Good discussion, but Dr. Zugibe who has done the most crucifixion pathology of anyone, determined in the 90s that the palms will support the body in this instance because the feet are supported by a crossbar. Dr. Zugibe describes the nail going through the crease of the thumb (in the palm) and then downward to an exit through the top of the wrist. This actually did support the victim a little better, yet confirms the many early images, paintings, and stigmata showing the wrist wound. This nailing method also breaks no bones. Zugibe’s volunteers further reported they could breathe quite normally in a sagging position. Christ died from severe trauma, of many different kinds, and not from asphyxiation. The Two Criminals had their legs broken as a “coup de grace” inflicting unacceptable trauma, and not because they would have asphyxiated. It was also thought that, if the Romans somehow were wrong about the person being dead, that it would keep the victim from crawling away. Google “Zugibe” and “Shroud”.
Sounds rather bizarre that volunteers would agree to get literally nailed to crosses in the name of science. I guess they drew the line at getting their legs broken eh. Anyhow this truly was a Miracle Man who if He had wanted to keep from shedding blood at all, He easily could have willed it. And so any suffering He suffered, was suffered by His humble choice.
“This actually did support the victim a little better, yet confirms the many early images, paintings, and stigmata showing the wrist wound.”
Sorry, I meant “showing the palm wound”.