angels or humans. (Acts 4:24, 25; 28:25; Matt. 10:19, 20; compare Acts 20:23 with 21:10, 11.) At 1 John 5:6-8, not only the spirit but also `the water and the blood' are said to `bear witness.' So, none of the expressions found in these texts in themselves prove that the holy spirit is a person. The correct identification of the holy spirit must fit all the scriptures that refer to that spirit. With this viewpoint, it is logical to conclude that the holy spirit is the active force of God. It is not a person but is a powerful force that God causes to emanate from himself to accomplish his holy will.-Ps. 104:30; 2 Pet. 1:21; Acts 4:31." (WB&TS, "Reasoning from the Scriptures," [1985], Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York: Brooklyn NY, Second edition, 1989, pp.380-381. Emphasis original).