By: Gen. Jim — 4/13/24
Concerning the Christian cross (CC), one author (1891) wrote in his Masculine Cross (introductory): “In the following pages certain things supposed to be of comparatively modern origin have been traced back to the remotest historic ages of the world; as a consequence, it follows that the modern symbolic meaning given to such things is sometimes only one acquired in subsequent times, and not exactly that which was originally intended, – it must not be supposed, therefore, that the interpretation belonging to the epoch in which we are first enabled to trace a definite meaning is to be conclusively regarded as that which gave birth to the form of the symbol.”
The author is in no way belittling the “CC” we as Christians believe in, he is merely showing the universal prevalence of it, how the cross was honored by both gentile and Christian.
I never believed that the cross (ornament and symbol) was exclusively Christian, the instrument upon which Christ was crucified. He WAS CRUCIFIED upon a cross (some believe it was merely a pole with no cross bar). If this is true, the whole “cross” history takes a turn, for the cross has been found universally (pictures/engravings/image/idol etc.).
My intent is not to debate this issue but to give a short history lesson.
“There are not a few people about who, having become imbued with this idea, rush to the hasty conclusion that wherever the cross is found, and upon whatever monuments, it indicates a connection with (Biblical) Christianity, and is therefore of comparatively modern origin,” the author writes.
In my research I have found the symbol of the cross in antiquity, i.e. further back than the Roman era (which was used to punish victims long before Christ was hung upon one).
The cross for the Roman Catholics still has Jesus upon it – the crucifix, they press it to their lips in devotion; the Protestants’ cross has no Jesus upon it, symbolizing Jesus has risen, not still hanging in open shame. This is not to say the Catholics do not recognize His resurrection (He had to be taken down, put in a tomb before He arose from the dead.). The Protestants view the RCC as worshiping the dead crucified Christ, not the risen/glorified Christ that takes away the sins of the world – whosoever believes in Christ Jesus. It is true, I believe, that the Roman Catholic Church, venerates the cross to the point of idolatry!
Tablet, 1853
In the Roman Catholic newspaper, Tablet, November 26, 1853, we read this: “Those of our readers who have visited Rome will, doubtless, have remarked at the foot of the stairs which descend from the square of the Capitol to the square of the Compo Vaccino, under the flight of steps in front of the church of St. Joseph, and over the door of the Mamertine prison, a very ancient wooden crucifix, before which lamps and waxes tampers are constantly burning, and surrounded on all sides with exvotos and testimonies of public thanksgiving. No image of the crucified Savior is invested with greater veneration… the worship yielded to the holy crucifix of Campo Vaccino is universal at Rome, and is transmitted from generation to generation. The fathers teach it to the children, and in all the misfortunes and all the trials of life the first idea is almost always to have recourse to the holy crucifix, the object of such veneration and the source of so many favors. It is, above all, in sickness that the succor of the holy image is invoked with more confidence and more eagerness… There are few families in Rome who have not to thank the holy crucifix for some favor and some benefit… In the interval of the sermons and other public exercises of devotion the holy crucifix, exposed on the high altar in the midst of floods of light save incessantly prostrated before it a crowd of adorers and suppliants… As soon as the holy image of the Savior had appeared on the Forum, the Holy Father advanced on the exterior flight of steps of the church to receive it, and when the shrine had arrived at the base of the stairs of the church of San Luca, at some paces from the flight of steps on which the Holy Father stood, in rochet, stole, and pallium of red velvet, he bowed before the holy crucifix and venerated it devoutly.”
That my dear readers, is pure idolatry!! Jesus is in the hearts of His people (see Ephesians 3:16, 17/John 14:20-23). Where are we told (in Scripture) to worship the cross or crucifix?
The missal’s prayer/hymn is addressed DIRECTLY to the cross: “We adore thy cross, O Lord, and we praise and glorify thy holy resurrection; for by the wood of the cross the whole world is filled with joy.” In mass the following hymn is sung:
“O faithful cross, O noblest tree,
In all our woods there is none like thee.
No earthly graves, no shady bowers
Produce such leaves, such fruit, such flowers.
Sweet are the nails and sweet the wood,
Which bore a weight so sweet and good.”
“O lovely tree, whose branches bore
The royal purple of His gore,
How glorious does the body shine.
Supporting members so divine.
Hail, cross! Our hope, on thee we call
Who keep the paschal festival;
Grant to the just increase of grace,
And every sinner’ guilt efface.”
So, if one researches the “cross” one will trace its origin – the transmission from one rudest form of pagan idolatry to another. Found in ancient Egypt and India, Assyria, Greece, China, North/Central/South America, Europe et al.
The symbol of the cross is very ancient. But what did it mean to those peoples, nations, tribes, tongues? (Not the single pole as some tell us Christ was hung upon). Hieroglyphics testify to the fact that the cross has been around for centuries upon centuries. The Druids consecrated the sacred oak. The best authorities on this subject (eg. the Gaelic/Celtic Tau). Celtic Researches (book) was the symbol of the Druidical Jupiter (according to the “Tau”). The IDOL was in reality a CROSS. (See Dudley’s Naology).
