What exact shape of Cross (Stauros or Xulon) was our Lord Jesus Christ Crucified upon? The latest claim is a stake or pole, which is used in NIV Bible, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole [most other translations use tree which is Xulon in Greek]” (Galatians 3:13). The problem is how can Jesus be lifted up as He said He would be on a stake (John 3:14-15)? A pole or stake like what the Reformers such as Joan of Arc (she was, she claimed she knew Jesus and had eternal life, Encyclopedia Britannica), William Tyndale, and Jan Hus died upon requires no nailing of the feet to it which would have contradicted Christ fulfilling the Scripture, “they have pierced my hands and feet,” (Psalm 22:26), and archaeological findings show Roman crucifixion included piercing the feet with nails as found in the skeleton feet remains. However, the pole idea fits nicely with the bronze serpent on a pole, “And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).
Another popular choice is an actual tree to fulfill a literal interpretation of the tree in the Pauline verse, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.” (Galatians 5:30) and allude to the Tree of Life which is in Eden and the New Jerusalem (Genesis 3:22-24, Revelation 22:1-21); and Jesus is the Life (John 14:6) and upon the tree (cross) gave us eternal life. While the Romans did often use natural trees, it is unlikely that Christ could carry a tree after being scourged, and He more likely carried 200lbs cross beam that it slid into the vertical post (wood pole or stake) and nailed together (Latin Cross). Or He carried a full Latin Cross and this is why Simon Cyrene helped Him carry it at one point on the Via del Rosa (Matthew 27:32); although its possible it was the cross beam which at 200lbs is quite heavy.
The pole (Stauros) versus the tree (Xulon) is actual a misnomer. They are two parts of the same that make up the cross; the pole or long post is wood, and cross beam or branch for the crucified arms to be nailed to is wood. What most likely happened is translators of the Bible from the Greek to English chose either Stauros or Xulon, when its both. Another theory is that the writers of the New Testament are emphasizing the elements, tree or pole (stake of wood), they do so to allude to the Bronze Serpent on the Pole or the Tree of Life. The gospel and epistle writers wanted to reach the lost sheep of Israel (Jews) as well as the Gentiles for Christ, and emphasizing the pole or tree would be an evangelistic device, when its both pole and tree; vertical beam and horizontal branch beam, i.e. Latin Cross ✝️.
What of the Tau Cross? The capital T shaped cross is popular in Germanic paintings and made famous by St. Francis of Assisi, but there is a problem, there is no post to nail the sign of Jesus’ crime above His head that Pontius Pilate had written, “And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.” (John 19:19-20). On the Tau cross, if Jesus pushed up on the foot rest to get air which is common for crucified victims, prolonging affixation (suffocation), His head would obscure the sign post that reads “King of the Jews: INRI” in fact since the title was written in Aramaic, Greek, and Latin, the sign would have been large, and so the Tau Cross does not work.
There is Saltire Cross or St. Andrew’s cross which is a giant X. It is unlikely our Lord was crucified upon this shape. There is the Thieve’s Cross which is a giant Y shaped cross, but our Lord’s crime according to Rome was not theft, but claiming to be a king. The Celtic Cross with its Latin cross and a circle was not used until the 4th (300+ yrs after Christ’s Crucifixion) Century by St. Patrick, so it too must be ruled out.
Finally there is the Latina or Latin Cross ✝️, shaped like lower case t with an elongated vertical post. The Latin Cross is the oldest recorded design and most believed version to have been what our Lord bore our sins upon. It possesses a tall upper post above the cross bar where the arms are nailed; giving ample room for the King of the Jews sign post. The Latina is the universal symbol of Christianity, and had variants such as the Greek Cross that has equal vertical and horizontal cross beams making a plus sign (+); this is found in caves of Cappadocia (Turkey) and is probably just a shortened version that was easier to carve on smaller spaces. The Suppedaneum Cross or Byzantine Cross ☦️, is a Latin Cross that possesses a third post at the feet to emphasize where Christ’s feet where supported and nailed. Generally Byzantine Cross has the foot bar titled to denote Desmas who believed in Jesus goes to heaven and the other criminal who mocked Christ goes to hell. The Byzantine Cross is the official cross of Eastern Orthodoxy and Russia.
Arguing vehemently over which cross design our Lord God died upon to the point that we become enemies is not fruitful. What matters is Christ died for our sins on a cross, and rose from the dead. I will not be irate if when He returns the Tau or Pole appears in the sky, but I believe the Latin Cross is more practical, was more likely used, and is more recognized by the world as the symbol of Christ’s passion and Christianity as a whole. I would be surprised if our Lord Jesus Christ uses a different cross than the Latin Cross, since its universally recognized by everyone as His symbol, but it won’t be an issue of contention for me if its a different cross than I expect; I will be glad to see my God in the flesh and be changed into a new body to be with Him forever! (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Whatever may be your personal favorite cross, the important thing is that it reminds of Christ’s love and all sufficient sacrifice for sin He made on the cross, and that it makes you feel closer to Him. Let no belittle your favorite cross type, but instead encourage one another’s faith in the Holy Trinity. Amen.
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