ξύλον is an extremely difficult word to translate, although from its entry in BDAG you wouldn’t think so. It gives three basic meanings:

Wood Something made of wood, such as a pole, club, stocks, cross Tree

Gal 3:13 in the NIV reads, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’” The use of “pole” is, shall we say, unexpected since we know the shape of the cross. Since there are always reasons for a translation, you have to ask yourself why the NIV did this. How could Jesus have been hung on a pole when the wounds in his hands require a cross?

The other translations use “tree” (Read more

Nabeel Qureshi is an unlikely Christian. Besides growing to adulthood as a devout Muslim, you could say he was a Muslim of Muslims, having descended from one of Muhammad's chief Sunni successors.

Yet while a devout Muslim he found Jesus, and he tells the fascinating story in his new book Seeking Allah Finding Jesus. Qureshi’s story of finding Jesus serves as a powerful guide for Christians, to help them better understand Islam and the people of that faith.

On this Good Friday, in anticipation of Resurrection Sunday, I want to share an important section that calls out the crux of the matter for Muslims and Christians alike: The cross and resurrection.

Qureshi shares two compelling ideas: first, the cross is "a litmus test between Islam and Christianity," (146) and secondly, "the only thing Christianity has over Islam is the resurrection." (167)

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