From time in memorial the Copt Oak borne a celebrity that bears our the tradition of its ancient sacredness. There is in the Assyrian galleries (British Museum) life-size effigies in stone of the kings Sumsi-Rammanu, B.C. 825, and Ashurnasirpal, B.C. 880; suspended from the necks of these monarchs and resting upon their breasts are prominently sculptured Maltese crosses.
In the Roman Catholic dictionaries we find these ornaments described as pectoral crosses – crosses of metal worn at the breast by bishops and abbots. There are later crosses. On the tombs of (ancient) dead in Egypt and upon monuments there are bedizened crosses. Long before Christ, the Ibis was represented with human hands/feet, holding the staff of Isis in one hand, and a globe and cross in the other.
Crosses varied in shape. Astronomical signs of certain of the planets consist of crosses, crescents, circles: Saturn was represented by a cross surmounting a ram’s horn. Jupiter by a cross beneath a horn, Venus by a cross beneath a circle, the Earth by a cross within a circle, Mercury by a cross surmounted by a circle and crescent, and Mars by a cross above a circle. (Note: these may still be seen in old almanacs).
Well, I could go on and on giving example after example of crosses. When the Americas were discovered, crosses were already in use in North, Central, and South America. Natives were fond of them. The Roman Catholic Spaniards were surprised at the objects of the pictures of the crosses themselves.
Now I want to turn our attention to Tertullian (b.160-d.230), a fiery Christian writer in Carthage, N. Africa one author wrote: “The connection of the cross is with Paganism originally, and its ultimate assumption by the Christian church, is curiously and strikingly brought out by Tertullian in his Apologetics and Ad Nationes.”
I want to finish up this article with presenting quotes from early church fathers such as Tertullian, Barnabas, Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, Cyprian, et al. They wrote about the cross and its significance, prefigured in the Old Testament, and the shape (seen in nature and in human activities).
Old Testament – there is no reference to the word cross in the Hebrew language.
New Testament – there are 28 references to the word cross: only one Greek word cross: only one Greek word is used – stauros = “a stake or post (as set upright) i.e. a pole or cross (as an instrument of capital punishment): fig. exposure to death, i.e. self-denial; by implying the atonement of Christ.”
This definition is where those who believe the cross was merely a stake or pole. But the word “cross” (aka “Kros,” “kras,” “cros,” “kross” all mean “an upright post with a bar across it near the top, on which the ancient Romans fastened convicted persons to die”. It is also described as a staff with a cross at the top etc., etc.
There is another Greek word for “cross,’ that is “stao,” meaning “to stand (up),” “set up” (vertical). Related to this Greek word (to stand up vertical) is the Greek word “tithemi”/”theo” = in a passive or horizontal posture,” thus differing from “stao.” Putting these two together we find the cross.
Jesus was crucified on a cross. This is FACT! Even before Jesus was nailed to it, He spoke these words found in Matthew 10:38, 16:24 – read these two.
Jesus spoke of the cross in a fig. sense: His death on the physical cross is found in Matthew 27:35. Ezekiel 9:4 speaks of the prefigured cross: “Go through the midst of Jerusalem and set a mark on the foreheads of the men that groan and that grieve for all the iniquities that are done in the midst of them.” (Reading from the LXX, i.e. Greek Old Testament). The Greek letter TAU, equivalent to the English capital “T” in the shape of a cross. The Hebrew word for “mark” is “tav” (or “tavah”) = “imprint.”
As taught before in an article, Psalms 53 is a prophecy about the suffering and death of Jesus of Nazareth. Isaiah 53 predicted Jesus’ death on the cross that was fulfilled 700 years later. Not only Isaiah 53 but Luke gives an account of Moses/Prophets that spoke of Jesus to come, would suffer and die on the cross (Luke 24:25-27). Isaiah wrote about Jesus: 52:13; 53. All those Old Testament prophecies find their fulfillment in the New Testament (see my articles on this.).
Back to Tertullain Et Al.
“The message of the CROSS is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Tertullain wrote (A.D.197): “Why again, did the same Moses – after the prohibition of any likeness of anything display a bronze serpent, placed on a tree in a hanging posture? … In this case he was displaying the Lord’s CROSS on which the [real] serpent, the devil, was made a show of” – 3.166.
He was referring to John 3:14 which in turn referred to Numbers 21:89. The “pole” (NKJV) is mentioned only here (Hebrew, “nec”). This “serpent” on the pole (cross) was a sign of salvation. In the book of wisdom, 16:4-12 these remarkable words are found: “They were admonished, having a sign of salvation, (i.e. the brazen serpent), to put them in remembrance of the commandments of thy law. For he that turned himself towards it was not saved by the THING that he saw, but by THEE, that art the Savior of all.” So, John 3:14 is the shadow and type of the cross implied in v.16. The serpent was no shadow/type of Jesus, but the looking upon the cross, believing to be healed of the serpents bite (of death): looking upon and believing in Jesus brings salvation – healing.
