Was a Cross Used in the Execution of Jesus?

The cross is certainly one of the most recognizable religious symbols known to the world. It is used predominantly by Christian religions, and variations of it can be found in other practicing religious factions as well. Millions revere it, considering it to be the sacred instrument on which Jesus was put to death. In fact, it is safe to say that the cross receives a similar worship, if not equal to, that of the worship directed to Christ himself. As an icon, it is adored, prayed to and worn as a symbol of devotion & even protection.

Should Christians use the cross as an object of veneration? Did Jesus really die on a cross? What does the Bible teach on this subject?

Long before the Christian era, crosses were used by the ancient Babylonians as symbols in their worship of the fertility god Tammuz. This is a historical fact; one needs only to do the research to verify this. The use of the cross spread into Egypt, India, Syria and China. Then, centuries later, the Israelites adulterated their worship of God with acts of veneration to the false god Tammuz.

In the book of Ezekial, chapter 8, we read an account of those who were "weeping over the god Tammuz" at the very temple of Almighty God. That sort of worship is termed "detestable" there. (Ezekiel 8:13,14) Indeed, God made it very clear that directing one's worship to any object is unacceptable to Him. As part of the set of commands given to Moses, God said at Exodus 20:4,5: "You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath or that is in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them, because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion..."

The exclusivity of our worship to God precludes the use of statues, idols, symbols, or even appointed humans in a mediator or intermediary role, as if God needed any sort of liaison between him and us. This includes those who pray to, and worship, the cross.

The four Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John use the Greek word stau-ros' when referring to the instrument of execution on which Jesus died. This can be seen at Matthew 27:40, Mark 15:30, and Luke 23:26. The word stau-ros' means "an upright pole, stake, or post."

The book "The Non-Christian Cross", by J. D. Parsons, explains: "There is not a single sentence in any of the numerous writings forming the New Testament, which, in the original Greek, bears even indirect evidence to the effect that the stauros used in the case of Jesus was other than an ordinary stauros; much less to the effect that it consisted, not of one piece of timber, but of two pieces nailed together in the form of a cross."

Later in the Greek scriptures (New Testament), as recorded at Acts chapter 5 and verse 30, the apostle Peter used the word xy-lon meaning "tree," as a synonym for stau-ros'. The etymology of this word denotes, not a two-beamed cross, but an ordinary piece of upright timber or tree.

It was not until about 300 years after Jesus' death that some professed Christians promoted the idea that Jesus was put to death on a two-beamed cross. However, this view was based on tradition and a misuse of the original Greek word.

It is noteworthy that some ancient drawings depicting Roman executions feature a single wooden pole or tree, and Roman historians are well-documented in their support that the Roman custom was to hang a convicted criminal from an upright stake. In such a way, death would be hastened as the victim would die from asphyxiation; having one's arms outstretched over the head caused the weight of the body to pull from the chest, thus preventing the victim to breath. Breaths would be faint and shallow, and they would ultimately pass away.

A more important issue for true Christians should be the propriety of venerating the instrument that was used to put Christ to death. Whether it was an upright single torture stake, a cross, an arrow, a spear, crossbow or anything else, should such an instrument be used in worship?

Let's look at this in a simple, objective way. Suppose a loved one of yours was brutally murdered and the weapon of execution was submitted to the court as evidence in the trial. Can you imagine yourself trying to possess the murder weapon, revering it, hanging it upon your neck, praying to it, and producing replicas of it in various sizes for distribution? Would you have a desire to fashion some of them into jewelry? Or would you have these reproductions commercially manufactured and sold to friends and relatives to be venerated? Likely you would be repulsed at the idea! Yet, these very things have been done with the cross!

Besides, the use of the cross in worship is no different from the use of images in worship, which is a practice condemned in the Bible. It was one of the Ten Commandments, as we've considered above.

The counsel is clear. Have not people done the exact opposite with their use of the cross? How many glorious, monumental idols of Christ and the cross does your church currently have?

The apostle John accurately reflected the teachings of true Christianity when he admonished his fellow Christians with the words: "Guard yourselves from idols." (1 John 5:21) This they did even when it meant facing death in the Roman arena.

Biblical and historical facts clearly confirm that Christ did not die on a cross. Unfortunately, individuals do not make the endeavor to query such traditions for the truth that lies within. Instead they preserve and uphold the mistaken traditions that they were taught. A student of the Bible, not a student of a church, understands this distinct difference.