Posted by Bible Probe on December 18, 2005 at 17:08:16:
The Cross (+) we have now was found in the Catacombs. The fact that the earliest Christians died for this cross ("+") vs the "T" cross is good enough for me. Click below link to see what crosses are in the catacombs..
There are in the Old Testament clear allusions to the Cross and Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Thus the Greek lefter (tau or thau) appears in Ezekiel (9:4), according to St. Jerome and other Fathers, as a solemn symbol of the Cross of Christ -- "Mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry". The only other symbol of crucifixion indicated in the Old Testament is the brazen serpent in the Book of Numbers (21: 8-9).
Christ Himself thus interpreted the passage: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of man be lifted up" (John 3:14). The Psalmist predicts the piercing of the hands and the feet. This was a true prophecy, inasmuch as it could not be conceived from any custom then existing; the practice of nailing the condemned to a T-shaped cross was common for criminals. But, Jesus Christ was not a common criminal.
The cross on which Jesus Christ was nailed was of the kind known as "immissa", which means that the vertical trunk extended a certain height above the transverse beam; it was thus higher than the crosses of the two thieves, his crime being judged a graver one, according to John Chrysostom (Homil. v, c. i., on I Corinth.).
The earliest Christian Fathers who speak of the Cross describe it as thus constructed. We gather as much from Matthew (27: 37), where he tells us that the titulus, or inscription containing the cause of His death, was placed , "over", the head of Jesus Christ (Luke 23:38; John 19:19). Is this possible if it wasn't an "+"????
Irenĉus says that the Cross had five extremities: two in its length, two in its breadth, and the fifth a projection (habitus) in the middle -- "Fines et summitates habet quinque, duas in longitudine, duas in latitudine, unam in medio". Augustine agrees with him: "Erat latitudo in qua porrectĉ sunt manus longitudo a terrâ surgens, in quâ erat corpus infixum; altitudo ab illo divexo ligno sursum quod imminet".
Nonnus confirms the statement that Jesus Christ was crucified on a quadrilateral (four sides) cross (+). St. Irenĉus, in the passage cited above says that the Cross had a fifth extremity, on which the Crucified One was seated. Justin calls it a horn, and compares it to the horn of a rhinoceros (Dialogus cum Tryphone, xci). Tertullian calls it sedilus excessus, a projecting seat, or shelf. This little seat (equuleus) prevented the weight of the body from completely tearing the nail-pierced hands, and it helped to support the sufferer. It has never been indicated, however, in representations of the Crucifixion. On the Cross of Christ was placed the titulus, as to the wording of which the Four Evangelists do not agree. Matthew gives, "This is Jesus the King of the Jews"; Mark "The King of the Jews"; Luke: "This is the King of the Jews"; John, an eyewitness: "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews".
The fact that they agree in substance, but not exactly is a good thing. It indicates 3 separate accounts without plagiarism. I'd go with John,as he stood staring at it.
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