IS THE TWO-FLOGGINGS HYPOTHESIS A VIABLE OPTION? A RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ORDER OF THE FLOGGINGS OF JESUS

• Published in: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society Vol. 63; no. 4; pp. 663 - 674
• Main Author: Croteau, David A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lynchburg Evangelical Theological Society 01.12.2020
• Subjects: Capital punishment; Death & dying; Hypotheses; Jewish people; Light; Torture
• ISSN: 0360-8808

Blomberg and Beasley-Murray argue for this, relying upon the work of Blinzler.4 Beasley-Murray says that "he handed [him] over in order to be crucified" refers to the announcement of the death penalty (meaning: "he condemned him to the death of the cross").5 They both conclude that the aorist participle communicates that the death sentence was passed after the flogging. ROMAN FLOGGING It is typically thought that Roman soldiers administered three types of floggings: (1) fustigatio: the least severe beating given for light offences, typically accompanied by a severe warning not to commit the light offence again; (2) flagellatio: a severe flogging given to criminals who committed more serious crimes; not a precursor to capital punishment but a more severe flogging than the first kind; (3) verberatio: the most severe form of flogging, always associated with another punishment, usually capital punishment, including crucifixion.16 Most interpreters appear to believe that Jesus received the third type: verberatio. "20 The scourge would typically be constructed of a wooden handle and have several leather straps with metal, glass, or bone tied into the straps.21 The criminal typically had his hands tied to a post so that his back would be stretched out,22 making the skin tight, so that when the whip came across the back with the metal, glass, or bones in it, it would easily tear the flesh. [...]Blomberg's objection that "Mark's wording thus allows for the flogging to have happened at any time prior to the conclusion of Jesus' trial"23 should be questioned.