Crucifixion Nail Found?
A nail that some claim may have been used in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ has just been made public:
Nail from Christ’s crucifixion found?A nail dating from the time of Christ’s crucifixion has been found at a remote fort believed to have once been a stronghold of the Knights Templar.
Historically, the authenticity of such nail relics has been questioned. The Catholic Encyclopedia, for example, reported the following nearly a century ago:
Very little reliance can be placed upon the authenticity of the thirty or more holy nails which are still venerated, or which have been venerated until recent times, in such treasuries as that of Santa Croce in Rome, or those of Venice, Aachen, the Escurial, Nuremberg, Prague, etc. Probably the majority began by professing to be facsimiles which had touched or contained filings from some other nail whose claim was more ancient. Withoutconscious fraud on the part of anyone, it is very easy for imitations in this way to come in a very brief space of time to be reputed originals. The bridle of Constantine is believed to be identical with a relic of this form which for several centuries has been preserved at Carpentras, but there is another claimant of the same kind at Milan. ( “Holy Nails.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 3 Mar. 2010 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10672a.htm>)
Thus, there has long been a history of nail relics that were questionable.
But false relics have never tended to stop relic followers. Hollywood, for example, produces items for “historical movies” which are clearly imitations, yet people seem to be willing to pay big money for them–even knowing that their only claim to fame is that they look sort of like something real and were in a movie.
Since early Christians did not collect relics, nor have icons, the probability of having the nails used at Christ’s crucifixion are remote.
Of course, even if the particular nail from the Knights Templar is authentic, it should not be venerated. Who, for example, would venerate the bullet that killed Martin Luther King Jr.?
But Jesus was of course crucified and nails were used. And the life, the message, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus is more important than any nail or other relic.
Some articles of possibly related interest may include:
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
Are You Saved? Do You Love Jesus? What is a True Christian? What is the Gospel? Evangelist Richard Ames answers those important questions.
What Happened in the Crucifixion Week? How long are three days and three nights? Did Jesus die on “Good Friday”? Was the resurrection on Sunday? Do you really know? Who determined the date of Easter?
What Did the Early Church Teach About Idols and Icons? What about the use of the cross, by the early Church?
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