What's so special about jesus?

It's amazing that so much of biblical information is not correctly known. There's a reason for that.

Cross is an English word. It did not exist in biblical times.

In English it is derived from the Latin "Crux" which referred to a tree or any construction of wood used to hang criminals as a form of execution.

The reference to Latin is important as the 1st English translation of the Bible was from the Latin version.

There are 4 known different constructions of a "Crux" - the most common was a single pole. Yes, a pole with a cross-brace lower down on the pole is another - as is often depicted in christian art). A giant X another, and a pole with a cross brace across the top in the 4th one (T).

If you go back and read the Greek - it also does not define the shape. (Mathew might have originally been written in Hebrew - but no copies of that exist; but the biblical book we know of today was written - or translate into Greek).

The Latin version maintained the Greek ambiguity of its shape by the use of "crux."

Even a wooden pole often weighed up to 200 Lb and it was common for others to carry it - or help carry it.

What we have here is a poor translation into English that people then misinterpret.

There are far worse "sins" in the vast majority of modern English bibles.

The name of god appears anywhere from over 4000 to more than 6000 times in the old and new testament in the Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic, depending on what different people consider to be a name of god (there are apparently several variants).

The Vast majority of English Bibles (and other languages) have replaced these names of god with the word "God."

Given that the Old Testament clearly states that there were (at least once upon a time) other gods... It is rather misleading not to tell people that a specific god said something.

Worse yet. There is huge difference between "El" and "Elhomin" El is singular and translates to "god"; Elhomin is plural and translates to "gods."

There are over 2500 entries for "Elhomin" in the Hebrew bible.

Again, virtually all modern bibles have substituted the word "god" not just for "El" but also for "Elhomin."

According the the Catholic Encyclopeadia, this was done because of the "religous significance" of the sigualar word "god."

I specifically sought out a translation that identified where "el" and "elhomin." With the exception of a single sentence... they all make sense when read with the plural "gods." There were dozens of sentences that did not make much sense if the singular work "god" was substituted.

Also, the base explaination that there is a specific god with a name along the line of Yahweh (different pronunciations might be more correct) who promised Abraham, his decendants, and any who wished to join them that there was a pleasant heaven awaiting if people followed some basic laws - all hold true despite the real old testament discussing all the other "gods" that existed at one time (and perhaps some exist yet today).

Now (about 30 years after I did my 18 month reading and study of the Bible) I see that there are all kinds of "new" explanations trying to explain these things away.

Anyway, there are many other things - if you really study the bible, its history, and all the various questions and controversies.

But, at least don't get hung up on things that just were poor translations into English and do not even exist in the languages of the previous versions that existed long before they were ever translated into English.

I wish you well with this; and Peace be between us.

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