Jesus died on a cross. Period.

There has been much debate from sects of Christianity, most commonly Jehovah’s Witnesses, who like to argue that Jesus died on a stake (pole) and not a cross.

It is argued that the Bible in the original Greek text doe not call it a cross but rather uses the words stauros or xylon which can mean a stake or pole as well as something more complex as a cross. That is not proof for either argument, as cited by the pro-stake debaters.  Therefore, the argument is null for both sides for all intents and purposes.

Then, you can look to history. A stake is commonly used as an alternative argument to the cross because it was also used during the 1st century. However, the Romans used the cross as their favorite tool of humiliation and torture. Jesus was sentenced by Roman authority. As early as the 1st century (within 70 years of the death of Jesus) the cross was a symbol revered by Christians. As early as 200 AD, Roman paintings were found depicting Jesus as a donkey on a cross. This is significant because this means that Christians obviously worshiped a crucified Christ and the Romans knew it.

Finally, let me let the Bible speak for itself. If I were to put a list of references from Scripture about the cross, it would go back to the Greek debate, so I will let Thomas clear it up a little more in the King James Version (which is the original accepted Greek to English translation):

John 20:25 – The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But [Thomas] said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

Notice that Thomas speaks of more than one nail. Death by stake was one nail through both hands crossed over the head, but Thomas clearly knows that multiple nails were used. More than one nail being used points to, you guessed it, a cross.

Could I go on? Yes, but it seems pretty simple to me.