Part II
2 Kings 18:4 tells us that the worship of the brazen serpent was extant in the days of Hezekiah. It was Yahweh, not the serpent, that cures/saves (see 1 Corinthians 10:9). Peter also wrote, “By his stripes (wounds) you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24), – or can be healed. Tertullian went on to write: “He said unto him, ‘Pass through the midst of Jerusalem and write the sign Tau on the foreheads of the men who groan and grieve over all the enormities that are done in their midst.’” … Now the mystery of this sign was in various ways predicted, in which the foundation of life was prepared for mankind.” (197, 3.168).
Barnabas wrote:
“The Spirit spoke of the heart of Moses, that he would make a figure of the cross… Moses therefore placed one weapon above another in the midst of the hill, and standing upon it, so as to be higher than all the people, he stretched forth his hands, and thus again Israel acquired the mastery” (70 – 100, 1. 145).
Justin Martyr wrote:
“The lamb, which is roasted, is roasted and dressed up in the form of the cross. For one spit pierces right through from the lower parts up to the head, and another one pierces the lamb across the back, to which are attached the legs of the lamb.” (160, 1.215).
Novatian wrote:
“Jacob also signified [Christ] by placing his hands crossed upon his sons… From placing his hands in this manner, he thus foreshadowed the figure and form of the future passion.” (235, 5.631).
“Moses himself prayed to God, stretching out both hands, and Hur with Aaron supported them… For if he gave up any part of this sign, which was an imitation of the cross, the people were beaten” (160, 1.244, Justin Martyr).
Cyprian (250, 5.525) wrote the following: “By this sign of the cross, Amalek was also conquered by Jesus through Moses… ‘And it came to pass that when Moses lifted up his hands, Israel prevailed’ … In this sign of the cross, there is salvation for all the people who are marked on their foreheads.”
In Ezekiel the Lord says: “‘Pass through the midst of Jerusalem, and you will mark the sign upon the men’s foreheads who groan and grieve for the iniquities that are done.’”
In the Disputation of Archelaus and Manes we read: “Moses, when he was attacked, stretched forth his hands and fought against Amalek. And when we were attacked and were perishing by the violence of the sinning spirit who still works in the unrighteous, Jesus stretched forth His hands upon the cross and gave us salvation” (320, 6. 220).
Tertullain continues with, “As for him who affirms that we are the priesthood of a cross, we shall claim him as our co-religionist. A cross is in its material a sign of wood; amongst yourselves also the object of worship is a wooden figure. Only, whilst with you the figure is a human one, with us the wood is its own figure… the form, too, is of no importance, if so be it the actual body of a god… Thus in your victories the religion of your camp makes even crosses objects of worship… in the banner and ensigns, which your soldiers guard with no less sacred care, you have the streamers and vestments of your crosses. You are ashamed, I suppose, to worship unadorned and simple crosses.” (Taken from his Apologeticus and Ad Nationes.) Tertullain shows us that the cross was common to both Christianity and Paganism, that the latter possessed it ages before the former. If one reads Tertullian’s writing in full, he never attempts to refute the charge brought by the pagans against the Christians of his day of worshiping the cross; he merely retaliates by asserting that they did the very same thing in a somewhat manner, he wrote, “What, let me ask, is the difference between the Athenian Pallas or the Pharian Ceres, and wood formed into a cross?”
Tertullian continues with his discussion on the cross: “If any of you think we render superstitious adoration to the cross, in that adoration he is a sharer with us… the camp religion of the Romans is thoroughly a worship of the standards, for the standards are set above all gods” (197, 3. 31).
Barnabas in his epistle (which is included in the early MS, Codex Sinaiticus) compared the brazen serpent of Moses to Jesus on the cross: “This was so that he might reveal a type of Jesus. Moses then made a bronze serpent, and placed it upon a beam” (70 – 130, 1.145). (Note: type/ty pology = a type is a perean, object, or even that symbolizes or represents something that is to come at a later date. For example, the Passover lamb was a type of Jesus; the tabernacle was a type of heaven (see 1 Corinthians 10:1-4; Galatians 4:22-24; Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 8:4, 5; Hebrews 10:1 etc).
Fin
What we’ve learned thus far is that Jesus is to be worshiped not the cross (like the Roman Catholics); the cross did not originate with Christianity. Those men and women of history and research declare their sincere belief that the numerous cruciform figures to be found on the monuments of antiquity were a typical character, and expresses a sentiment which worked forward to the cross of Christ; few doubted this. The cross was common as an object of worship and veneration. One historian wrote: “So universal has the presence of this symbol and its attendant worship that it has been said to form a complete zone about the habitable globe… centuries anterior to the introduction of Christianity; and as its teaching is expressed in the concordant customs, rites and traditions of former nations, who were widely separated from, and for the most part ignorant of, the existence of each other, and who possessed, so far as we are aware, no other emblematic figure in common” (the Masculine Cross, p.17).
There were/are many forms of the cross – (see Edinburgh Review of the 1870; Mexican Antiquities of the 1800s; Art Journal (1874) etc. In the Art Journal (1874-1876) we find many pictures of the cross going back centuries before Rome… crosses of various forms – Jewitt wrote in the AJ (1874) “… the cross was already a religious emblem of frequent employment.”