The Nails from Jesus’ Cross?

Simcha Jacobovici is at it again. This is the guy that a few years ago claimed to find the family tomb of Jesus, now he’s claiming he has two of the nails used in the crucifixion.

His evidence? The nails were found in the tomb of Caiaphas, the high priest when Jesus was crucified. Caiaphas was only involved in one crucifixion, that of Jesus, therefore these must be the nails used.

Wow, that has so many holes I’m actually shocked I’m bothering to write about it. Let’s list a few shall we.

(1) Is the tomb actually that of Caiaphas? According to the Israeli Antiquities Authority, that’s not at all clear.

(2) How unusual is it to find nails in an ancient tomb? Again, according to the Israeli Antiquities Authority, it’s quite common.

(3) Were these nails used in any crucifixion? Not every ancient nail found in Palestine was used in a crucifixion. As a matter of fact, I would think only a very tiny percentage were.

(4) Who says Caiaphas was involved in only one crucifixion? Two other men were supposedly crucified with Jesus and this was a common Roman execution method. Who’s to say Caiaphas wasn’t involved in other crucifixions?

(5) Were nails even used in Jesus’ crucifixion? The only gospel that mentions nails is John in John 20:25 and that’s the story of doubting Thomas not of the crucifixion itself.

(6) Was Jesus crucified? We have the gospel account and Josephus mentions the cross but no other contemporary historian mentions the crucifixion. Tacitus only says that Pilate had him put to death.

(7) Did Jesus even exist? Obviously the ultimate argument. If Jesus was a myth, then there was no crucifixion and these are just ordinary rusted nails.

The chances of these being the nails used in the crucifixion are about as close to zero as you can get. I’m not impressed with the so-called evidence. Sounds more like wishful thinking.