The Legal and Medical Aspects of the Trial and Death of Christ

The Causes of Jesus’ Death in the Light of the Holy Bible and the Turin Shroud

“…• 18% (about 900 ml) for other bleeding: the hematohydrosis, that is considered minimal [29]; the near death scourging (wounds and trauma-induced coagulopathy -see below-must have caused a large amount of bleeding and ecchymotic suffusions, and the body had to be someway washed, to account for the preciseness of the wounds on the TS) [30,31]; the crown of thorns (bleeding not negligible but easily measurable); the crucifi xion, which probably did not cause an important bleeding [32], because the nails sealed the wounds, the blood pressure was very low with arms in elevated position [33], the causalgia strongly restricting limb movements;…”

Introductory Paper: Scientific Results on the Turin Shroud Coming from a Paduan University Research Project

“…Many researchers [42,43,44] proposed different causes of death like hemothorax, hemopericardium, induced coagulopathy and asphyxia basing their conclusion on almost subjective deductions but up to now no common agreement has been found. The URP was also addressed to perform a detailed study of all the characteristics of the corpse shown on the TS in order to better evidence the real cause of death and other related aspects.…”

On the physical death of Jesus Christ

“…(2,5,8,11,30) It is likely that the deep peroneal nerve and branches of the medial and lateral plantar nerves would have been injured by the nails. Although scourging may have resulted in considerable blood loss, crucifixion per se was a relatively bloodless procedure, since no major arteries, other than perhaps the deep plantar arch, pass through the favored anatomic sites of transfixion.…”

“…(37) Therefore, it seems likely that John was emphasizing the prominence of blood rather than its appearance preceding the water. Therefore, the water probably represented serous pleural and pericardial fluid, (5)(6)(7)11) and would have preceded the flow of blood and been smaller in volume than the blood. Perhaps in the setting of hypovolemia and impending acute heart failure, pleural and pericardial effusions may have developed and would have added to the volume of apparent water.…”

“…(5,11) The Shroud of Turin and recent archaeological findings provide valuable information concerning Roman crucifixion practices. (22)(23)(24) The interpretations of modern writers, based on a knowledge of science and medicine not available in the first century, may offer additional insight concerning the possible mechanisms of Jesus' death.…”