Christian cross

Lore & Background

The Christian cross represents the instrument of Jesus's execution. John Pearson, Bishop of Chester (c. In which there was not only a straight and erected piece of Wood fixed in the Earth, but also a transverse Beam fastened unto that towards the top thereof.' Frederick Elworthy claims that for a few centuries the emblem of Christ was a headless T-shaped tau cross rather than a Latin cross. There are few extant examples of the cross in 2nd century Christian iconography. It has been argued that Christians were reluctant to use it as it depicts a purposely painful and gruesome method of public execution. A symbol similar to the cross, the staurogram, was used to abbreviate the Greek word for cross in very early New Testament manuscripts such as P66, P45 and P75, almost like a nomen sacrum. The extensive adoption of the cross as a Christian iconographic symbol arose from the 4th century. However, the cross symbol was already associated with Christians in the 2nd century, as indicated in the anti-Christian arguments cited in the Octavius of Minucius Felix, and by the fact that by the early 3rd century the cross had become so closely associated with Christ that Clement of Alexandria could without fear of ambiguity use the phrase 'the Lord's sign' to mean the cross. The crucifix, a cross upon which an image of Christ is present, is not known to have been used until the 6th century AD.

Reader's Guide

The Christian cross is a central symbol of Christianity, representing the crucifixion of Jesus. Its basic forms are the Latin cross with unequal arms and the Greek cross with equal arms, with numerous variants having confessional or heraldic significance. The cross was already associated with Christians in the 2nd century, to the point where Christians were mocked as 'adorers of the gibbet' (crucis religiosi), an accusation countered by Tertullian. By the early 3rd century, it was a tradition for Christians to trace the sign of the cross on their foreheads. The oldest extant depiction of the execution of Jesus is a second-century or early third-century jasper gemstone amulet in the British Museum, showing a naked bearded man on a T-shaped cross. In contemporary Christianity, communicants of the Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox Churches are expected to wear a cross necklace at all times, given at baptism. Many Christians hang a cross in their homes, often on the east wall. The Feast of the Cross is an important Christian feast, with the Exaltation of the Cross commemorated on September 14. However, some groups have rejected the cross: the Great Iconoclasm among Calvinists of the 16th century included polemics against using the cross in worship, and there were disputes in 16th century England over its use, with some considering it idolatry.

Did You Know?

• The oldest extant depiction of the execution of Jesus is a second-century or early third-century jasper gemstone amulet in the British Museum, showing a naked bearded man on a T-shaped cross.
• The term cross is now detached from its original specifically Christian meaning in modern English and many other Western languages.
• Frederick Elworthy claims that for a few centuries the emblem of Christ was a headless T-shaped tau cross rather than a Latin cross.
• The crucifix, a cross with an image of Christ, is not known to have been used until the 6th century AD.