According to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus was executed, not on a cross, but an upright stake.
While this is not an issue one really should raise with a JW (the main issue about the crucifixion is the nature of Christ's atonement and for whom did Christ die for, etc), JW's tend to bring this up, so Latter-day Saints should be ready to give an answer to this objection.
There are many ways to go about this, but the best would be using the JW's own materials against such a perspective.
Firstly, if Jesus died on an upright stake, then only one nail would be required (see this depiction from JW art). However, the Greek New Testament is clear that nails (plural) were used, consistent with a cross. In John 20:25, the NWT reads:
The Greek for "the nails" is τῶν ἥλων, the genitive plural of ηλος (nail). Furthermore, the Kingdom Interlinear, on p. 529, renders John 20:25 thusly:
Both the Greek and the corresponding translation use the plural, the nails (τῶν ἥλων).
While much more could be said (e.g., archaeological evidence for crucifixions contemporary with the time of Jesus), such should give a thoughtful JW some food for thought if/when a Latter-day Saint is confronted with, and responds to, this popular but errant claim.
However, there are much more central issues concerning the claims of the Watchtower and its theology, including its unbiblical Christology; consider the following:
When a "side issue" like the cross vs. upright stake is raised, one should try to steer the conversation to Hebrews 1 and other key Christological texts that refute the Neo-Arian theology of the Jehovah's Witnesses.
While this is not an issue one really should raise with a JW (the main issue about the crucifixion is the nature of Christ's atonement and for whom did Christ die for, etc), JW's tend to bring this up, so Latter-day Saints should be ready to give an answer to this objection.
There are many ways to go about this, but the best would be using the JW's own materials against such a perspective.
Firstly, if Jesus died on an upright stake, then only one nail would be required (see this depiction from JW art). However, the Greek New Testament is clear that nails (plural) were used, consistent with a cross. In John 20:25, the NWT reads:
Consequently the other disciples would say to him: "We have seen the Lord!" But he 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."
The Greek for "the nails" is τῶν ἥλων, the genitive plural of ηλος (nail). Furthermore, the Kingdom Interlinear, on p. 529, renders John 20:25 thusly:
Both the Greek and the corresponding translation use the plural, the nails (τῶν ἥλων).
While much more could be said (e.g., archaeological evidence for crucifixions contemporary with the time of Jesus), such should give a thoughtful JW some food for thought if/when a Latter-day Saint is confronted with, and responds to, this popular but errant claim.
However, there are much more central issues concerning the claims of the Watchtower and its theology, including its unbiblical Christology; consider the following:
When a "side issue" like the cross vs. upright stake is raised, one should try to steer the conversation to Hebrews 1 and other key Christological texts that refute the Neo-Arian theology of the Jehovah's Witnesses.
