Answer 1:

Artist renderings in Jehovah's Witnesses' publication often show the nails going through the wrists. However, this is not considered absolutely how it had to be. The number of nails used, the position of the arms, or whether or not there was a cross section are really irrelevant for Jehovah's Witnesses. They feel the cross to be a "carved image" or an idol and therefore refrain from using it as a part of worship or as a representation of their faith.

Another Answer:

John 20 25The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he 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.

The governing body of the Jehovah's Witnesses insist that Jesus died on a "torture stake," not on a cross. Watchtower publications often show this with Jesus nailed to a vertical stake, with his hands over his head and a single nail passing through his WRISTS. But if he was executed on a torture stake, then why did Thomas say "unless I see in his hands the print of the nailS (plural)...."? Wouldn't there have been only "one nail" through his hands (not on his wristS) if he died in that manner?

This scripture refers to the plural "nails", not once, but two times. The Greek word rendered here "clavorum" is pictured as a stout spike, probably similar to a railroad spike in our day. They were designed to support a large amount of weight. But.... how many were used to hang Jesus on the stake?

Answer from one of Jehovah's Witnesses:

One publication says this:

"We cannot know precisely where the nails pierced him, though it obviously was in the area of his hands. The Scriptural account simply does not provide exact details, nor does it need to... We thus recognize that depictions of Jesus' death in our publications, such as you see on page 24, are merely reasonable artistic renderings of the scene, not statements of anatomic absolutes." -W87 8/15 29

Another publication explains the point further:

"The Cyclopaedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, by M'Clintock and Strong, comments:

'Much time and trouble have been wasted in disputing as to whether three or four nails were used in fastening the Lord. Nonnus affirms that three only were used, in which he is followed by Gregory Nazianzen. The more general belief gives four nails, an opinion which is supported at much length and by curious arguments by Curtius. Others have carried the number of nails as high as fourteen.'-Volume II, page 580.

Matthew 27:35 merely says: "When they had impaled him they distributed his outer garments by casting lots." Little detail is given, as in Mark, Luke and John. After Jesus' resurrection, Thomas said: "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." (John 20:25) So even though criminals sometimes were bound to a stake with ropes, Jesus was nailed. Some have also concluded from John 20:25 that two nails were used, one through each hand. But does Thomas' use of the plural (nails) have to be understood as a precise description indicating that each of Jesus' hands was pierced by a separate nail?

In Luke 24:39 the resurrected Jesus said: "See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself." This suggests that Christ's feet also were nailed. Since Thomas made no mention of nailprints in Jesus' feet, his use of the plural "nails" could have been a general reference to multiple nails used in impaling Jesus.

Thus, it just is not possible at this point to state with certainty how many nails were used. Any drawings of Jesus on the stake should be understood as artists' productions that offer merely a representation based on the limited facts that we have. Debate over such an insignificant detail should not be permitted to becloud the all-important truth that "we became reconciled to God through the death of his Son."-Romans 5:10." -w84 4/1 p.31

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