OBJECTION #1: THE DEADLINESS OF ROMAN CRUCIFIXION

Objection #1 by Peter Kreeft and Ronald Tacelli against the Swoon Theory in their Handbook of Christian Apologetics (hereafter: HCA) does not rest on Gospel passages:

Jesus could not have survived crucifixion. Roman procedures were very careful to eliminate that possibility. Roman law even laid the death penalty on any soldier who let a capital prisoner escape in any way, including bungling a crucifixion. It was never done.               

(HCA, p.183)

The Gospels do not specify “Roman procedures” for executions or crucifixions. The Gospels do not specify what punishment was given to Roman soldiers who let a capital prisoner escape or who bungle a crucifixion. The Gospels do not assert generalizations about the deadliness of Roman crucifixion or about how Roman crucifixion ALWAYS resulted in the death of a crucified person. None of Kreeft’s explicitly stated historical claims in Objection #1 are based on a Gospel passage (other than the historical claim that Jesus was crucified by Roman soldiers, a claim that is accepted by proponents of the Swoon Theory).

CAREFUL ANALYSIS OF OBJECTION #1

THE STATED PREMISES OF OBJECTION #1

1a. Jesus could not have survived crucifixion by Roman soldiers.

2a. Roman military procedures for crucifixion were very careful to eliminate the possibility of a person surviving crucifixion.

3a. Roman law even laid the death penalty on any Roman soldier who let a capital prisoner escape in any way.

4a. Roman law even laid the death penalty on any Roman soldier who bungled a crucifixion, so that the victim survived the crucifixion.

6a. No Roman soldier ever bungled a crucifixion, so that the victim survived the crucifixion. 

THE UNSTATED ASSUMPTIONS/PREMISES OF OBJECTION #1

A. The Swoon Theory is false.

B. Jesus did NOT survive crucifixion by Roman soldiers.

C. All Roman soldiers were highly motivated to make sure that they never let a capital prisoner escape, and that no person they crucified ever survived the crucifixion.